Friday, August 1, 2008

Lentil Powder ( Parrappu Podi )

Lentil Powder is a pretty uninspiring name for something which has taste,nutrition and convenience all rolled into one.This is a staple in most South Indian homes and is good to have on hand on days when time is short and making an elaborate lunch or dinner is not possible.This is served by sprinkling this powder on hot cooked rice (either brown or white) and adding a few drops of ghee(clarified butter) or sesame oil and a fragrant rice dish is ready.

This brilliantly simple powder is made of only four ingredients even including the salt and it can be prepared and stored in an airtight container easily for six months and even a little longer than that.This recipe can easily be doubled to make a bigger quantity of this powder.




Click here for a printable view of this recipe

Ingredients and method to make the lentil powder.

1/2 cup red gram lentil (Tur Dhal)
2 tsp whole black pepper
4 dry red chillies
salt to taste ( I used about 1 tsp)

Dry roast the red gram lentil until it starts turning reddish and there is some aroma from it.

Dry roast the whole black pepper and the red chillies.

Cool all of this and powder it in a spice grinder or regular blender until mostly fine.

Add salt to taste and mix well and store in a clean dry air tight container.

Serve with hot rice and a few drops of sesame oil or clarified butter(ghee) ,papads and any gravy curry or with just yogurt on the side.

Approximately use about 1 tsp of this powder for about 1/4 cup of rice.

Variation :This can also be made using split mung bean (split moong dhal) instead of red gram,with all other proportions the same.

30 comments :

Suganya said...

Hi....
This a nice recipe. Looks so good. I used to make it with daliya(split yellow gram). YUM!

Anonymous said...

Hi Usha- you have something waiting for you on my blog.

TT

mitr_bayarea said...

Usha-

wow, I never knew or even thought about how paruppu podi was made. Always brought it from Grand sweets, Chennai or had paati make it.

EC said...

Just this with some rice and ghee is enough for me for lunch...nice podi

Purva Desai said...

hey this is nice podi...simple to ve with rice

Dibs said...

Usha - Thanks for your visiting and appreciation. Its all my mothers writings and recipes - I just post them, since she has just about learnt to e-mail now! Imagine if our grandmothers and great grandmothers had documented their recipes ....sigh. Do keep blogging, its great to see variety with the same recipes...for instance, have never thought of mung dal podi suggested in this post!! Will surely try it out.

Madhavi said...

Very nice recipe !!!

Anisheetu said...

nice with yogurt for idlis...

ST said...

Wish U A Happy Friendship Day Usha :))

I also make this podi same way .Urs look good...

Trupti said...

Podi looks very delicious Usha

Happy Firendship Day !!

On this nice day I would like to invite you to join new Indian Blog Aggregator enewss.So join me enewss to spread our love of food.

Usha said...

Thanks for dropping by Sukanya,I have never tried it with daliya that is new to me ,should try it in the future,do you roast the daliya too?

Usha said...

Thanks TT for you award, I am touched :)

Usha said...

Hi Mitr,when I visit grand snacks in Chennai,I am more interested in stuff like their murukku,thattai and soan flakes,at that time I do not worry about healthy things like parrappu podi :)

Usha said...

I agree with you EC,Thanks for your visit :)

Usha said...

Thanks Purva

Usha said...

Thanks for dropping by Dibs,I agree with you if our grandmothers and their mothers had documented all their recipes,we would have had a treasure of them with us now.The mung dal variation is my mother in laws idea,she is a wonderful source for great kitchen ideas and tips.

Usha said...

Thanks for your visit Anisheetu,I have yet to have this with yogurt for idli/dosa hmm.... should try it sometime :)

Usha said...

Thanks Sireesha and wish you the same

Usha said...

Thanks Trupti,wish you the same.

I will definitely check out the website you have mentioned soon :)

Dershana said...

I love paruppu podi. My all time favourite with piping hot white rice and lemon pickle:-)

Jen Kumar said...

Love your description, Usha. Makes my mouth water. It's such a simple dish and yet so very tasty. One can and should not forget to add ghee or sesame oil as that gives the flavor!!

Unknown said...

Please check my blog..have passed on a meme to you.

paruppu podi looks yummy & mouth watering...

Lore said...

It's a great idea to have this powder handy at anytime! It's the first time I hear about it, but just when I think about how healthy lentils are, this is surely a fab idea.

FewMinute Wonders said...

Hi Usha, NEver made paruppu podi ever.Will try your recipe.There is a reward waiting for you in my site.Check it out.

Anonymous said...

Wow, Usha; I was just thinking of Paruppu Podi Saadham the other day and how I needed to learn to make it myself-and here's your great recipe!

Thanks for visiting my blog again; let me know how your Panzanella turns out when you make it.

Cheers

Usha said...

Thanks for dropping by Jennifer,I agree the ghee/sesame oil adds flavor,but I believe it also tones down the spice a little

Usha said...

Thanks Srikar's kitchen I will check out your blog soon :)

Usha said...

Thanks Lore do try this it is delicious :)

Usha said...

Thanks for dropping by Srimathi and thanks for the award I am honored and touched :)

Usha said...

Thanks Anu,I will definitely let you know when I try the panzanella :)

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