Home made kakarkai karampodi

Kakarakaya karam podi, also known as bitter gourd spice powder, is a popular South Indian spice mix used to flavor various dishes, particularly those involving bitter gourd (kakarakaya or kakara kaya). Here’s a simple recipe to make it at home:

### Ingredients:
– 1 cup dried bitter gourd slices (you can dehydrate them or use store-bought dried slices)
– 1 tablespoon chana dal (split chickpeas)
– 1 tablespoon urad dal (split black gram)
– 1 tablespoon cumin seeds
– 1 tablespoon coriander seeds
– 1 teaspoon fenugreek seeds
– 5-6 dried red chilies (adjust to your spice preference)
– 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
– Salt to taste

### Instructions:

1. **Dry Roast Ingredients:**
– Heat a dry skillet or pan over medium heat.
– Add chana dal, urad dal, cumin seeds, coriander seeds, and fenugreek seeds.
– Roast them, stirring frequently, until they turn golden brown and emit a fragrant aroma. Be careful not to burn them.
– Remove the roasted ingredients from the pan and let them cool.

2. **Toast Bitter Gourd:**
– If you’re using fresh bitter gourd slices, slice them thinly and spread them out on a baking sheet.
– Dry them in the sun for a few hours or use a dehydrator if available. Alternatively, you can roast them in the oven at a low temperature until they are crisp.

3. **Grind the Mixture:**
– In a spice grinder or a blender, combine the roasted spices and dried bitter gourd slices.
– Grind them into a fine powder.

4. **Add Turmeric and Salt:**
– Mix in the turmeric powder and salt to taste.
– Stir well to ensure everything is evenly distributed.

5. **Store:**
– Store the kakarakai karam podi in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.
– It can typically be kept for several weeks.

### Tips:
– Adjust the amount of red chilies according to your heat preference.
– You can also add a bit of hing (asafoetida) while roasting the spices for an extra layer of flavor.

This spice mix can be used to flavor vegetables, rice dishes, or even sprinkled over snacks. Enjoy your homemade kakarakai karam podi!