Kootu podi, a spice mix used to flavor kootu, a South-Indian style dal with vegetables.
We have lot of kootu varieties in south-india,araichuvitta kootu, kootu made using freshly ground masala, Puli kootu, kootu made with tamarind and poricha kootu that too made with freshly ground masala, but a different spices. And regular kootu made with premade spice powder.
This kootu podi recipe is my Amma’s recipe. I have been following this for the past 15 years and my Kootu has never failed to attract appreciation. It is a simple to make and easy to remember recipe.
I use a tea cup/coffee dabara to measure the quantities while making this spice mix. This stores well in room temperature, more than a month. The below given measurements will keep you going for a month, if making only kootu. I use the same powder for my rasam too, so it lasts me just 15 days.
I don’t dry roast the ingredients, most of the spice blends needs dry roasting, but i have been using this blend for about 15 years now without roasting, the taste still remains the same, absolutely delicious.
The addition of dal gives the needed creaminess for the kootu. The recipe doesn’t include coconut, which improves the shelf life of the spice.
With this readymade kootu podi, kootu/rasam can be made in no time. It takes only 20 minutes to make any vegetable kootu in a pressure cooker with this kootu podi. With steaming hot rice and delicious kootu you can serve a well balanced meal in no time.
Kootu podi/Spice mix for kootu
Equipment
- spice grinder
Ingredients
- ¾ cup Corinader seeds Dhaniya
- 1 cup Black peppercorns milagu
- 1½ cup Jeeragam cumin seeds
- 1 cup Tuvar dal thuvaram paruppu
- 1 cup Chana dal kadalai parupu
- ½ cup moong dal payatham paruppu
Instructions
- Take all the given ingredients in a mixer/spice grinder and grind it to almost fine powder
- Dont grind it too fine, a little coarse dal, adds a great texture and taste to the Kootu or Rasam
- Once ground, transfer the spice blend to a flat plate and let it cool completely.
- Store it in an air-tight container. This spice blend can be stored at room temperature.
While using in Kootu, add 2 tsp of this spice mix, I have used the same spice mix in Malabar Vellari Kootu Recipe and in cabbage kootu in pressure cooker
something totally new to me…because i never knew masala powder is prepared for this in special…am sure this will enhance flavor and get our kootu to perfection every time we make
Nvr know that there is a podi for kootu… Great dear
I get so so confused with these podi powders..I do know a couple of them but actually do not make…all is ready stuff…but this spice powder looks fantastic. .will scale down the recipe..else it might last over an year for me:)
wooww.. tis will make life easier..
Mom's recipes always rock, we do make kootu podi but very rarely, mom used to add kopra thengai in her podi..Urs sounds easier than my mom as we dont kopra thengai here.
Nice recipe Priya, I must try it sometime..I love all kootu podis..:)
Awesome clicks Dear ! Nice post !
Sorry for not visiting ur space for past few days, But hereafter i won't miss here… very useful one… nice clicks…
Nice pics.These podis really save time during weekday mornings!
Wow looks terrific… Drooling here
Very flavorful and peppery kootu podi!
nice new look for blog and podi looks fab
Interesting one we don't use podi for kootu. This is new for me.
Interesting and flavorful Spice…
I usually wont make this in bunch but grind it when ever I prepare kootu!! love the fresh flavors of this spice.
That's a very interesting and different spice powder. Addition of the different dals sounds delicious. Will try when I make kootu next time.
Never have used spice powder in kootu before.. This one looks like it wud bring out a special flavor & aroma.. Gotta try 🙂
nice layout Priya ! and although I grind fresh masala paste for kootu everytime, wudnt mind a lil jar handy like this !!
Should we roast or raw ingredients
No need to roast just grind the raw ingredients
Very handy to have these spice mixes at home. I make many others but never made for kootu. Thanks for the recipe. I will make it sometime soon.
A kootu and a rasam powder two in one..great idea and a very handy spice mixture. I recently bought a small packet of ready made rasam powder and it had no flavour whatsoever and landed up adding other spices. This one bookmarked!
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This is new to me, you have not roasted the ingredients, isn’t it?
Priya this sounds delicious. Do we not roast/heat the ingredients?
If I want to make a small portion just half all the ingredients? Thanks a lot my meals have become quite boring these days so this will add some zing.
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This Podi sounds so flavorful, so versatile. will love to use it for Rasam.. can we use for idlis too??
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i have not tried using it for idlies swati. my mom sometimes mixes it with rice and ghee
In this recent development the podi mix is saviour for me as could not get hands of fresh coconut. I am happy to find another podi spice mix with so few ingredients. Added to my list.
What a great combination of spices for your podispice. I like the idea of adding the various dalls to it.
I would consider this more a lentil powder than a spice powder with the variety of lentils used