Pantry Staples

Udhaiyam Toor Dal is split pigeon pea — tuvar or arhar dal — the lentil that sambar is built on and the everyday dal in most South Indian kitchens. It cooks down soft and golden with a mild, faintly sweet flavour.

Best for

• Sambar
• Dal tadka, dal fry and rasam
• Kootu and poriyal, where a little dal thickens the dish

How to cook it

Rinse two or three times until the water runs clear. Pressure cook with about 3 parts water to 1 part dal for 3 to 4 whistles, or simmer 35 to 45 minutes until it breaks down when pressed. Finish with mustard seeds, cumin, dried chilli and curry leaves in hot oil or ghee.

Pack and storage

1 kg. Store in a cool, dry place in a sealed container.

Annam Whole Ragi is finger millet sold as the whole grain rather than as flour, so the small round reddish-brown seeds are intact. Keeping it whole means you control what happens to it, whether that is sprouting, cooking it as a grain or grinding it fresh.

Best for

• Ragi mudde and ragi ambali
• Sprouting, then drying and grinding into flour
• Porridge and thick savoury gruels

How to cook it

Rinse and soak the grain for six to eight hours before you do anything with it. To cook it whole, use one cup to three cups of water and simmer for around forty minutes until tender. To sprout, drain after soaking and leave loosely covered for a day or two, then sun or oven dry completely before grinding. It is naturally gluten-free.

Pack and storage

500g pack. Store in a cool, dry place, sealed after opening.

TRS Rice Flakes Medium (Poha) is parboiled rice rolled flat and dried, in the medium thickness — the all-purpose grade that softens without falling apart. This is the small 300 g pack, enough for a few breakfasts.

Best for

• Kanda poha and batata poha
• Chivda and namkeen mixes
• Dahi poha, and adding body to batters

How to cook it

Never soak it in a bowl. Tip the flakes into a sieve, run cold water over them for about fifteen seconds, and leave to drain five minutes — they soften further as they sit. A flake should crush easily between the fingers without turning to paste. Fold the drained poha into the tempering at the end with a flat spatula rather than stirring it about.

Pack and storage

300 g. Store in a cool, dry place, sealed after opening.

Kings Dried Coconut Half 250g

TRS Rosecoco Beans are dried borlotti-type beans, speckled pink and cream in the packet and an even brown once cooked. They have a smooth, chestnut-like texture and a mild, faintly sweet flavour that suits a long, slow stew.

Best for

• East African bean stews and githeri
• Minestrone, soups and casseroles
• Bean salads, and coconut-based curries

How to cook it

Soak overnight, or at least eight hours, and throw the soaking water away. Simmer in fresh water for 60 to 75 minutes, or pressure cook for 5 to 6 whistles, until a bean crushes easily. They soften more readily than kidney beans, so check early. Salt at the end, and mash a spoonful back in if you want a thicker stew.

Pack and storage

500 g. Store in a cool, dry place, sealed after opening.

Udhaiyam Toor Dal in the 2 kg pack — split pigeon pea, the base of sambar and the everyday dal across South India. Mild, faintly sweet, and it cooks down to a smooth golden consistency.

The 2 kg size suits a household cooking dal several times a week.

Best for

• Sambar
• Dal tadka, dal fry and rasam
• Kootu, and anywhere a little dal is used to thicken

How to cook it

Rinse until the water runs clear. Pressure cook with roughly 3 parts water to 1 part dal for 3 to 4 whistles, or simmer for 35 to 45 minutes. Temper with mustard seeds, cumin, dried chilli and curry leaves to finish.

Pack and storage

2 kg. Keep in a cool, dry place in a sealed container.

Udhaiyam Urid Whole Gota (whole black gram) is the key ingredient for iconic dishes like Dal Makhani and Idli batter. These whole, unpolished lentils deliver a rich, earthy flavour and creamy texture when cooked.

India Gate Excel Extra Long Basmati is the extra-long-grain line, chosen where grain length is the thing on show. The grains stretch out as they cook, stay separate and firm, and carry the clean basmati aroma that comes up as soon as the pot reaches steam. The 1kg pack suits a small household or a first try before committing to a sack.

Best for

• Biryani and pulao
• Jeera rice and plain steamed rice with dal
• Fried rice, where separate grains matter

How to cook it

Rinse until the water runs clear, then soak for twenty to thirty minutes; a long grain needs that soak to elongate rather than snap. Use about one and a half parts water to one part rice, bring it to a boil, cover and cook on the lowest heat for ten to twelve minutes. Rest it five minutes off the heat before lifting the lid, then separate the grains with a fork rather than stirring with a spoon.

Pack and storage

1kg pack. Store in a cool, dry place, sealed after opening, and keep it airtight and away from strong spices.

India Gate Exotic Basmati is long-grain aromatic basmati in a 1kg pack, for kitchens that want a smaller quantity without dropping to broken or unaged rice. The grains cook dry and separate, lengthen in the pot, and give off the characteristic basmati aroma as the steam builds.

Best for

• Biryani and pulao
• Plain steamed rice alongside dal or a rich gravy
• Jeera rice and fried rice

How to cook it

Rinse until the water runs clear and soak for twenty to thirty minutes, which is what allows the grain to lengthen instead of breaking. Use around one and a half parts water to one part rice, bring to a boil, then cover and cook on the lowest heat for ten to twelve minutes. Leave it to stand, covered, for five minutes before opening, and loosen the grains with a fork. Salt the water rather than the cooked rice.

Pack and storage

1kg pack. Store in a cool, dry place, sealed after opening, in an airtight container away from strong aromas.

Aachi Mango Avakkai Pickle is the South Indian raw mango pickle, cut into firm pieces and cured in mustard, chilli and oil. It is hot, salty and sour at once, with the ground mustard sitting behind the chilli, and the mango pieces stay firm enough to bite rather than dissolving into the oil.

Best for

• Hot rice with a spoon of ghee or sesame oil
• Curd rice
• Dosa, idli and chapati

Serving

Avakkai is eaten in small quantities, so a modest spoonful at the side of the plate is the right serving rather than a mound of it. Use a dry spoon every time and press the pieces back down afterwards so the oil covers the pickle again, because whatever sits above the oil line spoils first. If the oil has thickened in a cold kitchen, stand the jar at room temperature before serving rather than warming it.

Pack and storage

300g jar. Store in a cool, dry place, sealed after opening.

Udhaiyam Brown Lentils are whole masoor with the brown skin left on, which is what makes them behave so differently from the split red lentil. They hold their shape through cooking instead of collapsing, so they suit dishes where you want to see and feel the lentil rather than a smooth purée.

Best for

• Whole masoor dal and dhaba-style dal
• Lentil soups, stews and salads
• Khichdi and lentil rice dishes with texture

How to cook it

Rinse well and pick over for stones. Soaking is not essential but thirty minutes shortens the cooking. Pressure cook with about two and a half parts water to one part lentils for three or four whistles, or simmer for thirty-five to forty minutes until tender but still whole. Salt near the end, as salting early keeps the skins firm. Finish with a tempering of cumin, garlic and dried chilli in ghee.

Pack and storage

1kg pack. Store in a cool, dry place, sealed after opening, in an airtight container.

Udhaiyam Chana Dal (split Bengal gram) is a versatile pulse with a slightly sweet, nutty flavour. Used in dal preparations, chutneys, snacks and South Indian tempering, it is a true kitchen essential.

• Split Bengal gram with nutty, sweet flavour
• Ideal for dal, chutney and South Indian tempering
  

Udhaiyam Chana Dal (split Bengal gram) is a versatile pulse with a slightly sweet, nutty flavour. Used in dal preparations, chutneys, snacks and South Indian tempering, it is a true kitchen essential.

• Split Bengal gram with nutty, sweet flavour
• Ideal for dal, chutney and South Indian tempering
  

Udhaiyam Brown Lentils in the 500g pack are whole masoor, skin on, for a household that cooks them occasionally rather than weekly. The skin is what keeps them intact in the pot, so unlike split red lentils they finish as separate lentils in a broth rather than as a thick purée.

Best for

• Whole masoor dal
• Soups, stews and warm lentil salads
• Khichdi where the grain should stay distinct

How to cook it

Rinse and check for stones. Thirty minutes of soaking helps but is not required. In a pressure cooker, two and a half parts water to one part lentils for three or four whistles; in an open pot, thirty-five to forty minutes at a simmer with the lid ajar. Add salt towards the end rather than at the start, and temper with cumin, garlic and chilli in hot ghee just before serving.

Pack and storage

500g pack. Store in a cool, dry place, sealed after opening, in an airtight container.

Udhaiyam Green Mung Beans Whole are whole green gram with the skin on, mild and slightly earthy, and among the quickest of the whole pulses to cook. They are also the standard bean for sprouting at home, since they germinate reliably in a couple of days.

Best for

• Sprouting for salads and sundal
• Whole moong dal and pesarattu batter
• Curries, soups and stir-fries

How to cook it

Rinse and soak for four to six hours, which is enough for a bean this size. Pressure cook with three parts water to one part beans for three or four whistles for a soft dal, or two whistles if you want them to hold their shape. To sprout, soak overnight, drain thoroughly, and keep them in a covered colander or tied cloth at room temperature for a day or two, rinsing once a day until the tails show.

Pack and storage

500g pack. Store in a cool, dry place, sealed after opening, in an airtight container.

Udhaiyam Idly Rice is the short-grain parboiled rice used specifically for idli batter. Parboiling changes how the starch behaves, and that is why a batter ground from idly rice ferments well and steams into a soft, white idli, where the same recipe with ordinary raw rice gives a flatter, denser result.

Best for

• Idli batter, ground with whole urad dal
• Dosa and uthappam batter
• Plain steamed rice, where a firmer grain is wanted

How to cook it

For batter, soak four parts idly rice and one part urad dal separately for four to six hours, adding a teaspoon of fenugreek to the dal. Grind the dal first with cold water until light and airy, then the rice to a slightly grainy paste, and combine them by hand. Add salt, cover, and leave in a warm place for eight to twelve hours until risen. Steam idlis for ten to twelve minutes in greased plates.

Pack and storage

1kg pack. Store in a cool, dry place, sealed after opening, in an airtight container.

Udhaiyam Mixed Lentils is a blend of several dals in one pack, for the mixed dal that many households cook when no single lentil is quite what they want. Cooked together the different lentils give a dal with more body than a single-pulse one: some break down and thicken the pot while others stay whole.

Best for

• Mixed dal, panchmel-style
• Dal khichdi
• Thick lentil soups and stews

How to cook it

Rinse several times until the water runs clear and soak for at least an hour, which matters more here than with a single dal because the lentils in the mix cook at different rates and soaking evens them out. Pressure cook with three parts water to one part lentils for four or five whistles, then let the pressure drop by itself. Mash lightly against the side of the pot, adjust the consistency with hot water, and finish with a tempering of cumin, garlic, dried chilli and ghee.

Pack and storage

500g pack. Store in a cool, dry place, sealed after opening, in an airtight container.

Udhaiyam Mixed Lentils in the 1kg pack is a blend of several dals for cooking as one. The point of a mixed dal is the texture: the softer lentils break down and thicken the pot while the firmer ones keep their shape, which gives a result no single dal manages on its own.

Best for

• Mixed dal and panchmel-style dal
• Dal khichdi
• Hearty lentil soups

How to cook it

Rinse until the water runs clear, then soak for an hour or more. Soaking is worth the time with a mix, since the lentils in it soften at different speeds and an unsoaked batch finishes with some still firm. Pressure cook with three parts water to one part lentils for four or five whistles and let the pressure fall naturally. Loosen with hot water to the consistency you want, salt at the end, and pour over a tempering of cumin, garlic and dried chilli fried in ghee.

Pack and storage

1kg pack. Store in a cool, dry place, sealed after opening, in an airtight container.

Udhaiyam / Lakshmi Palm Candy is panangkalkandu — crystallised palm sugar in irregular amber lumps, 200g.

It is the traditional South Indian sweetener: less sharply sweet than white sugar, with a faint caramel and palm note. It is stirred into hot milk and filter coffee, dropped into herbal kashayam and ginger decoctions, used in payasam and other festival sweets, and offered during pooja. Many households simply keep a jar and let people take a piece after a meal.

The crystals dissolve more slowly than granulated sugar — crush the larger lumps first if you are adding them to a cold drink. Store in a dry, airtight jar away from moisture.

Udhaiyam Red Lentils (Masoor Dal) are premium split red lentils that cook quickly to a smooth, velvety consistency. Used worldwide in soups, stews and traditional Indian dal dishes.

• Quick-cooking split red lentils
• Perfect for dal, soups, stews and curries
  

Udhaiyam Urid Chilka is split black gram with the black skin left on, so the grains are cream-coloured and flecked with dark husk. It holds its shape better than skinned urid and cooks to a creamy dal with a fuller, earthier flavour and a slight bite from the skin.

Best for

• Everyday urad dal tempered with cumin and garlic
• Punjabi-style dal with tomato and ginger
• Rustic dosa and vada batter where you want the flecks

How to cook it

Rinse two or three times, then soak thirty minutes to an hour to soften the skins. Pressure cook one cup with three cups of water for four to five whistles and let the pressure drop on its own — the grains should mash easily against the side of the pan. Finish with a tempering of ghee, cumin, dried red chilli, garlic and asafoetida poured over the top, then simmer a few minutes more so it thickens.

Pack and storage

500g pack. Store in a cool, dry place, sealed after opening.

Dildaar Sona Masoori is the medium-grain rice that most South Indian households cook every day. The grains are shorter and lighter than basmati, they cook soft, and they take up whatever goes on top of them instead of competing with it, which is exactly what is wanted under sambar, rasam or a curry. This is the full 10kg household sack.

Best for

• Everyday steamed rice with sambar, rasam and curries
• Curd rice, lemon rice and pulihora
• Pongal, and batter for idli and dosa

How to cook it

Rinse two or three times until the water runs mostly clear. Sona masoori carries more surface starch than aged basmati and turns gluey if you skip this. In a pressure cooker, use one cup of rice to two cups of water and cook for three whistles, then let the pressure fall on its own rather than releasing it. In an open pot, boil one cup of rice in four cups of water until the grains are soft and drain the excess. Fluff with a fork; stirring with a spoon mashes the grain.

Pack and storage

10kg sack. Store in a cool, dry place, sealed after opening. Decant into an airtight container and keep it off the floor; a couple of dried bay leaves in the container is the usual way to keep weevils out.

Dildaar Extra Long Basmati is long-grain aromatic rice selected for grain length, which is the thing that matters in a biryani where every grain has to stay separate and visible. Cooked properly the grains stretch out, stay firm at the centre and do not clump together. The aroma shows itself in the pot and settles as the rice rests. This is the 5kg pack.

Best for

• Dum biryani, where separate grains matter most
• Pulao, jeera rice and fried rice
• Plain steamed rice alongside a rich gravy

How to cook it

Rinse gently until the water runs clear, then soak for twenty to thirty minutes; soaking is what lets a long grain elongate instead of snapping. For plain rice, use one cup of rice to one and a half cups of water, bring it to a boil, cover and cook on the lowest heat for twelve minutes, then rest it ten minutes off the heat before lifting the lid. For biryani, parboil in plenty of salted water to about seventy per cent, drain, layer and finish on dum. Separate the grains with a fork, never a spoon.

Pack and storage

5kg pack. Store in a cool, dry place, sealed after opening. Keep it airtight and away from strong-smelling spices, as basmati takes up other aromas readily.

Dildaar Extra-Long Basmati in the 10kg sack is for kitchens that cook rice most days, or cook for a crowd. It is long-grain aromatic rice chosen for grain length: the grains elongate as they cook, hold their shape, and stay loose rather than sticking, which is what separates a proper biryani from a pot of savoury rice.

Best for

• Biryani and pulao for large gatherings
• Everyday steamed rice with curries and dal
• Fried rice and jeera rice

How to cook it

Wash the measured quantity gently until the water clears, then soak for twenty to thirty minutes before cooking. On the stove, one cup of soaked rice to one and a half cups of water, brought to a boil then covered on the lowest heat for twelve minutes, gives separate grains; leave it to stand another ten minutes before opening. For biryani, parboil to roughly seventy per cent in heavily salted water, drain well, layer over the meat and cook sealed on low heat. Always fork the rice apart rather than stirring it.

Pack and storage

10kg sack. Store in a cool, dry place, sealed after opening. Move what you are using into an airtight container and keep the rest of the sack closed, away from damp and away from spices whose aroma it will pick up.