Name: Indian Red Gun Powder
Ingredients: 1 t vegetable oil; 2 T channa dal; 2 T urad dal (white gram); 15 dry red chile pods; 1/2 t asafetida; 2 T sesame seeds; 1/2 t salt or to taste; 1 1/2 T brown sugar, or palm sugar, or jaggery

Indian Red Gun Powder

Ingredients

1 t vegetable oil
2 T channa dal
2 T urad dal (white gram)
15 dry red chile pods
1/2 t asafetida
2 T sesame seeds
1/2 t salt or to taste
1 1/2 T brown sugar, or palm sugar, or jaggery

Instructions

(Molaha Podi). Heat the 1 t oil in a wok or heavy skillet over medium heat for 3 minutes. Add the urad and channa dal and chiles. Fry stirring constantly until the beans begin to turn color, about 3 minutes. Stir in the asafetida and sesame seeds. Continue frying until the contents of the pan are nicely browned and smell roasted, about 3 minutes. Turn off the heat, transfer mixture to a plate and cool completely. Blend in the sugar and salt. Grind the mixture to a powder using a coffee grinder (my prefered method), or a large mortar and pestle or spice mill. The powder should be neither course, nor as fine as flour; it should have a grainy texture. This mixture stays fresh indefinitely if stored in an airtight container in a cool place. Optinally, just before serving, blend a little oil into as much powder as you might use.