This peanut powder can even be relished with plain rice and a dollop of ghee or with yogurt rice. A spoonful of this podi along with the South Indian breakfast greatly contributes to the protein requirement for growing kids as well for adults too. It is also a good stand by when you cannot prepare fresh chutney for your breakfast. Each family has their own version of making this chutney powder to suit their taste. Some make using only the roasted gram and coconut and no peanuts are used. This is the peanut powder /podi which is made in my mom’s home. Peanuts form the base of this and fried gram is used to prevent the oil oozing out from the peanut mix while pounding it. You could slightly adjust the amount of ingredients to suit your taste like increasing or decreasing the garlic and red chilies. Variations: if you like you can also use sesame seeds, desiccated coconut or flax seeds and reduce the same amount of peanuts from the ingredients mentioned below. This peanut powder can also be used to make podi idli. More spice powder or podi recipesflax seeds podirasam powderbiryani masala powdergaram masala powdervepudu karam podi

How to make chutney powder

  1. I begin with cleaning and discarding stones from peanuts, roasted gram and cumin seeds.
  2. Dry peanuts until they turn aromatic and golden. Then add the fried gram and roast for another 1 minute. Remove these to a plate and cool.
  3. Add 1 tsp. oil to the same pan and heat it. Add 2 to 3 curry leaves and 8 to 10 dried red chilies. Fry them till they turn crisp. Then add cumin seeds and garlic. Stir for 30 to 60 seconds. We prefer not to over roast the garlic here. It is fried just for shelf life.
  4. Cool all the ingredients. Add the curry leaves, red chilies, garlic and cumin to a grinder jar. Grind to smooth powder.
  5. Add rest of the ingredients and salt to the jar. Scrape off the sides and mix everything well. Grind them just until mixed. Avoid over grinding as the peanuts will begin to release oil and the whole thing will become a mass. Store peanut powder in an air tight jar. It keeps fresh for about 2 to 3 months at room temperature.