These recipes are mainly for preparations from the state of Andhra Pradesh
which is famous for very hot food! These are the "magic powders" our ma's and grandmas use to turn any dull meal into a feast. A tea-spoon of these powders added
to the cooking can turn any novice cook into an expert! When you make these
powders store them in the refrigerator for retaining freshness for up to
one year!
Kara Podi (Curry powder)
1 cup channa dal
1/2 cup urud dal
10 large red chillies
1/4 cup coriander seeds
pinch asafoetida
Fry all ingredients in a small amount of oil (tea spoon)on low heat. Once
the fried mixture is luke warm transfer contents to blender and add a table
spoon of salt and grind to a fine powder. Store in jar such as empty yogurt
can in refrigerator.
Sambar Podi (Sambar powder)
1 cup channa dal
3/4 cup coriander seeds
10 large red chillies
1 tea spoon black pepper (whole)
1/4 tea spoon fenugreek
pinch asafoetida
Fry ingredients in a tea spoon of oil on low heat and powder the fried
stuff in blender when luke warm to a fine powder.
Charu Podi (Rasam powder)
Take 1 cup coriander seeds, 1/2 cup cumin seeds, 1/2 cup black pepper
(whole) and powder them without oil or frying. This need not be stored in
refrigerator.
Rasam is a thin broth that can be drunk as soup or eaten with rice. It is
rather spicy and makes a nice hot drink with a warm sensation from the
spices.
Pacchadi Podi (hot chutney powder)
1 table spoon fenugreek seeds
20 large red chillies
1 table spoon mustard seeds
1/4 tea spoon Asafoetida
1 table spoon salt
Fry all ingredients except salt in a little oil (tea spoon) on low heat .
When luke warm grind with salt to a fine powder.
This powder is used to make all kinds of chutneys with tomatoes, egg plant,
raw tamarind, cucumber, etc.
Pulusu Podi (Sweet "soup" powder)
2 table spoons fenugreek seeds
20 large red chillies
1/2 tea spoon black pepper (whole)
1/4 tea spoon Asafoetida
1/2 tea spoon coriander seeds
Fry all ingredients in a tea spoon of oil on low heat. When lukewarm grind
to a fine powder.
This is used to make something like sambar except that you add a lot of
sugar and tamarind to give a sweet & sour soup. A speciality is one form
where you add sweet potato, potato, pumpkin and anyother vegies like
carrots, green beans, etc.
