One of the greatest pleasures of blogging has always been the friendship it has got me. I had lost touch with my school and college friends after marriage and after a while, it was all about family, kids, and working. One of the biggest changes that came into our life, was the constant mention of this blogger or that blogger. At one point, even Konda knew who this aunty was and what she blogs on..:)
Apart from the online interaction, talking and meeting these friends was the next greatest pleasure. Over the years I have met many friends in person, chat with some over the phone. One such wonderful person is Viji. I have been in touch with her since the beginning years and then joined for a group blog as well. Though for personal reasons, she has made her blog private, she was never shy or hesitant to share her recipes, knowledge or anything that one might want.
Viji Jeyakumar, authors Vcuisine, which was so very popular before she made it private. I know her space is still very popular among her readers. I rue the blogger's lack of response to fix some rudiment errors. She is unable to add more than 100 readers and hence I am unable to access her wonderful space. This SIMPas she calls, is one of the first recipes that attracted me to spice mixes. She uses this powder in such versatile ways that you will be left wonder stuck.
I finally had the pleasure of making this podi myself at home and have even packed something for later usage. I dedicated an entire meal to cook with this podi and I must thank Viji for the wonderful recipe.
South Indian Masala Powder
Ingredients Needed
Fried Gram - 1 cup
Urad Dhal - 1 cup
Coriander seeds - 1/3 cup
Sesame seeds - 1/2 cup
Red chillis - 15 nos
Whole Pepper - 2 tbsp
Cumin Seeds - 2 tbsp
Hing - 2 tsp
Fenugreek seeds - 1 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1 tsp
Tamarind - 1 big lemon size
Roasted Groundnuts - 2 tbsp
Cashew nuts - 8
Copra / Dry Coconut - 1/2 cup
Curry leaves - few
Oil: 1 tbsp
Salt a pinch
Preparation:
Fry all the ingredients separately. Add coconut at the end and raw jeera. Powder coarsely in the mixie. Add turmeric and hing powder. Keep it in the air tight container which is handy for making many dishes.
Notes
Viji suggests that this powder is a versatile one, which goes with any dish. Tamarind can be fried or microwaved or cut into small pieces before grinding. Adding tamarind or armchur powder (dry mango powder) will save us from adding lemon juice for dry dishes. Always add jeera at the end when all other ingredients are hot. Add the nuts at the end and give one run in the mixie.
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Recipe
South Indian Masala Powder ~ SIMP
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Priya Suresh says
SIMP,looks fabulous and flavourful, seriously i never visited viji's space before, i came to know about her space when she changed its a private.
Hema says
I love viji's dishes.. Not that I had access to her space. i have read some of her recipes in beyond curries and her filter coffee recipe was sensational.. Its awesome that you have personal touch with her.. The podi should have been very aromatic.. And the addition of peanuts and coconut will give a rich taste to the dishes.
Pavani N says
Such a flavorful spice powder and like you said it will go well with a lot of dishes -- both curries & rice dishes.. I'll give it a try. Thanks for sharing.