- 1 tablespoon cooking oil
- 1/4 cup split Bengal gram (chana dal)
- 8 dried red chile peppers
- 5 cloves garlic
- 1/2 cup fresh curry leaves
- 1/4 cup coriander seeds
- 2 tablespoons cumin seeds
- salt to taste
- Heat the oil in a shallow skillet over medium heat; fry the chana dal in the hot oil for about 5 minutes. Stir the red chile peppers, garlic, curry leaves, coriander seeds, and cumin seeds into the dal and continue cooking until the spices are roasted and fragrant, about 3 minutes more. Spread the mixture onto some newspaper to cool to room temperature; grind into a find powder. Season with salt. The powder will keep in an airtight container on the shelf for a few months.