PARUPPU PODI

Paruppu podi is the only item you can find in my pantry through out the month. I call it "lazy menu". Because, when you don't feel like cooking (which is most of the time for me😉), all you have to do is just cook a cup of rice and eat with paruppu podi.

The recipe is simple with only three ingredients.

Tuvar Dal - 2 cups

Red (DRY) Chili - 10

Garlic - 2 cloves if big/ 4 cloves if small

Salt - to taste

You can adjust the number of chillies to your taste. 10 chillies will be moderately spicy.

Some people use black pepper corns which will give you an entirely different taste. But i prefer chili. 

As for garlic, it is optional. But trust me, you don't want to skip garlic. It gives amazing aroma and flavor to the podi.

Method

Heat pan. Roast tuvar dal until golden brown in color. Remove from heat.

In the same pan, roast chilli until they are really dry. This should not take more than 3 minutes. Remove from heat.

Now roast the garlic for two minutes. The outer layer will start to become brownish black which is your cue to remove it from flame. Do not over roast the garlic. Keep tossing as it will burn if you stop.

Let everything cool to room temperature. Add salt. Grind it until you get coarse powder or smooth powder, whichever way you like it.

(Adjust the salt to your taste while grinding itself. Because if you add salt later, the flavor will not blend in.)

Enjoy with hot rice mixed with ghee! Use it as side dish for dosa/ idly.