If you are die hard fans of the South Indian Dry Idli Chutney Powder or “Gunpowder” as it is popularly known, then you will love the Ellu Podi or the Sesame Lentil Chutney Recipe that I am sharing today.
“Ellu” refers to Sesame Seeds in Tamil. I particularly adore Black Sesame seeds due to its flavor, depth and nutty aroma. I have an Ellu Sadam or Sesame Rice (A South Indian Variety Rice for Lunch Box and a Temple Prasadam) on the blog, that you should try out at home, if you too are fans of Sesame Seeds.
This month when the Ellu Podi stock had to be replenished, I decided to update the recipe on the blog with detailed step by step pics. I posted this recipe in 2017 when I had just began blogging and documented some of my famous podi and pickles with extremely hideous photographs that makes me cringe now.
Similar to Idli Podi, this dry chutney can be mixed with Sesame Oil and smeared on idlis, eaten with Dosas and Uttapam etc. It however, tastes excellent with Idlis and I recommend that you smear the podi on the idlis, drizzle the oil and let it sit for atleast 15 minutes before you enjoy the experience.
The ingredients for Ellu Podi are similar to the Idli Podi recipe or Molagapodi. I have 2 versions of Idli Molagapodi on the blog (1) Traditional Molagapodi Recipe and (2) Healthy Molagapodi – I call this healthy because I have used a lot of seeds along with lentils and this can be sprinkled on dosa or upma without the oil as well.
I know many who make Ellu Podi with White Sesame Seeds but there is something totally magical about using the Black Sesame in terms of its aroma and flavor. Also, try and keep the podi texture as coarse instead of fine to enjoy the maximum taste.
Okay, if you absolutely detest the dark colour of the podi, try and mix both in equal quantities.
Other Podi Recipes or Dry Chutney Powder Recipes on the blog
- Thengai Podi or Coconut Podi that can double up for both breakfast recipes and/or to be mixed with rice and sesame oil.
- Kollu Podi – Goodness of Horsegram or Kulith and lentils, make this a healthy must have podi in your kitchen pantry. This podi is exclusively for mixing with rice and eating.
- Kara Sundal Podi – This podi is what I exclusively use to spice up boiled legumes or sprouts at home for dinner like – Chana, Moong, Matki, Rajma etc. You should try this!
Consumption of Sesame Seeds increases during winters or when it is cold as it helps in generating heat in the body. Sesame Seeds or Ellu are also a good plant based source for Calcium. Growing up, I hated the glass of milk but enjoyed Sesame seeds thoroughly.
Difference between White Sesame and Black Sesame Seeds
- Black seeds have their hulls or shells intact whereas the white ones have theirs removed.
- Toasted White Sesame Seeds are usually sprinkled on dishes, especially Asian Cuisine. In Indian Cuisine, it is typically added as part of tempering, made as sweet brittles or chikki with jaggery and even as part of chutneys (both dry and wet) amongst many other things.
- The Black Sesame Seeds are the ones that are cold pressed into Sesame Oil.
There are numerous health benefits that one can benefit with regular consumption of Sesame Seeds. Like I mentioned above, one of them is the fact that Sesame Seeds are plant based non dairy source of Calcium.
Good Source of plant based protein and fibre, sesame seeds are oil rich. They are immunity boosting and antioxidant rich too. Source.
Step By Step Recipe to Make Ellu Podi at home
- Heat a small pan or Kadhai / wok, add Urad Dal and couple of drops of sesame oil. Now roast the Urad dal until it is golden brown in colour. Set this aside.
- In the same pan, add chana dal and some oil and roast the Chana Dal until brown. Set this aside for cooling along with Urad Dal.
- Add Black Sesame Seeds (no oil) on to the pan. and just heat it till it starts spluttering. Remove this and keep aside.
- Now, roast the whole red chillies with few drops of oil until they crisp up a bit.
- Cool all the above ingredients and then grind them coarsely along with salt to taste and asafoetida or hing.
- Store the podi in a glass jar with a tight lid.
Recipe Notes
- This Podi is like any other spicy south Indian dry chutney that can be sprinkled on all breakfast recipes like Upma, Idli, Uttapam, Plain dosa etc.
- I have used Pondi Chillies for the spice. You can opt for Kashmiri Red Chillies or Byadgi for the colour and less heat too.
- If you find the colour of the podi less appealing, try it with white sesame seeds. But the taste and flavor of Black sesame seeds is irreplaceable.
- Black sesame seeds tend to leave oil after a while so you can transfer the podi container in a refrigerator after couple of weeks, in case you make a big batch and/or if you live in a hot and humid location.
Ellu Podi or Spiced Sesame and Lentil Dry Chutney Powder
Ingredients
- 1 cup Black Sesame Seeds or Til 1 cup is 250 ml measurement
- 3/4 cup Urad Dal or Split Black Lentils
- 1/4 cup Chana Dal
- 12 nos Whole Red Chillies See Notes Below
- 1/4 tsp Hing or Asafoetida Skip this ingredient for gluten free recipe
- Oil as required for roasting the ingredients
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Heat a small pan or Kadhai / wok, add Urad Dal and couple of drops of sesame oil. Now roast the Urad dal until it is golden brown in colour. Set this aside.
- In the same pan, add chana dal and some oil and roast the Chana Dal until brown. Set this aside for cooling along with Urad Dal.
- Add Black Sesame Seeds (no oil) on to the pan. and just heat it till it starts spluttering. Remove this and keep aside.
- Now, roast the whole red chillies with few drops of oil until they crisp up a bit.
- Cool all the above ingredients and then grind them coarsely along with salt to taste and asafetida or hing.
- Store the podi in a glass jar with a tight lid.
Notes
- This Podi is like any other spicy south Indian dry chutney that can be sprinkled on all breakfast recipes like Upma, Idli, Uttapam, Plain dosa etc.
- I have used Pondi Chillies for the spice. You can opt for Kashmiri Red Chillies or Byadgi for the colour and less heat too.
- If you find the colour of the podi less appealing, try it with white sesame seeds. But the taste and flavor of Black sesame seeds is irreplaceable.
- Black sesame seeds tend to leave oil after a while so you can transfer the podi container in a refrigerator after couple of weeks, in case you make a big batch and/or if you live in a hot and humid location.
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Thank you for visiting
Vidya Narayan
Megala
6 Nov 2017Lovely flavorful sesame powder !
Vidya Narayan
6 Nov 2017thanks my dear
Green Delhi
6 Nov 2017Great post! Very interesting to read about the health benefits of sesame seeds. Very nice recipe as well. I’m sure black sesame podi and idli’s go very well together!
Vidya Narayan
6 Nov 2017Glad you liked it. Yes they really go well together. thank you!
Ramyarecipes
6 Nov 2017Aromatic gunpowder 👍
Vidya Narayan
6 Nov 2017Thanks so much. It is!
anushascuisines
8 Nov 2017Love chutney powders 😋😋sesame powder we usually don’t prepare…I will try this and let you know how it turned out 😊😊thank you for sharing dear!!!
Vidya Narayan
8 Nov 2017My pleasure dear.. I started this only post my marraige 6 years back & since then I have been in love with it.
jyo
8 Nov 2017Never heard of black sesame powder….sounds very interesting Vidya….must be damn yumm with hot piping rice✔
jyo
8 Nov 2017Never heard of black sesame powder Vidya….sounds very interesting….must be damn yumm with hot piping rice✔
Vidya Narayan
9 Nov 2017absolutely delicious. I would recommend having it with breakfast as accompaniments instead of rice. For rice, the spice content has to be slightly less & the qty of dals or lentils should be more.
Nayna Kanabar
19 Jan 2018This spice mixture looks great and it must be so aromatic when the ingredients are all roasted releasing their flavours.
Vidya Narayan
19 Jan 2018I completely agree with you. The flavour is lovely. Thank you so much!
Sharmila - The Happie Friends Potpourri Corner
19 Jan 2018This is my mil signature dish .. Love to have it !!
Vidya Narayan
20 Jan 2018Oh is it? Wonderful! Thank you dear!
Priya Srinivasan
19 Jan 2018Wow Vidya I m salivating as I read thru the recipe, we love sesame idly podi, on hot idlies and idhyam nalayennai, it is out of the world!!
Vidya Narayan
20 Jan 2018Priya, you said it ma, nallayennai with ellu podi is super combo and my husbands fav too at home. Thanks dear, glad to know you!
Cook with Smile..
20 Jan 2018Wow such a healthy chutney podi.. will definitely give a try
Vidya Narayan
20 Jan 2018Thank you! Do try, Im sure you will love it dear.
Jagruti
20 Jan 2018Absolutely gorgeous and tasty powder, I bet it taste and aroma must be amazing!
Vidya Narayan
20 Jan 2018Love sesame seeds as an ingredient. Thanks dear
theyellowdaal
20 Jan 2018Looks really interesting 😊
Will bookmark it to try later👍
Vidya Narayan
20 Jan 2018thanks dear!
Sapana Behl
20 Jan 2018Reading the health benefits the colour doesn’t matter. It looks so nice.
Vidya Narayan
20 Jan 2018Absolutely! Thanks a lot!
Priya Kumar
21 Jan 2018Hey Vidya, I hope this go weill now. Sesame powder is new to me. But a very healthy one to consume.
Vidya Narayan
21 Jan 2018Thank you dear. It is one of my fav
Freda @ Aromatic essence
22 Jan 2018This is new to me, It sounds like something I’d like 🙂 Wil try it sometime.
Vidya Narayan
26 Jan 2018Thanks dear
jayashreetrao
22 Jan 2018Lovely podi, need to try this. Make other varieties, not this.
Vidya Narayan
22 Jan 2018Thanks dear, please do try, I am sure this will be a regular feature at your home, esp for idlis.
yarnsnknots
24 Jan 2018Mymother in law makes this lovely podi and serves with rice. Yumm. Yours looks so beautiful, the black and white contrast is superb.
Vidya Narayan
26 Jan 2018Thank you so much.. I bet your MIL’s podi too rocks.
Meenu Gupta
17 Jan 2020Wow. This is Fab! My hubby loves such Podi.
Vidya Narayan
19 Jan 2020Thank you so much, we are ourselves podi fans at home.