Nuvvula podi - Roasted Sesame and Chilli powder

Nuvvula podi - Roasted Sesame and Chilli powder

by Hb ~ Monday, August 17, 2009

I totally believe in what I call 'mood food'. When I am enthused and active, I make something elaborate and nice. When I feel lazy, I make something quick and still nice. Sometimes, I am awed at how some humble foods make me happy whenever I make/eat. Here I need to mention 'podis' which have taken Andhra cuisine to another level.
Be it simple roasted red chillies pounded with garlic or toasted groundnuts powdered with a hint of jaggery and tamarind, love it totally. When dad/mom mix hot rice with a generous dollop of ghee and one of the podis and feed us, believe me it tastes heavenly(even now!). Though, sis and I try doing that mixing and eating ourselves, somehow the magic can't be replicated. One such podi is nuvvu podi/sesame seeds toasted to golden perfection and ground with roasted red chillies and garlic.


Ingredients:
Sesame seeds - 3/4 cup
Salt - 1/2 spoon(adjust)
Red chillies - 3-4(adjust)
Garlic - 3-4 pods
Oil - 1/2 tb spoon

Procedure:
1. Toast the sesame seeds till they turn golden brown. Set them aside.
2. Now roast the red chillies in oil for 1-2 minutes.
3. Grind the red chillies, garlic and salt together to a coarse powder.

Savor it with rice and ghee(without ghee would work too!).
This dish is special and comes direct 'dil se'.



Note:
1.This podi/powder can be stored in an air tight container for 5-6 days. So the measurements I give here are not per-person. It would yield about 1/2 a cup of powder. So, you may scale up/down the quantity.
2. I suggest you keep the ingredient list as it is, as adding coriander/jeera would alter the taste.
3. This podi could also be used as a taste enhancer for the andhra stews usually prepared with vegetables,jaggery and tamarind.