When I think about either Idly or Dosa, the first thing that comes to mind is naturally the spice powder that's served or the Molaga podi which is an eternally side dish for these tiffins Tamil Nadu or for that matter, any home in Tamil Nadu.
We always have different spice powders stocked at home for different tiffins. And this is one of the variations we make. Since I decided to make condiments and microwave recipes for this week, I thought those spice powders will make a great choice and quick to make in the microwave.
I also made chutney in the microwave, making sure to kill two birds in one shot and the podi will be a great asset for masala dosas. But I finally made just the podi and chutney and saved the masala dosa for another day.
There are many ways you can make a spice powder and use it in different ways. There are spice powders for enhancing the flavour, like Kootu podi, for enhancing the taste, like idli podi, for making a dish on its own like sambar.
One can make lentils as the main ingredient, or a herb as the main ingredient in which case the herb is used in its dried form. I am not sure about other cuisines, but from what I have seen and done in Tamilian or Andhra Cuisine, spice powders play a vital role in many dishes.
You make a vegetable sauté, finally sprinkle some spice powder, and lo you have the most delicious curry on hand! The list is endless.
For today's post, I made the famous Molaga or Milagai Podi for are eternally served with Idli, Dosa in Tamil Nadu. And that too in the microwave where it took just about 4 mins to get the entire thing done.
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Step by Step Recipe to make Idli / Dosa Molaga Podi in microwave
Cooking mode : Microwave mode
Cooking time : 3 mins
Total time : 5 mins
Mixer with good strong blades
Ingredients
1 cup Dry Red Chillies (stacks removed)
3/4 cup Gram Dal / Husked Urad Dal
1/2 cup Bengal Gram / Channa Dal
2 pinches Asafetida / Hing
Curry Leaves, handful
1/2 tsp Salt (per taste)
1 tsp Cooking Oil
Instructions
In a microwave-safe bowl, add 1 tsp oil and mix in channa dal. Microwave for 1 min. Remove the dal to a plate. Add in urad dal. Microwave for 30 secs.
Once done, remove to the plate, add in the red chilies, salt, hing, and curry leaves. Microwave for 30 secs.
Remove to a plate. Allow it to cool or put it under the fan.
First, take the lentils, blend, or pulse them a couple of times. Then finally add the chilies and blend again.
How coarse you want depends on your preference. I normally make it a little coarse so that you get to bite on the lentil.
Recipe
Microwave Milagai Podi | Molaga Podi | Dry Chutney Powder for Idlis, Dosas | Step by Step Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup Dry Red Chillies stacks removed
- 3/4 cup Gram Dal / Husked Urad Dal
- 1/2 cup Bengal Gram / Channa Dal
- 2 pinches Asafoetida / Hing
- Curry Leaves handful
- 1/2 tsp Salt per taste
- 1 tsp Cooking Oil
Instructions
- In a microwave-safe bowl, add 1 tsp oil and mix in channa dal. Microwave for 1 min. Remove the dal to a plate. Add in urad dal. Microwave for 30 secs.
- Once done, remove to the plate, add in the red chilies, salt, hing, and curry leaves. Microwave for 30 secs.
- Remove to a plate. Allow it to cool or put it under the fan.
- First, take the lentils, blend, or pulse them a couple of times. Then, finally add the chilies and blend again.
- How coarse you want depends on your preference. I normally make it a little coarse so that you get to bite on the lentil.
Hari Chandana says
nice recipe.. looks absolutely perfect.. thanks for the awesome recipe 🙂
Priya (Yallapantula) Mitharwal says
wow, that is amazing, I am surely going to try this method. I have a question though, usually don't we dry roast dry red chilies as well? or am I a wrong?
Vardhini says
This podi is on my list .. just waiting for the current batch to get over.
Vardhini
Kalyani says
looks like a perfect time saver – my lifeline to Idlis and Dosas in a microwave- must try..
Cheers
Kalyani
Pavani says
Spicy and yummy podi Valli. My mom always keeps me stocked with this all the time - I should probably start making my own now. Thanks for the recipe.
Harini says
love it!
Smitha says
Srivalli...u r an expert at using a MW....with so many different Indian recipes..u r truly an genius! Podi looks great!
Ammu's says
very delicious powder.. One of my dh favorites..
Archana Vivek says
wow this is amazing..super quick.
vaishali sabnani says
Valli...my journey to MW Cooking has started with u r posts...n these podis r actually new to me...infact i want to make some next ime i m cooking S Indian cuisine.
jayasree says
Roasting the ingredients in the MW saves up lots of time. And we have to watch like hawk else will end up with charcoal like mass.
sushma says
Perfectly done......
Priya says
Looks wonderful, even am making most of my spice powders in microwave oven if am preparing small quantity of them..
Srivalli says
Thank you everybody!
Priya, It varies with each recipe. But if you noticed I roasted it towards the end, so by then oil was almost used up by the dals. So it was pretty much like dry roast. I will update this on the notes..thanks..:)
Usha says
I like podis but rarely make them at home, as I rarely make idly & dosa.
You are putting your microwave to good use. I use my mw for re-heating food and thawing frozen food.
The Pumpkin Farm says
Hey Valli, thanks for introducing microwave for so many regulr dishes.
divya says
Wowwwwwwwwwwwww... simply inviting dear.
Suma Gandlur says
Have to try your version. Does the quantity of chillies you mentioned makes this very spicy one?
Srivalli says
Suma, The podi turned out to be spicy, esp rice. But it so delicious with idly!
Rajani says
Bookmarked!
Nirmala's kitchen says
Thanks for making my work still more easier!!!!Lovely
Cool Lassi(e) says
Mom used to make diff chutney and sambhar for Idli and Dosai but I always reached for Milagai Podi. There is something appealing and addictive about a milagai podi! What an easy way to make it in a microwave!