Gun powder or Molaga podi in Tamil

Gun powder ( Molaga Podi in Tamil)

Ingredients:

1/4 cup white sesame seeds ( til)

1/2 cup Bengal gram dal ( Chana dal)

1/2 cup black gram dal (Dhuli Urad dal)

2 cups dry red chillies( sookhi sabut mirch)

1/4 -1/2 tsf adafoetida( hing)

1/2 cup Dry coconut powder 

1 small lemon sized ball of tamarind ( Imli) deseeded and broken into tiny pieces.

2 tbsf powdered jaggery ( shakkar)

Salt to taste

Method:

• Dry roast sesame with constant stirring till golden.
• Then add both dals and roast on medium heat, with constant stirring till golden brown. Add asafoetida. Add red chillies and roast , stirring constantly till crisp.
• Add coconut powder and stir for couple of minutes.
• Take the pan off the fire. When slightly cool , add the tamarind otherwise it melts due to the heat and makes the mixture too sticky to grind.
• When cool, grind in a dry grinder. The way my mom makes it, which I rate as the world's best , is coarse, not too fine.
• Add powdered jaggery and salt to taste. Serve with Idli, Dosa , Oothappam . You can also have it with plain boiled rice, topped with a dollop of ghee ( clarified butter) ... Simply divine. Slurp!!!