Flax seeds are literally a kind of wonder food. These tiny seeds are said to have amazing capabilities like improving the immune system, decreasing risk of Alzheimer's, reducing cholesterol and high blood pressure and stabilizing blood sugar levels. These seeds are also rich in omega-3 fatty acids and high in both soluble and insoluble fiber.
Given that this is such a healthy food, it should be a no-brainer to include this in our diet. Having said that, actually including it in our diet has proven to be a little more challenging than I expected. I usually use flax seeds in my bakes as I did when I made these sweet potato rolls . But since I do not bake every day or even two or three times a week (though I would love to) just using them in bakes makes me feel like I am not using enough of it. So when I came across this recipe on Archy's site, I was thrilled with the idea of using flax seeds in a spice/ chutney powder. I adapted the recipe and added a few ingredients that I thought would enhance the taste.
This powder is very versatile and can be used to spice up yogurt to make an instant dip or used along with a few drops of sesame oil to make a chutney to go along with savory crepes/ dosai. You can add a little to cooked rice to make an instantly flavored rice. I have even used it to spice up my curries with thoroughly enjoyable results.
Ingredients and method to make Flax chutney powder
1/2 cup flax seed meal (also known as Alsi ) (see notes)
1/4 cup raw unsalted peanuts
1/4 cup unsalted split roasted chick pea (dalia/ pottu kadalai)
1/2 inch tamarind
1/2 tsp brown sugar
20 curry leaves
15 dry red chillies (or according to taste)
1/4 cup brown sesame seeds
1 1/4 tsp salt (or according to taste)
Dry roast flax seed meal, raw peanuts, curry leaves, dry red chillies and brown sesame seeds SEPARATELY and keep aside to cool.
Flax meal needs to be roasted until aroma arises from it, peanuts until they change color and lose rawness, curry leaves until they become dry and crisp.
Powder all the ingredients along with the tamarind, brown sugar, and roasted chick pea until mostly fine.
Add salt to taste and give it another turn in the spice grinder.
Store this in an airtight container and use as required
This powder will stay for about a month or maybe more without any refrigeration.
Notes
Flax seed is known as Alsi in India. Flax seed meal is just powdered flax seeds, so if you have the seed you can powder it in your spice grinder.
Instead of raw unsalted peanuts you can use unsalted roasted peanuts too, if you use roasted peanuts you can skip roasting the peanuts step.
You can grind this powder to a very fine texture too if you like, I make it reasonably fine and allow a little coarseness because I like to taste the bite of some of the ingredients and it also gives me a more molaga podi like texture this way
59 comments :
great post..I love flax seeds and add it to anything ,even our daily oats n smoothies n shakes..After getting soaked sometime in milk,its gets a smooth pulpy texture..:)
I must try this spudi, I see Flax seeds all the time but never buy it. Looks great and healthy too! :)
Thats completely new to me Usha....Podi looks great and healthy...i will try including flax seed in our diet.
wow. what a healthy podi.. and so versatile. good. i have never bought or tasted flax seeds so fAr. i will soon buy and try.
wow..whats a healthy,,,,simply love ur recipes...all r too good and health consent....tq u v much for sharing
Flax seeds are very very healthy and I also like to include them in some dishes and I buy a butter substitute that is fortified with flax seeds too.
Really new recipe for me!wonderful post Usha.
I have never used flax seeds Usha. From your post i understand that its very nutritious! Will try this some time.
i have tasted at maharashtrian friends house, though prepared a little different from this one..good one usha
hey nice recipe ..i was not aware of flax seeds before ..Thanks for the recipe :)
lovely recipe... I really love the idea of this podi with rice and ghee :)
this is very much new to me Usha. Can we eat this with rice??? just curious..
never made chutney podi with flax seeds..great idea..wonder why i never thought of it, Usha! :)
what a great way to use flax. yummy :)
I use flax but never tried anything like this! Good one, Usha!
Hi Usha,
I loved the idea of flax seeds chutney podi..had heard of it before,was too lazy to make it. Seeing the picture got me all perked up to make it some time soon :)
TC
I've never heard of flax seeds before Usha! Thanks for the introduction! :) Looks like healthy, and tasty podi! :)
hi,
i too use flaxseeds in most of my baking stuffs in lieu of eggs.
But as u said to use this regularly using in the form of chutney is a good idea.
Nice blog..
What a wonderful idea! I have flax seeds in the fridge, which like you, I use for baking, but I don't really bake enough for them to be of much benefit to me so it's wonderful to have new ideas of what to do with them.
Its such a healthy podi, i bookmarked it to try...thanks a lot for this wonderful podi Usha..
i don't get flax seeds here.I will try this one when i get flax seeds..I'm sure this podi tastes so good :)
wow..nice healthy podi..
I allways knew Flax seeds were good healers for the intestines,but I am just recently discovering how many additional virtues they have..!You`re absolutely right,it`s not enough to add them into our baking sprees..this is a great idea to integrate them more into our routines,and it looks yummy!
i have come across similar recipe in someone's blog and was thinking of making it. lovely way to use flax seeds in daily diet.
Love the chutney powder with a twist.Addition of flax makes it all the more healthy and brownsugar addition is also new to me.I suppose it enhances the flavours.Love it Usha.
Hey.... dats an excellent recipe.... I never ever thought of using flax seeds, except for the milkshakes and baking needs..... may be i shud try this soon.... atleast for nutritious value of it.... :))))
This is such a healthy podi, very new to me! I just cant wait to try out this podi :)
have never tasted these seeds, will get them one of these days!
Haven't tried flax seeds yet...looks great USha
HI Usha thank you so much for dropping by........you have a well chronicled space.........ive only just moved to Nashik from MUmbai and i came across this flax seed powder here in Nashik......they make it pretty much like the recipe.........youve put up......an important thing id like to share with you about flax seeds they are the only source of omega 3 fatty acids for vegetarians other than walnuts.........so i say have it everyday..........im trying to lose weight so groundnuts are a no no for me. so i just roast the seeds. powder them and have a teaspoon of the mixture in warm water before going to bed...............
I saw first at Maya's Konkan world this recipe and bookmarked it and later to someone else blog too...
Great use of flax seeds in podi!
Never tried these flax seeds... its indeed a lovely ingredient! Will look for it!
Healthy recipe. Must try this soon.
This is really healthy!
Wonderful blog Usha, i will keep following..............this is a new recipe!
A must try one.. I have never used flax seeds in my cooking.. Will start trying with this one. It looks so tempting..
i tried finding flax seeds but cudn't find it..i too want to try this recipe
thanks for the quick reply usha
I learn something new everytime I visit. Thanks for sharing Usha. XOXO VG
Love flax seeds..I add them usually to everything..Podi looks yumm and tempting..
That looks like a great idea! I've heard flax is a staple in Maharashtrian cuisine for chutneys.
collect ur awards from the award page of my blog... happy blogging..:)
iam yet to try flax seeds .. I guess its super healthy .. this is a good innovation
WOW Usha, your posts are really informative and you come up with such healthy and gret looking stuff - i made the instant paniyarams with oats and they turned out much better that I thought they would..thanks so much fo sharing
WOW Usha, your posts are really informative and you come up with such healthy and gret looking stuff - i made the instant paniyarams with oats and they turned out much better that I thought they would..thanks so much fo sharing
looks spicy..
I love such chutney powders, that looks delicious and using flax seeds is so healthy.
What a lovely indianized way to incorporate flax seeds.... masala powder sounds great.
Nice post....gud use of flax seeds...
sounds really yummy and healthy :) thanks for sharing Usha
Very healthy.. i have to try this!
i got the update for this post now.. something funny going on with the posts getting updated on readers everywhere!
That's a great idea Usha. Until recently I didn't know that flax seed is used in Indian cooking. One of my readers mentioned that they make a chutney using flax seeds in Northern states of India. I also use flax powder regularly, we sprinkle it on our cold cereal. Will try this too.
Flax is so nutritious! This is definitely one of the most creative ways I've seen it used :).
Amazing recipe....Its a must try and Iam sure its a wonderful way to include flax seed in our meal.
Great recipe. I used half the amount of red chillies suggested and it was spicy for me. This is a regular in any veggie curry i make. Thanks!
Great recipe! I used half the amount of red chillies recommended and it was spicy enough. This is a regular in any veggie curry i make. I am storing in freezer so it doesn't lose flavor.
This is indeed a great way to include flax seeds. Must keep this in mind.
Usha, Can you please mention the measurement of sesame seeds? Is it tsp or tbsp?
Thanks, Usha!
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