Paruppu Podi Recipe
Paruppu Podi - An Introduction
Whenever we think of Paruppu Podi, we always picture it with steaming hot basmati rice with a generous serving of delicious desi ghee (clarified butter) and a side of mouthwatering Avakkai pickle, tangy mango (manga) pickle or any other spicy Indian pickle. Well, that is one of my all-time favourite combinations too!
This is the perfect comfort food after a long day at work when you have no energy to cook. As we all know, every Indian household has some leftover rice in the fridge and this will do just perfectly during those tiring days.
I know by now you are wondering “What is Paruppu Podi”?
In short, Paruppu Podi is a delicious melange of pulses, Kashmiri chilies (or Kashmiri mirch as it is known in North India), peppercorns, and a lot of delectability!
The Importance of Rice in This Recipe
Let’s talk about one of the most versatile foods in the culinary world - delicious non-glutinous rice. Rice has truly made its mark in cuisines all around the world. There are so many types of rice that appear predominantly in Asian cuisine with so many variations like the famous egg fried rice, mango and sticky rice, sushi rice, Mexican rice, wild rice, puffed rice, jasmine rice, Sona Masoori rice, Basmati Rice, Parboiled Rice, black rice, etc.
Like many aspects of Asian food, rice also plays an important role in this simple bowl of Paruppu Podi Saadham.
I prefer freshly made, piping hot long grain rice for this recipe. My go-to is Daawat basmati rice for this South Indian ricebowl. But usually, any whole-grain rice or choru would be perfect for this recipe. Cooking rice is also a delicate art. Many use the swift convenience of cooking rice in a rice cooker or a rice steamer. Others sometimes use the microwave rice method where you put rice (1 part) and water (2 parts), into the microwave and forget about it for 20 minutes! I have also been guilty of using this method on those extra long and tasking days.
Read More about the different ways of making rice!
Reasons Why Rice is Important in Any Meal
Rice is a rich source of carbohydrates, which is an integral part of a wholesome nutrition plan. It is one of the important nutrients in one of the bigger parts of the nutrition pyramid. It is important to maintain a metabolic balance.
And as we saw above, cooking rice that is perfect as per your taste, is an important part of making Paruppu Podi Saadham.
However, does Paruppu Rice Have Any Health Benefits?
Whatever your preferred method of preparing Paruppu Podi Saadham, the most important ingredient is the Paruppu Podi itself! And wouldn’t you know it, it has health benefits too! It is easy to digest and because it has so many lentils in it, it is high in proteins too! Paired with rice and some healthy vegetable curry, it makes for the perfect balanced diet. Who knew healthy food could also taste so good? Now join me in learning the recipe! 😊
POV - Point Of Vegan
Did you know that this easy dish is also pure vegan? This is one of the best vegan meals for me, due to its convenience, and longevity. Once you make Paruppu podi and store it in a cool and dry place, it can last for months! The fast cooking time also makes for a quick vegan dinner when you don’t have time to cook.
With a lot of people going vegan in the recent past, it is difficult to find healthy vegan recipes, more specifically, vegan Indian food. But as they always say, the best solutions are usually hidden in plain sight. Growing up, I never realized it but most of Tam Brahm cooking usually consists of vegetarian and vegan food.
There is also a misconception that cooking vegan meals is difficult and takes a lot of time to create different types of meal plans, especially a vegan diet for weight loss. But it does not have to be difficult to plan for the major meals in a day like a scrumptious vegan breakfast or vegan dishes for dinner. You can also explore some delicious Vegan Breakfast recipes here.
So you can add this dish to your list of vegan recipes, and make it part of your vegan diet plan, totally guilt-free!
Paruppu Podi Recipe
INGREDIENTS
100 gms - Channa Dal
100 gms - Toor Dal
5 - 6 Red Chillies (depending on spice preference)
1 tbsp - Peppercorn (depending on spice preference)
Salt to Taste
PREPARATION
Dry roast separately -
Salt, Chana dal, and toor dal on low flame until they turn red.
Red chillies
Peppercorns.
Allow it to cool.
Grind the mixture finely.
Sieve this mixture to get a fine powder.
STORAGE
Store in a cool dry place in an airtight container so that it retains its freshness for as long as possible!