Sambar Podi (Sambar Masala Mix)

Category: Home made Powder
Preparation Time: 5 mins  
Cooking Time: 15 mins
Servings: yields around 1 1/2 cups

For a  best tasting Sambar, the secret ingredient is the Sambar podi / Sambar Masala. There are lot of Sambar Masala mix available in the market, but Home made masala is always taste best and fresh :) 

Home made Sambar Masala

If you're used to buy masalas from the store, it might feel like a hectic task to prepare at home. But once we started, we cant resist ourselves from making these at home. Also we can adjust the ingredients as per our liking and preference.

These home made masala powders are filled with aroma, flavour and most importantly no preservatives. Also when we have babies or toddlers, we can easily adjust the spice level when we make it by ourselves at home.

Sambar Podi

I have already posted a Sambar Podi recipe here. This is slightly different and this is my go-to masala for Sambars, Quick Sambar rice, Veg roasts, Puli Kuzhambu, Kootu, Variety rices :)

Make sure to roast the ingredients in low flame or else certain spices will get burnt fast which affects the flavor of the podi. 

For a brighter colour, add byadagi chillies along with the spicy chillies.

Ingredients: 

• Coriander seeds- 1/2 cup
• Channa dal- 3 Tbsp
• Whole Urad dal - 3 Tbsp
• Toor Dal - 2 Tbsp
• Dry Red chillies- 15 - 25 nos (adjust as per spice level)
• Cumin seeds-  1 and 1/2 Tbsp
• Black Pepper- 1/2 Tbsp
• Fenugreek seeds / Methi seeds -  1/2 Tbsp

Dry Coconut Idli Podi

Category: Ready Mix
Preparation Time: 5-8 mins 
Cooking Time: 8-10 mins
Servings: yields about 3 cups

 

Dry Coconut Idli Podi

Idli podi is sure a savior during kids hunger pangs :) When we need a quick side dish for idli or dosa, it comes in handy. This could also be used to make Idly fry or Idly fingers for snack time.

 

While making for toddlers, we can reduce the spice level and If you like coconut, you will love this Idli podi :)

Ingredients:

• Channa Dhal- 1/2 cup
• Whole Urad Dhal - 1/2 cup
• Dry Coconut - 2 cups
• Red Chillies - 3-8 (Adjust as per spice level)
• Asafoetida / Hing - 1/4 tsp
• Salt - to taste
• Jaggery - 1 tsp (Optional)

Method: 

• Heat a heavy bottomed pan, dry roast Channa dal for few mins in low flame

Ragi Poori

 Category: Kids Recipes
Preparation Time: 10 mins 
Cooking Time: 15 mins
Servings: 2-3 servings 

 

Ragi Mini pooris

Ragi is one of the healthiest grain and also easily available. Mostly it will be the first food given to the babies when they are ready to start with their solids. Ragi can be given to kids in various forms like Porridge, Idli, Dosa, Pakoda, etc. 

We can add Ragi flour along with wheat flour for making Ragi pooris :) Since I used store bought Organic ragi flour this time, the colour of the pooris are on little darker side.

Mini Ragi Pooris  served with Mixed Veg Kurma

Ragi pooris taste great with Channa masala, Potato Masala, Veg Kurma :)

Ingredients:

• Ragi flour - 1/2 cup

• Wheat flour / Atta - 1/2 cup

• Rava, fine variety - 1 tsp 

• Salt - to taste

• Ghee - 1/2 tsp

• Oil - for deep fry
• Water - as needed