Powder Varities for Quick Cooking-tips and Tricks

For this week's Thursday's tips I am sharing a few ready made powder varieties  which may come handy during rushed minutes.I first thought of blogging these recipes as separate posts,but I then I found it would be better to put all the varieties in a single post for quick reference.I recently had a chance to read a big collection of very old issues of "Mangayar malar" (Tamil magazine) and I was very happy to find many handy hints and some unique recipes.I wiull post them one by one, Now,lets quickly move to the recipes/ideas for quick cooking.I am also tagging the source of each one as few of them are from my mom and aunts.
Quick breakfast mixes (Mom's recipe)
Rava upma/rava idly
We all would have used the instant rava idly mix at least once and we cannot deny the fact that making breakfast/dinner is a breeze with these ready mix.It is very easy to make these at home and while making we can have the control over ingredients and make it more healthy n hygienic
Method:
Take 500 gms rava (Sooji) and dry roast in a hot kadai till it leaves out nice aroma.Take carenot to burn it.Keep it aside in a wide plate.
Now heat little oil in a kadai and temper with mustard,urad dal,channa dal,finely cut green chillies and cashew nuts.Once tempered drain the extra oil and let it cool.Mi with the roasted rava and cool it completely.Store refrigerated in an airtight container.
This mix can be used for rava idly,dosa and upma.
Arisi upma:
Take 500 gms of rice,wash and drain well.Spread it in a cloth and dry well.Take about 2 table spoons of toor dal,2 teaspoons of pepper corns,2 teaspoons of moong dal,1 teaspoon of cumin and grind coarsley in mixture.Just give small pulses while grinding and grind in batches.Store in airtight container. Prepare arisi upma with required quantity when needed.
Multi purpose powders:(Old magazine)
Kootu/instant curry powder.
Shallow fry 1 cup of urad dal,1/4 cup channa dal with 15-20 red chillies and 1 teaspoon asafoetida in little sesame oil.Cool thoroughly and grind to powder.
1.While making kootu you can add this directly along with grated coconut.
2.you can add about a teaspoon of this to the usual stir fries to get a different taste.
Sweet mix powder
Dry roast 1 cup alomonds,1/2 cup cashews,1/4 yellow moong dal and grind along with 1 cup sugar and 6 cardamoms.This can be used in various ways
1.You can make instant badam kheer by just adding 2 teaspoons of this powder for 1 cup milk.
2.Add few teaspoons to increase the flavor of payasam or kheer .
3.Add one teaspoon to any kind of milkshake or ice cream for a royal Indian touch.
Vangi bath powder:
Fry 1/2 cup coriander seeds along with 15 red dry chilles,1/2 cup channa dal,1/8 urad dal(optinal) and 2 teaspoons asafoetida.Once cool grind with half cup of grated coconut.
1.Add this powder while preparing vangi bath
2.For stuffed brinjal curry
3.Any kind of vegetable rice
Instant pickle powder:
Dry roast 2 table spoons mustard,1 table spoon methi seed and 6 dried chilles.Grind coarsely once cooled.
Tea masla powder
Dry roast 1/8 portion of cloves,1/4 black peppercorns,1/2 portion cardamoms and grind smoothly along with dry ginger powder(I used everest brand). Add while making tea according to taste.
Powders eaten with rice(Mom's recipe)
These powders come handy when we have to serve food in short notice of time.Mix 3-4 teaspoons of powder and a dollop of ghee with steamed rice.
Pottu kadalai podi:
Fry 10 dried red chillies,1/2 teaspoon peppercorns,1 teaspoon cumin seeds,1 teaspoon asafoetida in little oil.Once cooled grind to a fine powder along with 1 1/2 cups of roasted dal and salt.
Pudhina podi:
Dry roast one cup(packed) pudhina leaves till crisp and keep aside.Heat little oil and fry 1 teaspoon pepper corn,2 teaspoons channa dal and 1 teaspoon cumin.Grind along with mint leaves and salt.
Parupu podi
Fry one cup toor dal,1/8 cup channa dal,8-10 red chillies,1 teaspoon black pepper corns,1 teaspoon asafoeida in oil.Once cooled grind to fine powder along with salt.
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