Curry leaves powder or Kariveppilai podi

 Whenever I am able to get enough curry leaves, I make curry leaves podi (powder) with them. . For making it you will need:
1. One full cup ( pressed down) of curry leaves.
 You can separate the leaflets from the main stalk, wash and dry them on a towel before hand.
2. 1 tbsp.Channa dal
3. 1 tbsp Tuvar dal
4. 1 tbsp Urad dal
5. 1/2 tsp.cumin seeds
6. a few ( 5 or 6 ) peppercorns
7. Two dry red chillies
8.  1/2 tsp salt or according to taste
   In a pan, dry roast ( without oil ) all the dals,  till the dals turn reddish and then the red chillies,cumin seeds and peppercorns till you get a nice aroma of cumin and pepper . Dry roast the curry leaves keeping the pan on low heat and stirring continuously. The leaves should be dry, but should not turn brown. Switch off heat and let the leaves remain in the pan for a few minutes. This will make them crisp and easy to powder.
   Now powder the roasted ingredients along with salt in a grinder and store in a bottle.(If you like, you can also add 2 cloves of garlic by crushing , roasting and adding them along with the other ingredients.)
    You can have it by adding  it to steaming hot rice with a spoonful of ghee or oil . It tastes good,enhances digestion and as I said before has other health benefits too.
    Variation: You can also roast two tbsp. of freshly grated coconut and powder it along with the other ingredients. This powder can then be used to make ' curry leaves rice'. Boil the rice making sure that the grains are separate and not overcooked and allow it to cool. Add some ghee or oil and the curry leaves powder and mix well. The quantity of curry leaves powder to be used can be adjusted according to taste.