Kollu Podi / Kollu Idli Podi, a delicious spice mix made with horse gram as the main ingredient. It tastes great as a side dish for idli and dosai.  

Kollu, also known as Horse gram, is popular in the Kongu region of Tamilnadu. While growing up, we never used kollu in our home. After marriage only, i heard about the kollu. Though it's not frequently used in my in-laws place, i heard about many recipes using kollu from the neighbours. 

For the past few years, i have been using kollu in our diet occasionally. Out of various recipes that i have tried with kollu, this kollu podi is my favorite. If you're looking for a different style of podi for idli/dosai, then definitely give this a try!

Kollu / Horse gram 

Kollu / Horse gram is a legume and it's widely consumed in Coimbatore or Erode district. Kollu is high in iron and calcium and including them in diet regularly would be highly beneficial. 

There is a popular saying in Tamil " இளைத்தவனுக்கு எள்ளு; கொழுத்தவனுக்கு கொள்ளு". It means "Sesame seed for skinny; Horse gram for fat". I don't know how far that claim is true :-) But i believe in including varieties and moderation when it comes to food. 

In this recipe, i have added urad dal and chana dal(1/4 cup) for 3/4 cup of horse gram. Instead of using two dal, you can use any one dal(1/4 cup). 

  

Though you can use this podi as paruppu podi and eat it with rice, i personally like it as idli/dosai podi. But you can have this podi with rice and sesame oil/ghee on the top just like paruppu podi. 

Ok, now let's check out on how to make this delicious and aromatic kollu podi.

Kollu Podi | Kollu Idli Podi | Horse gram podi

Preparation Time : 10 mins | Cooking Time : 15 mins | Makes : 1 cup 
Recipe Category: Spice Mix | Recipe Cuisine: Indian
Kollu Podi, Kollu Idli Podi, Horse gram podi Kollu Podi / Kollu Idli Podi, a delicious spice mix made with horse gram as the main ingredient.

Sandhiya https://www.facebook.com/SandhiyasCookbook https://www.instagram.com/sandhiyascookbook/

Ingredients

Kollu / Horse gram - 3/4 cup

Kadalai paruppu / Chana dal - 2 tbsp

Urad dal - 2 tbsp

Red chilli - 10 

Garlic - 5 cloves

Curry leaves - 3 sprigs

Asafoetida powder - 1/2 tsp

Sesame oil - 1 tsp

Salt - to taste

Procedure

First, heat a pan and then add the oil. When the oil is hot, add the dals(chana dal and urad dal).

 

Roast them till they are golden brown and then keep it aside. In the same pan, add the red chilli, garlic and curry leaves.

Saute them till the curry leaves are crispy and then keep it aside along with the dals.

Finally add the kollu/horse gram in the same pan and saute till they starts to pop and then switch off the flame. Let all the roasted ingredients to cool a bit.

Add all the roasted ingredients into the mixie/blender jar along with asafoetida powder and salt. Grind them into fine powder. 

That's it. Kollu Podi is ready. Let it cool down completely and then store it in the air tight container. 

Related: How to make Ellu Podi 

Notes:

• Let the roasted ingredients to cool before grinding otherwise while grinding, the hot steam from the ingredients make the powder wet and reduce the self life of the powder.
• Use dry and clean spoon for serving.