In Tamil language podi means powder. Idli podi is a powdered condiment for idli (also dosa, for that matter), made using lentils, red chilies, and sesame seeds. It is absolutely flavorful and can be prepared in a number of ways. Idli podi is also known as milagai podi. Generally, idli dosa is served with coconut chutney and sambar. Idli podi is a great accompaniment for the idli dosa for travel and tiffin and also for the times when you need a break from the coconut chutney and sambar. It is a great side dish for idli. Idli podi can be used to make podi idli and podi dosa. Idlis smeared in sesame oil and idli podi, that’s podi idli. Dosa sprinkled with a generous amount of podi is podi dosa.
Just as there are chutney varieties for idli dosa, likewise there are varieties of podi prepared using various ingredients. This is the simplest idli recipe. It calls for
Lentils and sesame seeds: Chana dal and urad dal are used to make idli. Whole urad dal is preferred. The key is roasting the lentils properly. You can also use little oil to roast the dals and other ingredients. I prefer to dry roast the ingredients. The proportion of both the lentils and sesame seeds varies from recipe to recipe.
Dry Red Chilies: Whole dry red chilies give the heat to podi. A hotter version of podi is gun powder.
Flavors: I have added a little jaggery to balance the flavors. You can skip it. Little asafetida has been added for the flavor, also becasue it is good for the gut. Further, you can add in garlic, curry leaves, flax seeds powder, peanuts, coconut and customize your podi recipe.
Everyone in my family loves South Indian food. So I prepare a lot of that. Be it idli dosa or varieties of chutney or sambar. And I make sure to make everything at home, dosa batter, sambar powder, etc. Whenever I have leftover idli, I use Idli to prepare podi idli. I shall soon post the podi idli recipe. There are a number of ways to use leftover idli such as masala idli, chili idli, fried idli, etc.
Idli podi makes up for a great side dish for idli. Mix in sesame oil or til oil in idli podi and serve idli with it for a busy weekday morning.
1.This recipe makes approximately 1 cup of idli podi.
2.Heat a cooking pan. Add in ¼ cup chana dal. Dry roast on a low flame till aromatic and slightly golden. Take out in a plate.
3.Next goes in ½ cup of whole urad dal.
4.Dry roast on a low flame till aromatic. Take out in a plate.
5.Now dry roast the sesame seeds (til).
6.Till the seeds are aromatic. Take out in the plate.
7.Likewise dry roast red chilies till crisp.
8.Take out in the plate. Let the ingredients cool down.
9.Transfer to a grinding jar alongwith salt to taste, asafetida and 2 tsp of jaggery powder.
10.Grind to a powder, fine or coarse as per your liking.
11.Store in an air tight container. Ready to use.
PREP TIME 5 minutes
COOK TIME 15 minutes
TOTAL TIME 20 minutes
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