Name: Til Powder (Ellu Podi)
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes
Yield: 20 people
Cuisine: South Indian
Ingredients: 2 cups Sesame Seeds (Til/Ellu) (White or black, based on preference); 0 cup Urad Dal (Whole, black variety); 0 pieces Dried Red Chilies (Adjust based on spice preference); 2 teaspoons Salt (Adjust to taste)

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How to Prepare

Dry roast 2 cups of white sesame seeds on low heat until they turn golden and release a nutty aroma (about 5-7 minutes). Stir continuously to avoid burning.
Dry roast 1/2 cup of black urad dal until golden brown and aromatic (about 3-5 minutes).
Dry roast 10-12 dried red chilies until they become crisp (about 2-3 minutes). Adjust quantity based on spice preference.
Allow all roasted ingredients to cool completely to room temperature.
In a mixer or blender, grind the cooled sesame seeds, urad dal, red chilies, and 2 teaspoons of salt into a coarse powder. Do not over-grind to avoid oil release from sesame seeds.
Transfer the powder to an airtight container for storage.