Recipes for Kandi Podi | Karvepakku Podi (Gunpowder)
Spicy Accompaniments For Your Breakfast
Recipes fo Kandi Podi | Karvepakku Podi (Gunpowder)
Making idlis is no rocket science but it needs the right accompaniments to make a holistic breakfast. Do not boycott the coconut chutney for the carbs. Our ancestors made the right combo and we should stick to that. Recipes for Kandi Podi | Karvepakku Podi (Gunpowder) is a match made in heaven. My first few memories of childhood are hazy but my taste buds still salivate when I think of the Gunpowder (because it is spicy) and rice that I ate as a kid. The only other neighbours in our street were a Brahmin family, Uncle was an RMP, aunty and their four daughters.
Nostalgic Food Memories
All of us siblings were usually found at their place at lunchtime. Aunty used to make us sit in a semi-circle. She would take a big plate with a huge mound of rice. A generous drizzle of ghee over it and mix the yummiest Gunpowder (Kandi podi) in it and make round balls. From youngest to oldest we were all given one mudda ( a round morsel of rice). It used to be spicy and the ghee would neutralize the spice to make it appetizing and tasty.
After the podi rice it would be some pacchiddi (pickle); Fresh avvakaya (mango pickle) if it was summer or tomato in winter. Next would be some koora (vegetable)-bendakai (okra) fry or dondakai veppuddu (coccinia or gherkins), after which, a pulusu, pappu chaaru and finally curd rice with nimmakai pacchiddi (lemon pickle). This is the order in which each is mixed with rice and eaten. Everything tasted divine. It must have been the love she cooked it with. Those were the days. Sigh!!
Podi or Gunpowder
Recipes for Kandi Podi | Karvepakku Podi (Gunpowder)
Paruppu Podi (lentil powder):
The humble podi is nutritious, healthy and full of goodness. Dals are full of minerals and proteins. Curry leaves or karvepakku in Telugu and karripatta in Hindi is an aromatic leaf common in tropical lands. Almost every home in Andhra grows this plant as it is used extensively in cooking. I love the whiff of karveppakku( curry leaf) and I pluck a leaf and crush it in my fingers so that the aroma lingers. Curry leaves are a good source of Calcium, Energy, Proteins, iron, magnesium and Vitamin C.
I have noticed people, picking out the curry leaves while eating and putting them aside on their plates but I just love the leaves and chew them up as they are tasty and full of iron. I grow it in my backyard and make the podi out of fresh leaves
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup Tuvar dal (pigeon peas split and skinned)
½ Roasted chana dal(Bengal gram)
1 pod garlic
1 tsp Jeera/Cumin seeds
25 Red chillies
1/4th tsp Hing(Asafoetida)
Few Curry leaves
Rock Salt as required
1/4th tsp Oil
METHOD:
Firstly, heat the oil and roast the curry leaves.
Once they splutter, add the whole red chillies.
Next, the tuvar dal followed by jeera or cumin seeds.
When they turn golden brown add the roasted chana dal.
Lastly, add garlic, hing or asafoetida and add rock salt.
Finally, blend all the ingredients in the mixer into a coarse powder.
Store in an air-tight container and use it for a few weeks.
This podi is very delicious with hot steamed idli, and rice, spread liberally inside a plain dosa or a sweet potato stuffed dosa or a rolled paratha (flatbread).
Recipes for Kandi Podi | Karvepakku Podi (Gunpowder)
Karveppakku podi or Curry leaves powder
Variation – You can prepare this podi without chana dal also and also make chana dal podi
INGREDIENTS :
Curry Leaves-2 cups (washed and dried)
Roasted Coriander seeds ½ cup
Dried and roasted red chillies 1 cup
Roasted cumin seeds 2 tbsp.
One ball of tamarind
1 tbsp oil
Rock salt to taste
METHOD:
Firstly, dry roast all the ingredients.
Next, sauté all in a little oil.
Now, blend in the mixer to a coarse consistency..Karvepakku Podi is now ready.
Consequently, transfer the podi into a dry airtight glass bottle.
Finally, serve it with steaming idlis or rice.
It needs no refrigeration and is good to store for a couple of months.
This podi goes extremely well with idli, dosa, egg dosa, sweet potato stuffed dosa
Recipes for Kandi Podi | Karvepakku Podi (Gunpowder) are accompaniments to many other dishes and it is always good to have homemade powders ready.
This blog post is part of the blog challenge ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla.’
@wordsmithkaur
@wordsmithkaur
I was salivating while reading the post, Idli and podi are match-made in heaven, I swear. I often wonder how these delicious food items bring back the best memories of us. The food cooked with love needs a beautiful post like this, I am definitely going to try this recipe soon 🙂
I had been thinking of trying to make idli since last week. The recipes for Kandi Podi and Karvepakku Podi look good.
I like the different combo of idli, else for me its like the traditional idli sambar or chutney my version is butter fry kadak idli I relish them.
I remember having gunpowder with idli in Bangalore, it tastes awesome. Thanks for the recipe, will try once and see how my family reacts.
Gunpowder just elevates a boring idli imo. Didn’t know it could be made at home as well. Thanks for sharing.
I am going make it next time qith idlis for sure !!!
Being grown up with south Indian friend and so love this podi. I used to tell my friends bring extra for me in tiffin. Recipe is so simple. I am going to save it and will make it. Thank you Harjeet Mam, for sharing it.
Honestly dear I did not heard about kandi podi before but seems they are great option to make idli and other south indian dishes tastier. it was good to read about your childhood memories. yes, childhood is best phase of life and we all miss those golden days.
I love gunpowder sprinkled generously on idlis and dosas. It gives a lovely flavour. I’ve seen many recipes online but yours are both different. Will surely try them out.
I really relish gunpowder with fried idlis but never really knew the recipe.Thanks for sharing , I am now going to make a big batch and keep it to be relished with left over idlis.
It has been a long time since I made gunpowder at home and I will try out your recipe soon. Thank you for sharing it. I really enjoyed reading about your childhood memories.
As a south Indian I love good south indian recipes and this one looks like a winner!
Wow Harjeet, superb it looks and am sure it would taste delicious. I am going to try it tomorrow itself. Thank you for sharing this.
I make podi powder at home and store. We love having podi idli. Your recipe is slightly different than what I make. I will try out your recipe. The picture of idli looks yum!
I just love podi with my idlis. They are comfort food. I am definitely trying out your recipe. Thanks so much for sharing it.
My husband loves this gun powder but being raised up in south i forgot what do we call it …as i didn’t liked it so didn’t knew name.He always asks me to get it for him.Thank for ua post .
I love these recipes. One question when we add the Garlic doesn’t it make the podi go bad?
Love your childhood story Harjeet… I was actually thinking i was one of those kids😀. For a Punjabi, you are quite good with the names of veggies n dishes… wow!
I like podi with plain rice and ghee drizzled over.😋.. when I go to Andhra restaurants for meals… I pretty much survive on that as the other subjis I find too hot n spicy. I usually buy readymade podi but it is quite simple to make… thank you for the recipe, will try it.
Never thought of making gunpowder at home. This looks so delicious and the way you have written here about your childhood memories making me hungry.
The aroma of Gun powder over Idli is truly a blissful experience. Thanks for the detailed recipe and its alternatives too. And must say the ingredients collage is looking lovely.
Harjeetji I always buy ready-made podi . But your recipe looks so simple that I want to definitely try this at home. Thanks for sharing as everyone loves south Indian food in my house and this will come quite handy.
These are staples at my place. We make big batches to send to relatives too. Thanks for the recipe
I remember the first time I tasted podi, it was in 2017 when we visited Kerala. Now, whenever we go to Shree Rathnam, we never forget to order podi idlis, these are even my son’s favorite. I will give this recipe a try, I hope I can do justice to it. Thanks for the recipe, Harjeet.
I haven’t tried gun powder ,after reading your recipe. I am eager to try it out. It look easy and tasty.
This gunpowder looks so inviting, I am licking my lips just looking at the pictures! Thank you for sharing the recipe, I would love to try this at home!
I have never about kandi podi before but seems they are great option to make idli and other south indian dishes tastier. Great to know about it
I love Gunpowder but have never made it myself. I will try this recipe, probably with less chillies so that my daughter can also enjoy with dosas.
Thank you so much!!! I was looking for this only