Ellu Podi / Sesame Seeds Spice Powder – a healthy and flavourful condiment / chutney powder that pairs well with idli / dosa / steamed rice. Sesame seeds are an excellent source of calcium, magnesium, iron and other vitamins and minerals. Sesame seeds when roasted gives a wonderful aroma and enhances the flavour of the dish. This ellu podi/ chutney powder is a healthy alternative to the regular idli milagai podi / chutney powder and is prepared by dry roasting and grinding the sesame seeds, urad dhal and red chillies. This spice powder has a long shelf life and can be stored at room temperature. This nutrient dense Ellu podi / Sesame seeds chutney powder can be served with idli /dosa / steamed rice.
Ingredients:
| Sesame seeds | 1 cup |
| Urad dhal | 1/2 cup |
| Red chilli | 1/2 cup (approximately 10 ) |
| Hing / Asafotedia | 1 teaspoon |
| Salt | 1 to 1 1/4 teaspoon |
Instructions:
- Take a pan, dry roast the urad dhal in medium to low heat. When the urad dhal slightly changes colour, add the red chillies and roast for few seconds. Add salt and hing and give a quick stir. Transfer the contents to a plate.
- Dry roast the sesame seeds until it starts crackling or until it turns golden brown. Transfer the roasted sesame seeds to the plate with urad dhal and red chillies. Allow it to cool.
- Transfer the roasted sesame seeds, urad dhal and red chillies to a blender and grind it to a coarse or fine powder.
- Serve this ellu podi with steamed rice and a dash of ghee or serve this as a chutney powder for idli / dosa.
Notes:
- Instead of 1 cup white sesame seeds, you can use equal quantities of white and black sesame seeds.
- To add flavour – roast few curry leaves and grind it along with sesame seeds and urad dhal.
- For variation – Replace 1/2 cup urad dhal by 1/4 th cup urad dhal and 1/4 th cup channa dhal.
Check out my other Podi /Powder varieties:
Sowmya's Spicy Corner 
Interesting, Sowmya..do you just dip the bread in the powder or mix it with the rice?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Carol- This is a spice powder made out of sesame specially for few breakfast / dinner items like idli/ dosa . It can be had with steamed rice with some sesame oil as topping. You can sprinkle a little bit of this powder to stir fry veggies. Not sure about the breads.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I meant like the idli and dosa not bread like western people eat..sorry 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
No problem Carol. With the spice powder add some sesame oil or regular oil and then dip the idli / dosa into this .
LikeLike
Thank you for the tip, Sowmya 🙏
LikeLiked by 1 person
Perfect! Just in time as my existing stock of chutney powder is getting over. Thanks Sowmya. Have a good day ❤️
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you Radhika
LikeLike
Very informative
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Sai
LikeLike
Sowmi, my all-time fav podi. Thanks for posting.
One more point for your notes – Dry roast black sesame seeds until it splutters and add the roasted whole black sesame seeds to the powdered podi.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you Regi. I guess adding the roasted black sesame seeds as such will give a crunch to the podi. Thanks for the suggestion.
LikeLike
Delicious
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you Shyamala
LikeLike
Nice
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Nand Kishore
LikeLike
Here the lover of Spicy Chutneys, nice to meet you Sowmya 🤝
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad to meet you here Suma
LikeLike
Thank you dear 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person