Description
A Kollu (Horse Gram) soup mix made with your specified ingredients would be a nutritious, aromatic, and spicy South Indian-style soup powder, primarily used as a home remedy for cold and cough and for weight management.
The ingredients you’ve listed (kollu, coriander, cornflour, pepper, cumin, turmeric, cinnamon, garlic, dry ginger, salt) combine to create a pungent and earthy flavor profile, with the cornflour acting as a thickener.
Ingredients
The typical ingredients for this specific mix would be:
Kollu (Horse Gram): The primary ingredient, rich in protein and fiber.
Spices (Coriander, Pepper, Cumin, Turmeric, Cinnamon): These provide the core flavor and medicinal properties. Pepper and cumin are key in South Indian rasams/soups for digestion and respiratory relief.
Aromatics (Garlic, Dry Ginger): These offer a strong, pungent base which enhances flavor and helps with ailments like cold and cough.
Thickener (Cornflour): This is generally used to achieve a thicker, smoother soup consistency, rather than the traditional thinner, broth-like rasam.
Seasoning (Salt): To taste.
Description
This Kollu soup mix is a convenient way to prepare a warming and healthy soup. The horse gram provides an earthy base, while the blend of dry-roasted spices and aromatics gives it a complex, spicy flavor that is often described as a natural remedy for congestion and sore throat.
Unlike traditional South Indian rasam, which is often a clear, thin broth, the inclusion of cornflour means this mix is designed to create a thicker, more opaque soup. The dry ginger and cinnamon add warmth, making it particularly popular during cold weather.
Usage
To prepare the soup from the mix:
Mix a few tablespoons of the dry soup powder with cold water to form a smooth slurry (this prevents the cornflour from clumping).
Add this slurry to a pot of simmering hot water or vegetable broth.
Simmer for a few minutes (around 2 minutes) until the soup thickens and becomes translucent.
Garnish with fresh coriander leaves (optional) and serve hot.
The result is a quick, hearty, and flavorful soup that can be enjoyed on its own or with steamed rice.
