Kandi Podi

Flavorful, protein rich, legume powders are a common occurance in South Indian kitchens. Some are used to spice up the dishes and some gel well with some steamed, hot rice and a spoonful of ghee. Today's recipe 'kandi podi' which literally means 'toordal powder' from Andhra belongs to the latter kind. Cumin and asafoetida add the aroma and flavor to this delicious podi.
I prepare this in two different ways and am posting both the versions.

Ingredients needed:

• Toordal - 1/2 cup
• Chanadal - 1/4 cup
• Red chilies - 10 (Increase or decrease the quantity depending upon the spiciness you prefer. I used 5 byadagi chilies for color and 5 hot variety chilies. If using only hot variety, about 7-8 chilies will suffice.)
• Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
• Curry leaves - about 12
• Salt - 1 tsp
• 2 tsp oil
• A little asafoetida

Making kandi podi:
Heat oil in a small saute pan and add asafoetida. Turn off the stove after about 20 seconds and leave it aside.
On medium flame, dry roast the dals in a saute pan till they turn red. Take care not to burn them. During the final stage of frying dals, add the chilies and curry leaves as well to toast.
Remove the dal mixture and add cumin seeds to the same pan. Toast the cumin seeds on low flame till they slightly brown.
Allow the mixture to cool. Then grind it along with the asafoetida into a coarse powder adding salt.
Or you can skip adding asafoetida while grinding and add it to the powder at the end and mix well.

This is another variation I got from M's aunt. It is almost like toordal chutney in the powdery form.

Ingredients needed:

• Toordal 1/2 cup
• Red chilies - 8 (used 4 byadagi chilies for color and 4 hot variety chilies )
• Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
• Salt as needed
• 2 tsp oil
• 1/2 tsp mustard seeds

Making podi:
On medium flame, roast the toor dal till it turns red, taking care not to burn it. At the final stage, add red chillies as well and toast them.
Toast the cumin seeds on low flame till they slightly brown.
After the mixture cools, grind it into a coarser powder adding salt
Heat oil in a saute pan and add mustard seeds. Turn off the stove when they start to splutter. Let it cool.
Add the mustard seeds to the ground powder and mix well.