Ellorai

Ellorai is usually made on the auspicious day of purattasi sanikazhamai for Lord Vishnu. It can be made in minutes and definitely tops my list of comfort foods.

Prep time - 5 mins
Cooking time - 5- 10 mins

Ingredients :

For ellu podi :

Sesame seeds (ellu ) - 1/4 cup
Udat dal - 1 cup
Dry red chillies - 5 to 6 or as per taste
Asafoetida - 1/8 tsp
Salt as per taste

Cooked rice - 2 cups ( I used regular rice )
Oil - 1 -2 tsp
Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
Curry leaves - 5 to 6 leaves

Procedure :

In a small pan on medium heat dry roast sesame till it turns golden in color. Do not burn them and step back while roasting sesame seeds as they pop up everywhere .Keep aside.

In the same pan heat 1 tsp oil on medium heat. Add all the items under the "to grind" section except salt and roast properly till they turn golden brown and you get a nice aroma from udat dal. [ Do not burn them and also make sure that the udat dal do not remain raw ]. Once they turn golden brown turn off the heat, cool and grind with salt into semi coarse powder. The ellu podi is ready and can be stored for 4-5 days in an air tight container.

Now for ellorai, take a medium ssized wok on medium heat. Add mustad seeds and let them splutter, add curry leaves and give it a quick stir. Add cooked rice. [ Make sure you separate each grain and fluff up the rice before adding ]. Add in the required podi. I added about 4-5 tbsp of podi . Check for salt.

Serve with chips/ papad/ vattal.