Milagu Podi /  Pepper dal rice mix:

Origin Chettinad- Milagu podi main ingredient pepper, this podi (powder)  helps in digestion and enhances your appetite,  It is served with plain cooked rice and ghee in most of the functions and festivals.In normal days this can be served as alternate to parappu and ghee.  This also can be sprinkled in Brinjal poriyal, Avarakkai(flat beans) poriyal… etc to increase the taste of the vegetable, sometimes added in Koottu and sambar for thickening, this acts as a thickening agent in cooking.

Ingredients:

Urad Dal -1/2 cup

Raw rice-1 tsp

Mizhagu (pepper)- 1 tsp

Cumin seeds-1/2 tsp

Dried green chili or mor Milagai-4 nos

Salt 1/2 tsp

Method to prepare:

Dry roast all ingredients separately until golden brown as shown in the image below, Fry rice.

Allow it to cool,  dry grind to a fine powder, store it in the air tight jar

This can be served with hot rice and ghee or Gingelly oil.