Milagai podi

Milagai Podi (literally "chili powder" in Tamil) is a coarse mixture of ground dry spices that typically contains dried chillies, lentils, and sesame seeds. Tamils traditionally use milagai podi as a condiment on idlis, dosas and other South Indian dishes. The intensity of this condiment's spiciness can range from almost no spice at all to extremely spicy. Some like to sprinkle a layer of sugar on top of the spicier mixtures after the oil is poured on the powder. This innovative idea creates a barrage of flavors once inside the mouth, from spicy and salty to sweet. Parents use this method for satisfying children who crave 'podi' but can not handle the intense flavor.

Considered a convenient substitute to chutneys, it is usually available in most households in Tamil Nadu.

Molagai podi is not consumed dry, rather it is mixed with sesame oil or sometimes ghee.

Recipe for Molagai Podi
100 g of urad dal
100 g of channa dal
5-10 dry red chillies
1/2 tsp til (sesame seed)
a pinch of asafoetida
salt to taste
Mix the dal and the chillies in a wok and dry roast until the white dal changes to a golden brown. Remove to a plate and sprinkle the asefotida on the mix before it cools. Dry roast the sesame seeds till they become dry. Mix with the dal and chilli mix and let cool.
When cooled completely, salt to taste and put it all in a grinder and make a slightly coarse powder of the same.
Mix with either sesame oil or ghee when using.
Some recipes add powdered, roasted garlic.
Add 25g of rice and 2 tsp of pepper to the above ingredients to get the authentic pallakkaad style idli molagai podi.
Instead of sesame seeds, try adding jaggery to get a different taste.

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