Ellu Milagai Podi – Sesame Seeds Molaga Podi

Ellu Milagai Podi – so what is ellu podi? Ellu (Sesame seeds) are extremely beneficial for health but are often overlooked, it may be tiny but has huge health benefits, its loaded with iron , zinc, vitamin E, magnesium, calcium and much more. This Podi (powder) is a south indian staple be it breakfast of lunch…used as a side dish for idli dosa or mixed in piping hot rice topped with sesame oil.

Ok, ellu podi has many versions… you may either use black or white sesame seeds for this recipe… the color will be on a darker side if you use the black sesame seeds. Also the proportion of ellu used in the recipe also varies.. some use more but we at home don’t want the over powering of it in the idli podi so use less, you may always use more if your prefer. Here is a simple version that i make at home so no one ever find the trace of ellu.. and eat it as regular molaga podi 😀

Some of Idli podi recipes to try  from our page….

1. Idli Podi (recipe from Mrs. Menaga @sahiga blog)
2. Idli Podi (MTR style)
3. Poondu Milagai Podi
4. Curry Leaves Podi
5. Thengai Podi
6. Thirunelveli Idli Podi 

Ingredients

• Whole Black gram / Ulundu / Urad dal – 1/2 cup (skinned)
• Chana dal – Kadala paruppu – 1/4 cup
• White sesame seeds / ellu – 2 tablespoons (* see notes)
• Dry red chilli – 15
• Curry leaves – 10
• Asafoetida – 1/2 teaspoon
• Salt – 1 teaspoon (kosher / crystal / kallu uppu)
• Oil – 2 teaspoons

These are the ingredients needed for the recipe… (you may alternately use 1/4 cup ellu & 2 tablespoons chana dal for more of ellu tasting podi)

First fry the ellu in a tawa… kind of dry roasting till it turns lightly brown… it actually pops when frying and release nice aroma. Once done remove and keep aside.

In a same pan roast the urad dal and chana dal with 1 teaspoon oil until it turns golden brown. Remove and set aside.

In the same pan add 1 teaspoon oil and fry the dry red chili and curry leaves till lightly crisp and set aside.

Let them cool completely.

Coarse grind in a mixer jar along with salt and asafoetida powder.

Store this powder in an air tight jar and use as needed.

We love it this way in our lunch boxes… all smothered over idlis!

Or.. during dinner time with suda suda ADAI!

Notes

• Makes 200 grams
• You may use more ellu if you prefer that way.. cut down the chana dal or alternate between these two.
• Making it with whole balck urad and balck sesame seeds gives nice dark colored podi.
• Always add crystal or kosher salt or kallu uppu.