Ellu Podi | Sesame Seed Powder

Ellu podi / sesame seed powder recipe – a flavorful South Indian spiced lentil powder ( condiment ) using sesame seeds. This simple podi recipe has ellu or sesame seeds along with lentils and is perfect as a side dish for idlis, dosa and uttapam.

I like the nutty taste of sesame seeds and love to use them in curries like capsicum masala curry or in chutneys like spinach chutney.

Sesame seeds are packed with nutrients and add nice flavor to simple dishes.

I generally like to stock up on chutney powders which is helpful especially on a busy weekday when there is not enough time to prepare a fresh chutney or sambar. Sometimes I like to toss the idlis with this ellu milagai podi and sesame oil to make a quick podi idli. I have used karuppu ellu / black sesame seeds for making the podi. Sesame seeds give a nice nutty taste to the powder.

This til powder or ellu podi is very easy to make in minutes. I always rinse the black sesame seeds to remove any impurities and then use them in the recipe. We need just a few ingredients to make this podi. The procedure also is simple as the ingredients have be fried and then ground to a fine powder. Making fresh spice powders at home is a great way to ensure that you are using fresh ingredients for making them. I usually prepare homemade coriander powder as you can be assured that its not adulterated. This sesame seed podi stays well in an air-tight container stored in a cool, dry place for a couple of weeks. It goes great with idli and dosa. You can also serve it with rice and ghee / sesame oil.

This ellu podi is healthy too as it has both sesame seeds and lentils. Sesame seeds are rich in calcium and iron. They are also a great source of minerals like magnesium, copper and zinc. Also, they are a good source of dietary fiber. Apparently, black sesame seeds contain more calcium than white sesame seeds. Urad dal too is nutritious as it is rich in proteins and dietary fiber. Lets move on to the recipe for easy ellu podi.

How to make Ellu Podi step by step

1. Place the black sesame seeds in a strainer and rinse them in running water.
   
2. Heat a heavy-bottomed kadai or pan and add the rinsed sesame seeds.
   
3. On medium-heat, keep stirring the seeds till there is no moisture and they turn crisp and the seeds start to pop. Remove from heat and transfer the toasted sesame seeds to a bowl.
   
4. Heat oil in the same pan. Add urad dal, dry red chillies and asafoetida.
   
5. Fry till the dal turns golden-brown in color. Make sure that you keep stirring on a medium-low heat till the dal changes color. Remove from heat and transfer to a bowl.
   
6. Once all the ingredients have cooled down completely, grind all the fried ingredients along with salt in a mixer to a fine powder consistency.
   
7. Let the ellu podi cool down and then store it in an air-tight container. It can be served with idlis or dosa or even with rice.

Sesame Podi | Ellu Podi | Sesame Seed Powder Recipe