Quick & Easy Idli Podi Recipe

Podi is popularly served along with Idli or Dosas. Podi means powder in South India. Idli Podi Powder is a spice powder made with chana dal, urad dal, chili, curry leaves, and asafoetida. All these ingredients are dry roasted and then ground to a coarse powder.

The recipe I am sharing is made by mom for many years. We always have a jar of podi at home. I like to eat it with Idlis & Dosas. And sometimes I also like to sprinkle paper dosa with podi powder.

Some Tips to note before making this:

• Use fresh ingredients.
• Clean chana and urad dal beforehand. Make sure it has no impurities.
• Rinse curry leaves and dry them before using them.
• You can adjust the spice according to your taste.
• The color of this powder completely depends upon the quality & quantity of the ingredients.
• You can also use 1 tbsp oil to roast curry leaves and chilies. And dry it for an hour before grinding.
• Make sure you do not over roast any ingredient. This can spoil the taste of Podi.

RECIPE OF IDLI POWDER / GUNPOWDER

INGREDIENTS REQUIRED:

• 6 Whole Dried Kashmiri Red Chili / Sukhi Lal Mirch
• 3 Whole Dried Spicy Red Chili
• 12-15 Fresh Curry Leaves / Kadi Patta
• 1 cup Chana Dal
• 1 cup Urad Dal
• 1/2 cup Sesame Seeds
• 1/4 tsp Asafoetida / Hing
• Salt to taste

METHOD:

• In a heavy pan, Dry Roast Sesame Seeds, Chana Dal, and Urad Dal separately on low flame. You need to roast till it turns golden brown in color and gives a nice aroma. Stir continuously to roast it uniformly. Remove in a plate and keep aside.
• Now in the same pan, add curry leaves and dry roast till it turns crisp. Same way roast red chilies.
• Once the ingredients cool down, put all these ingredients in a mixture jar along with salt & hing. Grind it in intervals in order to get a coarse or smooth powder. My mummy generally keeps it a little coarse, but you can also make it completely smooth.
• Store this in an airtight container. You can either keep it on room temperature or store it in the refrigerator.

SERVING:

• Take 1 tbsp podi powder and put 1 tsp of ghee or oil. Mix and enjoy with idli, dosa, pundi, or any south Indian Snack.

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