Make some vegan Wonton soup with homemade wrappers and wontons for the Chinese New Year! Try it!
Gun Powder Chutney Recipe
One famous south Indian chutney powder that is spicy and pairs well with idli or dosa is the Molgai Podi.
Condiments make a meal interesting! This famous very pungent spice powder is made with lots of red chillies and hence it is also called gunpowder chutney. You can enjoy this Idly Milagai podi with of course idli and dosa but try it with uttapams hot steamed rice homemade ghee and Khara podi as it also called. Read on for this easy way to vary your food with your pantry ingredients. Spread the love, like and share my post. Sign up for my newsletter! (link below).
Contents:
- Why make the Podi?
- Difference between Khara Podi and Chatni Pudi
- Ingredients needed for Idly Milagai podi
- Recipe Card
- Some other Chutneys and Podis
Why make the Podi?
Khara Podi is what I enjoyed at Chennai and Hyderabad and I had a small packet of it which seems to have disappeared. Now I wanted to make some and since Sowmya mentioned that she uses flaxseeds in hers I asked her for the recipe. How else do I feed Flaxseeds to the reluctant family? Now I can use it as a masala too! 😀
My recipe comes from Sowmya’s place. Sowmya is an awesome bread baker check her place and you may hear her bread singing away.
How do you eat these podis or pudis?
Most of these pudi or podis are what I grew up with. I did not like them then but now I love them. In fact, I make it a point to make them.
- My earliest memory is eating these pudis as we call them on a piece of bread liberally smeared with ghee.
- Then with dosa or idli where we added oil/ghee in the podi and made a paste.
- Else add it to your everyday flatbread like chapati, jowar rotti or sajji rotti, with groundnut oil these taste amazing.
- Then when adding to rice it was again something very common. Have you tried mixing chutney pudi with curds or making thin poha with it? We call it hachid avalakki.
- Well eating with dosa, idli or rice is too tame? Try sprinkling on Upma or even the bread upit. Try tossing idlis in the podi makes a great snack too.
- Travelling? Make some Podi! This was the scene when we were kids. Store in an airtight container that is not plastic. Use a dry spoon and you need not refrigerate it.
Difference between Khara Podi and Chatni Pudi
Ingredients make a difference between this famous Khara Podi from Andra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu and the Karnataka Style Chutney pudi. Mind you both are tasty and both can be carried when travelling.
In the Karnataka Style Chutney pudi we use urad dal, chana dal, grated coconut, groundnuts, til, dried red chillies (Byadgi), curry leaves, tamarind, jaggery, and salt. Some recipes also call for a tempering mustard seed, turmeric, asafoetida (hing) in oil. The dals are roasted without oil and the rest to fry you use oil but the quantity is very little. You can check the recipe here.
To make this batch of Khara Podi I have used chana dal, urid dal, flax seeds, chillies and til. There are variations where you can leave out the flax seeds and also there are some recipes that use peanuts, and some Chopra (dried coconut), curry leaves, tamarind and a pinch of asafoetida. The dry roasted ingredients are powdered together.
Ingredients needed for Idly Milagai podi
- Dals: Chana Dal also split Bengal gram and Urid dal also split black gram lentils that are dehusked are the used to make the Gun Powder Podi.
- Flax seeds: Agshi these teardrop-shaped seeds are also called Jawas. Now, these seeds are the talk of the town for their health benefits.
- Chillies: now the number of chillies you add is as per your taste. If you want an orangeish use then use Badgi or Guntur. Remember to reduce the numbers these two are pungent.
- Sesame seeds: you need a little til to make this podi. Please do not skip it.
- Oil: use any oil that does not have a strong smell. I have used rice barn oil today.
- Salt: use as needed table salt is fine.
Recipe Card:
Gun Powder Chutney Recipe
This Non-traditional Idly Milagai podi is made using flaxseeds. This condiment will double up as masala in everyday cooking.
Print
Rate
Servings: 1 cups
Calories: 30kcal
Equipment
- 2 plates
- 1 kadhai
- Spoon/ladles
- Mixer
- Airtight Container
Ingredients
- 30 dried red chillies
- ⅓ cup chana dal/bengal gram
- ⅓ cup urad dal/split black gram
- ⅓ cup flaxseeds
- 1 tablespoon white sesame seeds
- 2 teaspoon oil
- Salt
Instructions
- Add the sesame seeds to a kadhai/wok and roast them till you get a popping sound. pop. Transfer to a big plate to cool. (Check notes 1)
- In the same kadhai/wok add ½ teaspoon oil and the red chillies. Stir-fry them for 2-3 minutes on low flame till it begins to get a darker colour. Take care not to burn them.
- And again add to another plate the plate and let them cool.
- In the same kadhai/wok add ½ teaspoon of oil and fry the Chana dal. Let the dal turn golden brown. Transfer to the plate in which you have added the sesame seeds and let it cool.
- Similarly, add ½ teaspoon oil and fry the urid dal till golden in colour. Let it cool on the same plate with the chana dal.
- Add oil and roast the flax speed till you get a popping sound. Let them cool too.
- Meanwhile, your chillies will have cooled. Transfer the chillies to a mixer and blend to a very coarse powder.
- Add the sesame seeds, dals, salt and flaxseeds and blend to a coarse powder.
- Transfer to an air-tight container.
- Enjoy with idli, dosa, etc!
Notes
If you like me store your sesame seeds after roasting them then you can avoid roasting the sesame seeds or til.
Tried this recipe?Mention @themadscientistskitchen or tag #themadscientistkitchen!
Nutrition Facts
Gun Powder Chutney Recipe
Amount Per Serving (1 cup)
Calories 30
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutritional Disclaimer: I am not a certified nutritionist and make no claims to the contrary. Please check with your nutritionist for your dietary needs and restrictions. Ultimately you are responsible for your decisions.
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To make this delicious Milgai Pudi remember to keep he gas is on low flame throughout the roasting. Do not lose patience and increase the flame.
I have used 30 red chillies and mine happened to be Kashmiri chillies so I got a reddish hue. I was quite disappointed. The podi was nothing like the orangeish colour I had pictured in my mind. So will keep that in mind and use Badgi about 20 chillies should be enough.
Some other Chutneys and Podis
- Agshi Pudi or Flax Seed Powder
- Gurellu Pudi or Niger Seed Powder
- Karnataka Style Chatni Pudi/ Chutney Powder/Spiced Lentil Powder
- Lasun Chutney or Garlic Chutney
- Curry Leaves Chutney
- Drumstick Leaves Chutney Powder
- Sunflower Seed and Garlic Chutney
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Mina Joshi says
This chutney would go perfectly sprinkles on dhoklas and khichi where we want to make the dish hot. Thank you so much for sharing the recipe for gun powder chutney. I often see it mentioned in recipes but never the recipe.Also love the name given to this chutney!!
ArchanaPotdar says
😀 Thanks Mina. It is traditionally called Gun powder chutney, not my creation.
Priya Vj says
Quintessential condiment in a south indian home spice rack .. I too like smearing chutney pudi on crisp toasted bread and enjoy it in peace … your recipe has triggered my brain nerves to use up the flax seeds in my home too 🙂
ArchanaPotdar says
😀 Glad to be of help.
Bless my food by Payal says
Heard alot about gunpowder but never knew it is named as such being made with lots of chillies. The recipe sounds really interesting made with simple and basic Ingredients.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Payal.
Kalyani says
Chutney podi and gun powder are two powerful arsenals in my kitchen too. I like how you described the difference between the various podis. This version with Flaxseed is very interesting..
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Kalyani.
Maria says
What a flavour bomb this chutney must be! I’m totally intrigued by the use of flaxseeds in chutney. Very smart idea to include more of them in our daily diet.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks,Maria.
Azlin Bloor says
This is definitely something I would really enjoy. Dosas and idlis are something I really miss from my childhood. You make me want to cook them up so I can try this amazing chutney powder in all the ways you’ve mentioned above.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Azlin you should try it or I can parcel it to you!
Indrani sen says
Loved the addition of flaxseeds in the recipe. Itakes the dish extra nutritive
Uma Srinivas says
My mom used to make this chutney powder using flaxseed. Love this with idli and dosas. Thanks for the recipe will do try it!
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Uma.
Vandana says
Can’t tell you how much I love gun powder. I can have gun powder, rice, and ghee every single day without getting bored. It’s comfort food for me. Loved the idea of adding flax seeds to it. I will also do that next time.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Vandana. Do try!
Sandhya Ramakrishnan says
I can’t imagine my kitchen ever being without this milagai podi. Every family has its own blend and I love trying out different recipes. I love the beautiful color of your gun powder.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Sandhya. You are the only one here, everyone looks at it say never mind. 😀
Lata Lala says
Gun powder chutney is one of my favorites and I have one bottle always ready at home. I love adding it to anything and everything, specifically on dosa and idli.
Loved the addition of flax seeds here. Wonderful share.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Lata.
Mayuri Patel says
My first introduction to gun powder chutney was by my neighbor in Bangalore. She sent some idlis coated with the fiery gun powder and hot it was. When I asked her what she had added to the idlis she told me gun powder. I thought she was going at that time. Archana your gun powder chutney is definitely a must try recipe and that too before the flax seeds get over!
ArchanaPotdar says
😀 I am thinking about your reaction to gun powder and laughing. Even I thought the same first when I heard about it.
Poonam Bachhav says
Your gun powder chutney sounds fiery hot and at the same time nutritious too. Great way to add lentils and healthy seeds like flaxseed, sesame seeds in daily diet.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Poonam.
Preethi Prasad says
Gun powder is an integral part of our cuisine and a must have in the kitchen. This gun powder sounds so flavourful and Delish. I like to add flax seed to the gun powder too.
ArchanaPotdar says
😀 thanks, Preethi.