Karivepaku Podi (Curry Leaves Powder)

4.38 from 8 votes

on Jan 13, 2021, Updated Dec 06, 2023

Karivepaku Podi (Curry Leaves Powder, Karuveppilai Podi) is a South Indian condiment (dry chutney powder) that combines the refreshing flavor of curry leaves and spices. It is ideal for serving with a bowl of rice, dosa, or idlis.

Here are some more podi recipes that you can try – Idli Podi and Andhra Style Peanut Chutney Powder.

Podi are my newfound love. Sprinkle them over anything, and they take the taste to the next level. I recently chopped off my curry leaf plant and got a lot of leaves. After distributing them to friends and house helps, I was still left with quite a bit. So, I made a big batch of this super delicious Karivepaku Podi. It will now adorn my dining table and make my meals more interesting!

About Karivepaku Podi

Karivepaku Podi, also known as karuvepellai podi or spiced curry leaves powder, is a South Indian dry chutney powder made using fresh kari leaves.

It’s super easy to make and uses simple pantry ingredients. This vegan condiment is so flavorful that it can make any simple meal enjoyable.

If you are short on time, mix some of this curry leaves podi with ghee and hot rice, and a hearty meal is ready.

Karivepaku Podi keeps good in the refrigerator for a long time, so make a big batch and keep enjoying it!

Ingredients

You will get all the ingredients to make curry leaf powder in any Indian grocery store.

Lentils – This podi recipe uses two lentils, chana dal (Bengal gram) and white urad dal (split and skinned black gram).

Fresh Curry Leaves (Kari Leaves, Kari Patta, Kadi Patta) – Use fresh kari patta, as they have the best aroma and flavor.

Use mature dark green leaves instead of the young, tender light green ones, as the dark green ones have more flavor. Mature leaves also give the podi a grainy texture and a tangy taste.

If you can access the desi variety of curry patta, then prefer it over the hybrid one as they are more flavorful.

Dry Red Chilies – I use Kashmiri dry red chilies, which give the podi a nice color without making it very hot. You can use any chili that you prefer.

Coconut – This recipe uses grated fresh coconut. To save time, get frozen grated coconut. You can find it in the freezer section of any Indian grocery store.

If fresh coconut is not available, then you can use dry coconut.

Tamarind – It adds that perfect hint of tanginess.

Oil – You can use any cooking oil to roast the ingredients mentioned above. My preference is peanut oil (groundnut oil) or sesame oil. In Kerala, this podi is made using coconut oil.

Others – You will also need asafetida (hing), cumin seeds, brown mustard seeds, whole coriander seeds, salt, and fenugreek seeds (methi dana).

How To Make Karivepaku Podi

Pick the leaves from the curry patta sprigs. Discard the stems and wash the leaves well with water.

Measure 2 cups of the leaves tightly packed in the measuring cup. Spread them on a kitchen cloth for 4-5 hours to eliminate excess water.

Note – You can wash the leaves a day before making the podi. This way, there will be no moisture left in them.

Washed curry leaves spread on a tray over a kitchen towel.

Heat 2 tablespoon oil in a large pan over medium flame.

Add the following ingredients once the oil is hot, and let them crackle for 3-4 seconds.

½ teaspoon asafetida
2 teaspoon cumin seeds
2 teaspoon brown mustard seeds
½ teaspoon fenugreek seeds

Asafetida, cumin seeds, mustard seeds and fenugreek seeds added to hot oil in a pan.

Reduce the heat to low.

Add the following ingredients to the pan and roast on low heat until they turn slightly brown. Stir continuously to avoid burning.

¼ cup chana dal
¼ cup urad dal
10-12 Kashmiri dry red chilies (stalks removed)
¼ cup whole coriander seeds

Note – It is important to roast the ingredients on low flame so that they get crisp and flavorful from the inside.

Bengal gram, spli and skinned black lentils, dry red chilies and coriander seeds added to the pan.

Now add the washed and dried kari leaves and dry roast on low flame until they turn crisp. It will take 15-20 minutes. Stir very frequently.

Note – Some people roast the kari leaves only for 6-8 minutes instead of 15-20 minutes. By roasting them for less time, the flavor of the podi is enhanced, but the shelf life is reduced. So if you want to finish the podi quickly, roast the kari leaves for only 6-8 minutes.

Add the following ingredients and roast for another 2-3 minutes. Stir frequently.

lime size ball of seedless tamarind
½ cup grated fresh coconut
3 teaspoon salt

Tamarind, coconut and salt added to the pan.

Remove the pan from heat and let the roasted ingredients cool completely.

Transfer the cooled ingredients to a grinder or a food processor and grind to make a coarse powder.

Store the powder in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to a month.

When serving, take a teaspoon or two of powder on the plate, pour some sesame oil or ghee on top, and serve with sambar rice or idli dosas.

Pro Tips By Neha

Roast the fresh curry leaves on low heat. It is time-consuming, but the leaves will turn out perfectly crispy only when fried on low flame.

You can increase or decrease the red chilies according to your taste.

Make a coarse powder from the roasted ingredients for the best taste and texture.

Add garlic cloves, roasted peanuts, flax seeds, or sesame seeds while grinding the karivepaku podi for a taste change.

Some people add turmeric powder to their karivepaku podi recipe for a nice color.

Although it keeps well for a long time, freshly made karivepaku podi tastes the best. Make it in small batches and use it within a week for the best taste.

Make sure to use a dry spoon while taking out the podi. A wet spoon will increase the chance of spoiling the karivepaku powder.