Usually we will buy sambar powder , rasam powder, idli chilli powder etc . But these powders can be easily prepared at home and it will be less expensive than the ones we are buying.

I have listed 7 such powders here. I learnt all these powder recipes from my mother. So a big 'THANKS' to her.

1.Sambar powder

Ingredients:

• Red chillies - 1/4 kg

• Coriander seeds - 3/4 kg

• Toor Dhal - 1/4 kg

• Channa Dhal - 100g

• Pepper - 100g

• Fenugreek seeds - 1 tsp

• Tumeric seeds ( the long one ) - 100g

Method:

1.  Dry all the above ingredients in sun by keeping it in a broad plate for 1 one day from morning to evening.  If there is no sun or during winter, slightly fry the above
in a pan ( no oil )  and allow it to cool.

2. Grind this to a fine powder in a flour mill. ( This wont come good if we grind in a mixie or mixer-grinder ).

Usage:

Use 3 to 4 tsp of this powder for making sambar for 4 persons.

Note : For a family size of 4, this powder will come for atleast 2 months if this powder is used 3 to 4 times a week.

2.Rasam powder

Ingredients:

• Red chillies - 100g
• Coriander seeds - 1/4 kg
• Toor Dhal - 1/4 kg
• Channa Dhal - 25g
• Pepper - 50g
• Cumin seeds - 50g
• Tumeric seeds ( the long one ) - 50g
• Curry leaves - handful

Method:

1. Fry the curry leaves in a pan till it becomes crispy and allow it cool for sometime.

2. Dry all the above ingredients in sun by keeping it in a broad plate for 1 one day from morning to evening. If there is no sun or during winter, slightly fry the above in a pan ( no oil )
and allow it to cool.

3. Grind this to a powder ( Like Rava sooji. Don't grind it very nice ) in a flour mill. ( This wont come good if we grind in a mixie or mixer-grinder ).

Usage:

Use 2 to 3 tsp of this powder for making rasam for 4 persons.

Note : For a family size of 4,this powder will come for atleast 2 months if this powder is used 4 to 5 times a week.

3. Idli Chilli powder

Ingredients:

• Red chillies -  12 to 15
• Channa dhal - 1/4 kg
• White Urad dhal ( Full dhal ) - 150g
• Sesame seeds ( Black ) - 25g
• Asafoetida gum ( not powder ) - little
• Salt - As per taste
• Tamarind - Size of lemon.
• Oil

Method:

1. Wash the sesame seeds 2 to 3 times in water to filter the sand if any and allow it to dry.

2. Heat oil in a pan and fry channa dhal, urad dhal, asafoetida and red chillies and allow it to cool. Don't fry it much because the dhals will turn to dark brown.

3. Fry the sesame seeds in an empty pan ( no oil ).Take a few seeds and rub it with your finger. If it breaks,the switch off the gas stove and allow seeds to cool.

4. First grind sesame seeds, tamarind, asafoetida and salt in a mixie.

5. Then add the dhals , chillies and grind it to a powder. ( Like rava sooji )

6. Take the powder to a vessel and allow it cool.

Note : If you find little spicy you can add little sugar or jaggery powder and grind it.

Usage :

In tamilnadu this powder is mainly used as a side dish by mixing with gingely oil for idlis and dosas.

4. Curry powder

Ingredients:

• Coriander seeds - 1/4 kg
• Channa dhal - 100g
• Urad dhal - 25g
• Red chillies - 12 to 15

Method:

1. Fry all the above in an empty pan ( no oil ) and allow it cool.

2. Grind the above to a powder in a mixie.

Usage :

This powder can be used while making sambar and subji

1. Take 2 tsps of this powder and 1/4 cup of cocunut and grind this to a fine paste. Add this paste to any sambar few minutes before it is removed from the flame. Sambar will be very tasty.

2. For subjis using Brinjal, Ladies finger, Plantain this powder can be used instead of chilli powder.

5. Dhal powder

Ingredients:

• Toor dhal - 1/4 kg
• Channa dhal - 100g
• Coriander seeds - 25g
• Pepper - 7 to 8
• Red chillies - 3 to 4
• Asafoetida gum ( not powder ) - little
• Salt - As per taste

Method:

1. Fry toor dhal, channa dhal, coriander seeds, pepper, red chillies, asafoetida in an empty pan ( no oil ) and allow it to cool.

2. Grind all the above to a fine powder in a mixie and allow it to cool.

Usage:

This can eaten by mixing the powder with rice using little gingelly oil or ghee.

6. Coriander seeds Powder

Ingredients:

• Coriander seeds - 1/4 kg
• Channa dhal - 25g
• White Urad dhal - 25g
• Red chillies - 6 to 7
• Tamarind - Size of lemon
• Salt - As per taste
• Asafoetida gum ( not powder ) - little
• Oil

Method:

1. Heat little oil in a pan and fry channa dhal,urad dhal,red chillies and asafoetida and allow it cool.

2. Fry coriander seeds in an empty pan ( no oil ) till the smell of corainder comesa and allow it cool.

3. First grind tamarind,asafoetida and salt in a mixie.

4. Add channa dhal, urad dhal, red chillies, coriander seeds and grind to a fine powder.

Usage:

This can eaten by mixing the powder with rice using little gingelly oil.This powder helps to reduce vomiting, aversion of food, gastric trouble etc.

7.Curry leaves powder

Ingredients:

• Curry leaves - handful ( 8 times ) ( I don't know the measurement in grams )
• White urad dhal - 25g
• Channa dhal - 25g
• Pepper - 1 tsp
• Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
• Red chillies - 5 to 6
• Tamarind - size of lemon
• Salt - As per taste
• Asafoetida gum ( not powder ) - little

Method:

1. Fry curry leaves and tamarind in an empty pan ( no oil ) till curry leaves becomes crispy and keep it aside to cool.

2. Fry urad dhal, channa dhal, pepper, cumin seeds, red chillies, asafoetida and allow it to cool.

3. First grind curry leaves,tamaring,asafoetida and salt.

4. Then add the remaining and grind to a fine powder.

Usage:

This can eaten by mixing the powder with rice using little gingelly oil.