There are different kinds of powder (podi) in South Indian cuisine to serve with idli/dosa and steamed rice. One advantage of these spiced powders is that they can be prepared in bulk and comes handy when you don't have time in hand to cook. One such podi / powder that I happened to taste few months back was this pottukadalai poondu podi.
This podi needs just 3 ingredients - pottukadalai, garlic and red chillies. Pottukadalai is nothing but rosted gram, also known as chutney dal and bhuna chana in Hindi. Just mix this powder with steaming rice and sesame oil (nallennai) or serve with hot idlis. The recipe is quite simple and you need just 10-15 minutes to make this powder.
POTTUKADALAI POONDU PODI RECIPE
{ Spicy roasted gram and garlic powder}Makes 2 cups
Ingredients:
1 cup pottukadalai / roasted gram / chutney dal
½ tsp oil
4-5 dry red chillies
6-8 garlic cloves, chopped
Salt to taste
Method:
1. Heat a pan and dry roast the gram for 2-3 minutes or until just warm. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
2. Add oil to the same pan and add garlic. Fry for 2 minutes. Transfer to the plate.
3. Add red chillies and fry till crisp. Transfer to the plate and allow to cool.
4. Add to a mixie jar along with salt. Grind to a smooth powder. Once cool transfer to an airtight container.
Notes and Tips
- Adjust the number of red chillies according to your spice preference.
- If you don't like garlic, you can add reduce the amount of garlic cloves.
- Use fresh roasted gram for making this powder.
