Spicy Powders From Indian Cuisine-3

My previous posts on this section are here:

http://spiceomylife.blogspot.com/search/label/Spicy%20Powders

1. Chick Pea Powder :Chick Pea is also known as Indian Pea or Bengal Gram. Split and husked chickpea looks like this.

Where as puffed Chick pea looks like this.

The Chickpea is dry roasted over hot sand to puff it up like it is done for making puffed rice or pop corn etc. This cannot be done at home. In India this is easily available in all super markets or provision stores, as a whole or split varieties and is a great snack. People love to eat this as it is and is also used for making many snacks etc.

Ingredients:

Chick pea 250 gms

Red chillies dried 4-5

or

Red Chilli Powder 1-2 tsps

Cumin Seeds 1 tbsp

Garlic pods 5-6 (optional)

Dessicated or grated Dried Coconut 2-3 Tbsps (optional)

Salt to taste

Note: Puffed chick pea has to be used.

Method:

• Roast dried red chillies and cool. 
• If you use red chilli powder it need not be roasted. Adjust the quantity of this spice according to your taste. 
• Roast Garlic and peel it. It is better to use old garlic ( at least six months old). Newly harvested garlic will have more moisture content. 
• Mix all the ingredients (except for coconut) and grind to a powder. After it cools add the coconut, mix well and store. 
• I generally make sufficient quantity of this powder (without dried coconut) to last me a month and store it. When ever I use, I mix the required quantity of dessicated coconut. If we add the coconut and store it for more than 15 days, the oil content in the coconut gives a stale taste. 
• Store in air tight container and use when required. 

This powder is highly nutritious and tasty. This can also be used in cooking other dishes which I will post separately.

2. Sesame Seeds Powder: This powder can be made in two ways.  I am posting both the methods. Sesame seeds are black as well as white in colour. Mostly the white one is used for cooking purpose. Cleaned and de husked sesame seeds of white variety, are white or slightly creamy colour are more tastier than the raw variety.

One should be care full when roasting or deep frying Sesame seeds as they start popping all over.

Recipe-1

Ingredients:

Sesame Seeds 250 gms

Red Chillies dried 4-5

Garlic pods- 5-6 (optional)

Salt to taste

Method:

• Roast the Sesame seeds until it turns slightly brown and gives of a nice smell. Roast on very low fire and keep stirring constantly. 
• Roast dried red chillies and cool. 
• Roast Garlic and peel it. 
• Mix all the ingredients and grind to a powder. 
• Store in air tight container and use when required.

Recipe- 2

Ingredients:

Sesame Seeds 250 gms

Red chillies dried 4-5

Split and de husked Black Gram 2 tbsp

Mustard Seeds 1 tbsp

Cumin seeds 1 tbsp

Garlic pods- 5-6 (optional)

Salt to taste

Method:

• Heat oil to a smoking point. Keep the flame  on very low. 
• Add Black gram and fry for a minute or two. Add mustard seeds and after a minute add Cumin seeds and red chillies. 
• Add peeled Garlic pods. Fry for a minute or two. 
• Now add Sesame Seeds and fry till it turns golden brown and gives of nice smell. Take care to keep on stirring to avoid burning the seeds. Cool it well. 
• Grind it to a powder along with salt. 
• Store in air tight container and use when required. 

This is very tasty and also good for health when used in moderation. Sesame seeds are rich in Calcium, Iron, Magnesium and also Vitamin B and E. So this is good for growing children and women in particular, as this is supposed to cure Menstrual problems. 

More Recipes to come. Keep a watch on my blog.......