Paruppu podi/Lentils powder

Paruppu podi - Podi is an indispensable part of south Indian cuisine. Be it idli - milagai podi for idlis and dosas, dry garlic powder for vada pav, peanut powder of Maharashtrian cuisine, sambar powder, rasam powder, bisibelebath powder, chaat powder, garam masala, there are innumerable varieties of podis or powder that are used in our cuisine. Paruppu podi is a combination of roasted chana dal, tuvar dal and fried gram dal with spices and salt which are ground to a fine powder and stored in an air-tight container. Again each region has its own recipe for paruppu podi and this recipe is the most common variety of all.

Ingredients:

Lentils: Tuvar dal, chana dal, and fried gram dals are used.

Spices - Black pepper, Red chillies, solid form of hing, white crystal salt are used.

Oils and fats - Sesame oil is used.

Method:

Saute lentils till golden brown.

Saute spices till they pop and change colour.

Grind everything.

Store it in an air-tight container.

Accompaniments:

Mix it with rice and sesame oil and have with roasted papad and vathal kulambu.

Uses:

Use it as a stuffing powder to make stuffed brinjals, ladies finger. If you don't have vatha kulambu powder, use this and coriander and chilli powder to make tasty vathal kulambu.

Variations:

Add few cloves of garlic while sauteeing the spices.

Equipment used: Kadai/ fry-pan and blender.

Recipe:

Paruppu podi

A healthy combination of lentils and spices for growing children.

Total time taken: 20 minutes.

No. of servings: 15

1 cup = 200ml

1 tsp = 5 ml

Ingredients with measurements:

Tuvar dal - 1/2 cup

Chana dal - 1/2 cup

Fried gram dal - 1/4 cup

Black pepper - 1 tsp

Red chillies - 4 or 5

Hing - a generous pinch

Oil - 2 tsp

Salt - to taste.

Directions:

1. Heat oil in a kadai, add lentils. Saute till golden brown. Transfer the roasted lentils to a plate.

2. Heat oil in the same kadai, add hing, pepper, and chillies. Saute till chillies change their color. Transfer to the plate.

3. Allow everything to cool down.

4. Put everything in the blender and grind to a fine powder.

5. Store it in an airtight container.