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.