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Karivepaaku Podi - Spiced Curry Leaves Powder

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To us South Indians, our everyday traditional food is incomplete with a podi (spice pwd) and its an an essential food item on the dining table, be it for breakfast or lunch. When one is hard pressed for time and you need fix a quick lunch, all you need to prepare is some steamed rice, and with clarified ghee/oil and podi, appadam/papad as a side, you have a complete meal.

Fresh curry leaf twigs from our garden

Aromatic, protein rich and nutritious, podis are not high in calories and can be stored for a few weeks in air tight containers.

Roasted curry leaves

Today’s recipe is curry leaves spiced powder called Karivepaaku Podi or Karepaaku Podi, made from curry leaves, lentils and spices which are roasted and ground to a coarse powder with tamarind giving it an aromatic, earthy, tangy flavor.

Take a spoonful of the prepared podi and mix it with hot steamed rice and ghee and one bite into a mudda (ball) of this mixed rice, you are assured of a trip to heaven. The appetising aromatic meal of home ground karivepaku podi with rice and ghee is extremely addictive and I always go for another serving of it..:).

Curry leaves powder ingredients - roasted

Karivepaaku Podi

Recipe source: Adapted from Kanthamma’s Cook Book

Prep & Cooking: 20 mts

Cuisine: South Indian

.

Ingredients:

2 cups curry leaves, picked, washed and dried

4 tbsps senaga pappu (bengal gram)

2 tbsps minappa pappu (split black gram dal)

1 tbsp cumin seeds

1 1/2 tbsps coriander seeds

6-7 dried red chillis

1 small lemon sized tamarind

salt to taste

1 1/2 tbsp oil

1 Add a tbsp of oil in a pan and add the Bengal gram and split black gram dal and fry them on medium heat till they turn red. Don’t burn them. Keep tossing them around continuosly. Remove from pan and keep aside.
2 In the same pan add the cumin and coriander seeds and toss them on medium heat till they turn brown..approx 2-3 mts. Remove from pan and keep aside.
3 In the same pan add the dry chillis and toss them about for 2 mts. Remove and keep aside.
4 Now add a tsp of oil and add the curry leaves and toss them about till they are crisp and roasted. Keep tossing them about while roasting the leaves. Turn off heat and cool all the roasted ingredients.
5 Once cool, grind the dals first (grind them coarse), followed by coriander, cumin seeds and red chillis and grind again.
6 Now add tamarind ball and grind. Remove and keep aside.
7 Now add the curry leaves and grind to make a powder (remember all the ingredients should be cool before grinding). Mix it with the coarsely ground spices and salt and store in an air tight container.
8 Serve hot with white steamed rice and ghee.

Karivepaaku Podi - spiced curry leaves powder

Note:

You can increase or decrease the red chillis according to your spice level. For a deeper curry leaf flavor you can increase the quantity of curry leaves by half a cup. You must ensure that the leaves are dried, well roasted and cooled before grinding to make a coarse powder. You can even add a bit of jaggery for that slight hint of sweetness.

Karivepaaku Podi mixed with hot steamed rice and ghee (clarified butter)
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By sailu • Aug 26th, 2006 • Category: All Recipes, Andhra Recipes, Greens-Leafy Vegetables, South Indian Recipes, Spice Powders & Podis, Vegan recipes, Vegetarian Recipes

31 Responses »

  1. prema on August 26th, 2006 at 10:57 pm:

    Hi Sailu,
    I was looking out for this karuveppilai podi. I have heard it is very healthy for hair growth and color. My hair has been falling very badly nowadays so i thought i will make this podi. Thanks for the recipe.

    Yes, Prema, curry leaves are very good for hair growth and also to slow down premature greying of hair.

  2. shynee on August 27th, 2006 at 3:10 am:

    I love this kariveppakku podi…these podis were a great solace for me during my stay in the hostel often when food in the hostel becomes too boring…

    I’m sure they were, Shynee. Both my brother and sister who are abroad, treasure bottles of amma’s home ground podis..:)

  3. Linda on August 27th, 2006 at 8:42 pm:

    Hi Sailu, left you a comment on this earlier when you had alot of them, but they seem to have disappeared. Is Wordpress playing games with us :) I am anxious to try this recipe — it’s the first I’ve seen calling for split black (gram = urad?) dal, and there are so many little curry leaves in the stores lately. Sounds delicious!

    Actually I moved to another server 2 days ago and during that process the entire post disappeared and I had to repost the same again..:):)
    Its an absolutely delicious podi, Linda. Give it a try.

  4. Prathibha on August 31st, 2006 at 12:51 pm:

    Hi Sailu,

    I have tried this karivepaaku podi for the first time, and it turned out good. Thanks for the recipe.

    Your welcome, Prathibha.

  5. Jaya on September 15th, 2006 at 9:57 am:

    Excellent recipe! I really want to try it. But what do you mean by a ball of tamarind? How much tamarind is it? Can we use the extract too?

    I meant a small lemon sized ball of tamarind, Jaya. I havent tried using extract.

  6. Anuradha on September 16th, 2006 at 4:45 am:

    hi shailu,
    My name is anuradha.I am living in ireland.Here i miss
    andhra food a lot.Thanx for all your recepies and ur ur effort in showing us the pictures.YOU r wonderfull.Thank uu soo much.Shailu can u post a powder called karapodi,which we generally used with idli and ghee.I am looking for the spice powder from many days and will be greatfull if u post it for me.
    Thanks in advance
    annu

  7. sridevi on September 19th, 2006 at 4:50 am:

    thank u for the recipe. ilike this podi and infact my huband and son too.
    keep posting good recipes.

  8. preethi on October 18th, 2006 at 1:44 am:

    hi,i like this podi very much infact all podis.

  9. Nuvvulu Podi - Spiced Sesame Seeds Powder - Indian Food & Andhra Recipes from Sailu’s Kitchen on October 31st, 2006 at 3:06 am:

    [...] One of my regular visitors requested me to post more podi recipes like Kariveppakku Podi (curry leaves spiced powder). So, today I am posting one of my favorite podi recipes called Nuvvullu Podi or Sesame seeds spiced powder. This podi is prepared with white sesame seeds, lentils, garlic and spices which are roasted and ground to a coarse powder giving it an irresistable, aromatic addictive flavor. [...]

  10. Tomato Dosa - Indian Food & Andhra Recipes from Sailu’s Kitchen on January 26th, 2007 at 8:43 am:

    [...] podi or chutney of your choice like karivepaku podi or coconut chutney. Tags: dosa recipe, tomatoes Listen to this podcast Related Articles:Bobbarlu Vadalu - Black eyed Peas (Lobia) FrittersTiffin Treats - Chicken Noodleswith PeanutsRice Ravva UpmaUlli Pakodi - Crispy Onion FrittersDahi Vada - North Indian SnackPav Bhaji -Medley of Spiced Mashed Vegetables With Toasted BunsUlli Garelu - Medu Vadai (Lentil Dumplings)South Indian Tiffin - Uthappams (Lentil Pancakes Topped With Vegetables)Aloo Tikki & Corn Bhel (Indian Street Food Fare)No Grill Cheese SandwichRagi Roti - Millet Flour Based Flat Indian BreadCrispy Corn SnackMatar Paneer Paratha - Indian Bread Stuffed with Cottage Cheese & Green PeasUlli Kaadalu Pakodi - Onion Stalk FrittersChole Masala With Puri - White Chick Peas Masala Curry with Fried Indian BreadProtein Rich Parathas - Stuffed Parathas With Carrot FillingMirchi Bajji ( Stuffed Green Peppers)Vegetable Pattis / Veg BurgerMurri Mixture ( Andhra Bhel Puri )Pesara Attu Upma-Andhra Special Tiffin/Breakfast DishIdli Sambar (Steamed Rice Cakes with Red Lentil Curry)Corn Fingers (Tea Time Snack)Masala Dosa (sourdough crepe wrapped round potato curry)-South Indian Tiffin/SnackSteamed Wheat Squares (Wheat Idlis / Goduma Rava Idli) Bookmark -         [...]

  11. K.Jayanthi on February 1st, 2007 at 1:50 am:

    I have seen your column and happy to find out for preparations.
    I would like to know how to make Karapodi powder. Pls send your reply to my mail.

  12. @ on February 15th, 2007 at 2:31 pm:

    I realize this is a late comment, but just came over here through Mahanandi’s search engine, when I was curious if others had blogged about Karepaak powder…!! Yours is slightly different than what I posted - I too love to eat it with rice and ghee - it is *the* best :)

  13. priyadilip on March 20th, 2007 at 3:35 pm:

    Hi..
    Passing by your site 2nd or third time… i loved the pic of paneer butter masala.. Looks like u have a pot of karimpaaku plant in your home.. how did u do it? did u buy it outside or u got seeds from india and planted in the pot? please let me know…
    thanks..
    Priya dilip

    Priya, I live in Vizag, India.

  14. SHree on May 21st, 2007 at 1:04 am:

    Hi Sailu,

    Really, I like this karivepaku podi a lot. Steam rice with karivepaku podi and ghee takes us to heaven…
    hmmmm…YUMMYYYYY…
    Thanks for the nice photographs…

  15. Chinnu on May 21st, 2007 at 1:07 am:

    Hi,

    May God give u long life…

    Thanks for the nice recipes…

  16. Nischala.c on May 27th, 2007 at 12:45 pm:

    HUH!!!!
    Photographs are really tempting yaar :)
    Its taking me to my Mom’s kitchen, I mean they are reminding me my childhood days where food would be ready on the table with a yummy look & flavour
    Thank you Sailuji!
    I wish I can meet you & give you a warm hug for great help and encouraging all of us to cook our traditional food for our kids.
    Well , I stay in Abu Dhabi and struggling to get that original taste even with my cooking or say at South Indian Restaurants :(
    All I can say is its just wonderful yaar.
    Thank you once again!!! :)

  17. mangalavedanth on May 30th, 2007 at 7:36 am:

    Hi Shailu,
    i tried your curry leaves powder for the first time it came out very well……thanks a lot for the same

  18. sudheera on August 7th, 2007 at 3:48 am:

    hi sailaja,
    i have tried karivepaku podi with slight modification. i have added garlic cloves(5 or 6). hmmmmm, its excellent. thanks a lot to u.

  19. Altoid on August 9th, 2007 at 10:19 am:

    Tried this and have a batch stored. Tastes awesome, smells flavorful and heavenly. Been using it at every meal, be it with idlis for breakfast, with rotis at lunch or with rice for dinner. Thanks for posting the recipe

    -altoid

  20. santhi on November 29th, 2007 at 8:15 pm:

    hi sailu…..
    thanks for the detailed recipe of karivepaku podi…..once i tried but measurements were not proper …..so this time i’m sure of wonderful karivepakupodi

  21. Prasanthi on December 9th, 2007 at 11:08 pm:

    Hi Sailu,

    Wonderful recipe. It tastes too good. I Can’t wait to try your other recipes.

  22. The Spice Cafe » Preserve it! on February 9th, 2008 at 2:41 am:

    [...] Prema’s Curry Leaves Powder from Sailu’s [...]

  23. Cynthia on March 28th, 2008 at 10:29 pm:

    This recipe is definitely a keeper.

  24. Vegeyum on March 31st, 2008 at 12:30 pm:

    Sounds delicious. I have had podi several times, and want to start making it soon.

  25. bujji on April 2nd, 2008 at 12:58 pm:

    Wow sailu garu….i visit your blog regularly
    but first time i’ve seen this recipe though luks
    like u posted it much earlier.this podi truly
    awesome [grandma is an expert!]….
    me n my hubby love it.always have it
    sent to me when someone arrives but it never seems
    to last!now that i have the recipe shall definitely
    try!!

  26. Tempting! A roundup of Fabulous Food « A Life (Time) of Cooking on June 3rd, 2008 at 3:02 pm:

    [...] recipe and photo of one of the many recipes for this powder, Kandi Podi, and another version called Karivepaaku Podi made from curry leaves, rice and [...]

  27. PG on December 19th, 2008 at 11:00 am:

    a lovely reipe, noted. If I post it on my blog, will inform you. Thanks a lot!

  28. rao on March 31st, 2009 at 4:38 pm:

    Saila garu,
    Can you please post a recipe for Vamu Podi ?
    This is extremly helpful when mixed with plain rice, for children who need to eat something, but can’t hold it due to stomach virus or flu.
    Thank you very much.
    rao

  29. Anu on April 17th, 2009 at 12:58 pm:

    Hello Sailu,

    Your recipe for “karivepaku podu” looks tempting enough to be eaten straight out of the website. Alas! this is not possible.

    Will make it for dinner today. Thank you for sharing the recipe.

    Anu

  30. Neetha on July 22nd, 2009 at 1:02 am:

    Hi Sailu,
    Tried the Kariveepudu Podi.. it was awesome.. some simple ingredients and the podi was very very good.. I couldnt stop eating it with hot rice… My husband also liked it very much.. Thanks for sharing such a wonderful recipes.. I went through other recipes, will try it one by one :)

  31. Neetha on September 23rd, 2009 at 5:48 pm:

    Hi Sailu,
    I tried the Kariveepudu podi. It is simply awesome. I had it with dosa and rice.. and my hubby just loved it.. :) Thank you very much for this wonderful recipe..

    Neetha

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