Moogachi Usali is an enticing Goan dish that highlights the vibrant flavors of sprouted green gram. Prepared without the use of onions or garlic, this recipe exemplifies simplicity while delivering a burst of delightful taste. Goan cuisine, renowned for its distinct culinary heritage, offers this healthy and flavorful stir fry that will transport your taste buds to the picturesque coastal region of Goa, located in Western India.
To create this delectable Moogachi Usali, the star ingredient, sprouted green gram, is sautéed to perfection with a blend of traditional Goan spices. The seasoning features the aromatic notes of mustard seeds and cumin seeds, harmoniously blended with the gentle heat of green chilies. This tantalizing mixture is further enhanced by the addition of freshly grated coconut, which imparts a rich and creamy texture to the dish.
Moogachi Usali can be enjoyed in various ways, adding versatility to your culinary repertoire. Serve moogachi usali as a standalone healthy snack or as a delightful accompaniment to your main course. Whether you pair it with piping hot rice, wholesome rotis, or even enjoy it on its own, this Goan-style sprouted green gram stir fry is sure to elevate your dining experience.
This Mugachi usal Konkani recipe is a unique recipe in which jaggery is added along with red chili powder and green chilies which gives it a mildly spiced taste and flavor.
Do check out other recipe categories:
Jump To:
What is usal made of?
Usal or oosal, a popular dish in both Goan and Maharashtrian cuisine, is a delectable stir fry that features various legumes. Legumes such as moong (mung beans), masoor (red lentils), black-eyed beans, green peas, Goan kidney beans (alsande), or hyacinth beans form the base of this flavorful dish.
Whenever I make sprouted moong recipe, I always sprout green gram at home and never get the store-bought ones. You can refer to this blog post where I mentioned about how to sprout green gram. I do not recommend removing the cover from sprouts as they are excellent sources of fiber.
Here are the ingredients that go in making Goan moogachi usali:
- Sprouts: The key ingredient in this recipe is the sprouted moong or green gram, which adds a healthy and crunchy element to the dish.
- Spices: The spices used include mustard seeds, cumin seeds, asafoetida, turmeric powder, red chili powder, and green chilies. These spices infuse the dish with a delightful blend of flavors, providing a balance of heat and aromatic notes.
- Jaggery: To enhance the taste and flavor, a small amount of jaggery is added to the Goan Moong Usal. The jaggery brings a subtle sweetness that complements the spices, but if unavailable, you can substitute it with a small amount of sugar or molasses
Coconut: To further enrich the dish, grated coconut, a staple in Goan cuisine, is added. The coconut adds a creamy and nutty texture, elevating the flavors of the Goan moong usal.
Oil: In terms of cooking oil, you have the flexibility to use any type of oil that suits your preference, such as vegetable oil, peanut oil, coconut oil, or even mustard oil.
Also try other moong recipes like:
- Sprouts moong salad
- Green moong and vegetable idli
- Green gram dosa / moong dosa
- Mooga gathi / Sprouted green gram curry
How to make sprouted mugachi usal recipe?
- Place the sprouted green gram in a pressure cooker and add enough water to cover the sprouts. Pressure cook for 2 whistles, then turn off the gas. Allow the pressure to release naturally. Once the pressure is released, drain the cooked sprouted green gram using a colander. You can retain the water for use in other recipes if desired.
- Heat oil in a pan or kadai over medium heat.
- Once the oil is hot, add mustard seeds to the pan. Let them splutter.
- After the mustard seeds crackle, add cumin seeds and a pinch of asafoetida to the pan. Sauté for a few seconds until they release their aroma.
- Add the chopped green chilies to the pan and sauté for a few more seconds, allowing the flavors to infuse.
- Sprinkle turmeric powder and red chili powder into the pan. Stir well to combine the spices with the tempering.
- Add the pressure cooked sprouted green gram to the pan and mix well with the spices. Ensure that the sprouts are coated evenly.
- Add the grated coconut and jaggery into the mixture. Stir well to combine all the ingredients.
- Add salt to taste and mix thoroughly.
Also try other curry recipes like:
- Bengali egg curry with potato
- Pulpy ripe mango curry
- Peanut curry
- Malabar spinach curry
- Tomato curry
Indulge in the flavors of usal, a mouthwatering legume stir fry that brings together the best of Goan and Maharashtrian cuisine. Whether you are a fan of traditional recipes or simply looking to explore new flavors, moong usal dry version is a must-try dish that will leave you craving more.
Moogachi Usali | Goan Style Sprouted Green Gram Stir Fry
Ingredients
- 2 cups sprouted Moong/Green gram
- 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
- 1 teaspoon cumin seed
- 1 pinch of asafeotida
- 1 teaspoon jaggery grated
- 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon red chili powder
- 2 green chilies
- 2 tablespoon coconut grated
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1/2 teasoon salt or as per taste
Instructions
- Place the sprouted green gram in a pressure cooker and add enough water to cover the sprouts. Pressure cook for 2 whistles, then turn off the gas. Allow the pressure to release naturally. Once the pressure is released, drain the cooked sprouted green gram using a colander. You can retain the water for use in other recipes if desired.2 cups sprouted Moong/Green gram
- Heat oil in a pan or kadai over medium heat.1 tablespoon oil
- Once the oil is hot, add mustard seeds to the pan. Let them splutter.1 teaspoon mustard seeds
- After the mustard seeds crackle, add cumin seeds and a pinch of asafoetida to the pan. Sauté for a few seconds until they release their aroma.1 teaspoon cumin seed, 1 pinch of asafeotida
- Add the chopped green chilies to the pan and sauté for a few more seconds, allowing the flavors to infuse.2 green chilies
- Sprinkle turmeric powder and red chili powder into the pan. Stir well to combine the spices with the tempering.1 teaspoon turmeric powder, 1 teaspoon red chili powder
- Add the pressure cooked sprouted green gram to the pan and mix well with the spices. Ensure that the sprouts are coated evenly.
- Add the grated coconut and jaggery into the mixture. Stir well to combine all the ingredients.2 tablespoon coconut, 1 teaspoon jaggery
- Add salt to taste and mix thoroughly.1/2 teasoon salt
Note: This post was published on 5th Jan 2016 and is republished.
Leave a Reply