Sambar powder

I have a friend and she always asks what is the recipe of your sambar , then i used to tell her sambar is the same but the powder that i use is home made.... :)
Believe me if you use this sambar powder while making your sambar, your sambar tastes excellent.

Preparation time : 20 mins

Makes : 1 cup approx

Ingredients :

Chana dal : 2 Tbsp

Coriander seeds : 2 Tbsp

Pepper cons : 2 Tbsp

Red chili's : 6 

Fenugreek seeds : 1 tsp

Rice : 1 Tbsp

Cumin seeds : 2 Tbsp

Whole garam masala :

Cinnamon : 2 inches 

Clove : 4

Cardamom : 4

Mustard seeds : 1 Tbsp

Method :

Take a pan , heat it.

Keep the flame to medium low and add all the ingredients listed.

Stir and roast for 3 minutes, reducing the heat if necessary to take care that the spices don't burn.

On a slow flame after roast all these ingredients for 10 minutes, take them out of the stove.

Let them cool down.

Add it to a mixie jar and grind it into a fine powder.

Tasty sambar powder is ready to use.

You can add a tsp of salt before storing it.

Store it into an air tight container and use it when needed.

Thank you, do post your comments !!!

Badam milk powder (or) Almond milk powder

Badam powder taste really good and this home made powder makes excellent badam milk

Preparation time : 15 mins
Makes : 2 1/4 to 2 1/2 cups

Ingredients :

Almonds : 1 cup
Sugar : 1 cup  (or) to taste
Almonds + cashew nuts : 1/4 cup
Cardamom powder : 1 tsp (or cardamoms : 8)
Saffron : pinch

Method :

Dry roast almonds a bit, the purpose is to remove any moisture in them so that you can grind them to a fine powder.
After switching of the flame, add saffron.
Let them cool completely.
Take a blender add almonds, saffron, sugar and grind them to a fine powder.
(If you are using cardamom you add that also)
If you are using cardamom powder add it.

Slice almonds and cashew nuts.

Mix these sliced nuts in the powder we prepared.
Badam milk powder is ready to use.
You can store it in an air tight container.
This stays fresh for months.

To make 2 cups of cold badam milk :
Mix 2tbsp of Badam milk powder in 2cups of milk, chill it for at least one hour and then serve ....

For hot badam milk, boil two glasses for milk, add badam powder we prepared, boil for one minute.
Serve it hot.

Enjoy your badam milk hot or cold :)
Thank you, do post your comments !!!

Allam kaaram (or) hot ginger

Preparation time : 40 mins
Makes : 1/4 to 1/2 cup

Ingredients :

Ginger : 250 grms
Cumin seeds : 1/2 tsp
Salt : To taste
Chili powder : To taste

Method :

Wash ginger very well .

Peel ginger.

Cut it into pieces.

Grind ginger (with out adding even a drop of water).
Take a pan heat it.
Add oil, cumin seeds , saute them a bit.
Add ground ginger.

Fry till ginger is dry and golden brown in colour.
This will take some time , be patient ;)

Add salt and chili powder.
Sieve it once.
Serve it hot with white rice.

Enjoy your dish :)
Thank you, do post your comments !!!

Kaakarakaaya podi (or) bitter gourd powder

Preparation time : 30 mins
Makes : 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup approx

Ingredients :

Bitter gourd : 2 small
Fried chana dal (or) Dalia : 1/3 cup
Red chili's : 4 to 6 (or) to taste
Coriander seeds : 1 tbsp
Cumin seeds : 3/4 tbsp
Curry leaves : few (optional)
Salt : to taste

Method :

Cut bitter gourd into pieces and deep fry them in oil.
Keep them aside.

Dry roast all other ingredients till you get nice aroma and nice color.

Let them cool completely.
Grind them into a fine powder.
Mix fried bitter gourd pieces in this powder very well with your hands.
Add salt and check for taste.
(You can add red chili powder , if it is not spicy)
Enjoy this with hot white rice :)
Thank you, do post your comments !!!

chenaga podi (or) Chanadal powder for rice

Preparation time : 30 mins
Makes : 250grms

Ingredients :

Chana dal : 250grms
Garlic : 1 (full) (Roughly take out the skin, not completely)
Red chili's : 6 (or to taste)
Grated coconut : 5 tbsp
Salt : to taste

Method :

Take a pan, fry dal along with garlic and red chili's.
Fry them till they slightly change their colour to nice golden brown or till you get nice aroma .
Separate dal from garlic and red chili.
Take dal into jar and grind it into a nice powder .
Sieve dal and keep it aside.
Fry grated coconut till it slightly changes its colour.
Grind fried coconut, garlic and red chili's into a fine powder.
Mix this powder with sieved dal.

Add salt, adjust to your taste.
Since we grounded everything we need to wait until the powder comes down to room temperature.
When it is hot , some times it may be lumpy, after you cool it completely , just mix it once with a fork or with your hand.
Tasty tasty chenaga podi is ready :)
Enjoy your podi with hot rice and with a little oil/ ghee.
Thank you, do post your comments !!!

Nuvvula podi (or) sesame powder

Preparation time : 30 mins
Makes : 250grms

Ingredients :

Sesame seeds : 250grms
Chana dal : 1 tbsp (optional)
Urad dal : 1 tbsp (optional)
Red chili's : 6
Salt : to taste

Method :

Take a pan, fry sesame seeds with all other ingredients except salt.
Fry them till they slightly change their colour to nice golden brown or till you get nice aroma .

Take everything into jar and grind it into a nice powder .
If you grind too much, sesame seeds will release oil and the out come will be like a dough.
So take care while you are grinding.
Add salt, adjust to your taste.
Since we grounded everything we need to wait until the powder comes down to room temperature.
When it is hot , some times it may be lumpy, after you cool it completely , just mix it once with a fork or with your hand.
Tasty tasty Nuvvula podi is ready :)
Enjoy your podi with hot rice and with a little oil/ ghee.
Thank you, do post your comments !!!

Ridge gourd powder (or) Beera pottu kaaram

This is my favourite podi. I love to have this with hot rice :)

When ever i peel ridge gourd i will peel the entire skin, so that i will get more powder when i make this.

I want you to experience the taste of this one, so guys prepare it at least once.

Preparation time : 40 mins

Serves : 2

Ingredients: 

Skin of 2 ridge gourds

Urad dal : 1/4 tsp

Mustard seeds : 1/4 tsp

Cumin seeds : 1/4 tsp

Garlic cloves : 8 to 15

Red chili : 4 to 6

Salt to taste

Method:

Peel off ridge gourd skins and wash them thoroughly. Don't let them sit in water, just wash them with water.

Cut the peels into 2" pieces, and grind them into paste (not too coarse or not too smooth) with out adding water.

Take a pan, heat it , add 1tbsp of oil.
Add urad dal, mustard seeds, cumin seeds, cut red chili and garlic cloves.
I love to add more garlic , as it give nice taste to the dish.
Once urad dal and garlic turns to golden brown in color, add the paste you prepared and add salt to taste.
Keep your flame in medium high.
Now you should be patient till all the moisture from that evaporates and it becomes powder.
It will take around 20 to 30 mins approx.
After around 20 mins your powder will be ready.
Serve it with hot rice.

Believe me it is such a yummy dish and it is having lots of fiber in it :)
It will stay fresh in fridge for one week and if you don't add garlic to the dish it will stay fresh in outside for 4 to 5 days.
Mix it with rice and enjoy :)

Please do post your comments.