Karivepaku Podi / Karivepaku Karam podi / Idli Podi / Curry leaf Powder Recipe

Karivepaku Podi / Karivepaku Karam podi / Idli Podi / Curry leaf Powder Recipe

Today recipe is curry leaf powder which can be served as a side dish for idli, dosa and rice. Mix it with hot steamed rice with a dollop of ghee and it tastes just amazing. I wanted to do this karampodi for a long time but I could not lay my hands on some fresh leaves hence it had been on the to-do list for quite sometime now.

 

I generally prepare this podi often in my house for 2 main reasons. Firstly, it is healthy and secondly, these kind of chutney powders come in handy on busy mornings when you do not have time to prepare chutneys.
The preparation of this curry leaf chutney powder is very easy with few basic ingredients. There are many variations to prepare this karivepaku karam podi or idli podi. I will update about the other versions as and when I come across them or prepare them.

You can view my other chutney powder recipe - munagaku chutney podi ( drumstick leaf chutney powder )    . 

Preparation

Separate the leaves from the stalk. You can retain the stalks if they are tender. Wash them well and spread then on a cotton cloth to dry them until there is no moisture left on them. In the meantime, put a pan on flame. Add oil and channa dal and roast until light brown in colour.

Transfer to another plate to cool. In the same pan dry roast mustard seeds, cumin seeds, pepper corns, garlic pods, green chillies and tamarind and curry leaves separately one after another until crisp.

           

The curry leaves should be real crisp such that they should be able to break easily when taken in between your fingers. Allow all these ingredients to cool completely. Put them in a mixie except curry leaves along with salt and blend to a coarse powder. Now add the curry leaves and grind together to coarse or fine powder. 

I have grounded to a texture which is neither coarse or fine. Enjoy with idli or rice.

 

Ingredients

Curry leaves  1 bunch OR 5 cups of leaves
Channa dal  1 cup
Cumin seeds  2 tsp
Mustard seeds  1 tsp
Black pepper corns  1 tbsp
Garlic pods  7-9 
Green chillies  4
Tamarind  small ball ( a little more than that of as shown in the picture )
Salt  to taste
Oil  1 tsp

Method

1. Separate the leaves from their stalks and wash well.
2. Dry them on a cotton cloth in shade such that there is no moisture left on them.
3. Heat a pan and add a teaspoon of oil in it.
4. Add channa dal and fry until it changes to light brown colour. Remove to another plate to cool.
5. In the same pan, roast the cumin seeds, mustard seeds, black pepper corns, garlic pods, curry leaves and tamarind separately one after another.
6. Allow all these ingredients to cool completely.
7. Put them in a blender along with salt and grind to a fine or coarse powder.
8. Enjoy with hot steamed rice or dosa or with idli.

Notes

• Dry roast curry leaves until real crisp. If you take them between your fingers, they should be able to break easily.
• There are other variations of curry leaf powder which I will sharing soon.
• You can also add few methi seeds if you wish. 
• Increase the amount of tamarind by little if you want it sour. You can also add aamchur powder ( dry mango powder ) instead of tamarind.