Paruppu Podi ~ Mixed Lentils Spice Powder

Necessity is the mother of Invention .Truly applies in a kitchen , where all elements of a typical corporate world - Supply chain, inventory management, housekeeping, human resources, budgets, planning, entertainment, resource allocation - all happen simultaneously and endlessly !! One of these days, when we were tired of making sabjis, and wanted to have something quick, I thought of making Paruppu Podi (mixed lentils spice powder).. While Molagapudi / Molagapodi (accompaniment to Idli / Dosa) is used with Idlis or Dosas , Karivepalai Podi ~ Curry leaf Spice Powder and Paruppu Podi tastes divine with plain steamed rice and a drop of sesame oil (for kids, you could use ghee / clarified butter). I make this podi (spice powder) in small batches always , to ensure it stays fresh.. This is a very easy recipe and goes to the following events, apart from Blogging Marathon (Day 6) under "Cook with 5 ingredients or less" theme. Checkout my fellow marathoners here.

• Susan's MLLA hosted by Preeti
• South Indian flavours by Nayna
• Condiment Mela by Valli
• Jaya's Back to basics - Spice powders - event

This is made in many many different ways in each household, depending on the spice / taste quotient. Some use only Toor Dal (Split Pigeon pea) , some Urad (split black gram) and Toor dal, but I do add a bit of Channa Dal (Bengal gram) for a variation.

Ingredients:

• Toor dal - 1 cup
• Urad dal / Uluthamparuppu  - 1/4 cup
• Channa Dal - 1/2 cup
• Red chillies - 4 -5 (if using kashmiri variety, increase to 7 -8) - adjust to taste

• Salt - to taste
• Oil - 2 Tsp

Method:

1) In 1 tsp of oil, fry the lentils one by one till golden brown
2) Now add 1 tsp more and fry the red chillies till done (take care not to burn them).Cool completely
3) Now coarsely pulse the lentils in a spice grinder. Break the fried chillies and add them along with salt to the spice grinder. Pulse again to semi- coarse texture.
4) Cool and store in an airtight glass container.
5) Serve with hot rice and ghee / oil.