Udhaiyam

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.

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 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.

Udhaiyam Urid Whole Gota is whole white urad dal — the black gram with its skin removed, left whole rather than split. Creamy-white, and the grain behind idli, dosa and vada batter.

Whole gota grinds to a smoother, better-aerated batter than split urad, which is why it is the one traditionally used for idli.

Best for

• Idli and dosa batter, ground with rice
• Medu vada and uzhunnu vada
• Papad, and thick North Indian dals

How to use it

For batter, soak 4 to 6 hours with a teaspoon of fenugreek seeds, then grind with cold water until light and fluffy. Combine with soaked rice and leave to ferment overnight in a warm place.

Pack and storage

1 kg. Store in a cool, dry place, sealed after opening.

Udhaiyam Green Mung Beans are whole green gram — small olive-green beans with the skin intact. They cook softer than most whole pulses while still holding their shape, and have a mild, faintly sweet, grassy flavour that takes a tempering well.

Best for

• Sprouting for salads and sundal
• Whole green gram curry and pachai payaru
• Soups, stews and thick dal finished with coconut

How to cook it

Soak six to eight hours, or overnight, before cooking. Pressure cook one cup with two and a half cups of water for four to five whistles — the beans should give under a spoon without collapsing. To sprout them, soak eight hours, drain thoroughly, then leave them tied in a damp cloth somewhere warm for a day or two, rinsing once a day. Finish cooked beans with mustard seeds, curry leaves and grated coconut.

Pack and storage

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

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 Tamarind Seedless is pressed tamarind pulp with the seeds and most of the fibre already taken out, so it goes straight into hot water without the picking-over that whole tamarind needs. It is sharply sour and sticky, and it is what gives sambar, rasam and kuzhambu their backbone.

Best for

• Sambar, rasam and vatha kuzhambu
• Pulihora and tamarind rice
• Chutneys, sauces and chaat

How to cook it

Break off a piece about the size of a small lime for a pot serving four, soak it in a cup of hot water for fifteen to twenty minutes, then squeeze it out with your fingers and strain the liquid, discarding the fibre left behind. Use that extract rather than adding the block to the pot. Let it boil for a few minutes before the dal goes in, as raw tamarind tastes flat. Add it in stages and taste as you go.

Pack and storage

200g pack. Store in a cool, dry place, sealed after opening; keep it wrapped, as tamarind dries out and hardens in open air.

Udhaiyam Mung Dal is split green gram with the skin removed, leaving small flat yellow grains. It cooks faster than almost any other dal, needs no soaking, and breaks down into a smooth pale-gold purée with a mild, clean flavour that never fights the tempering. This is the 2kg bag for kitchens that cook dal most days.

Best for

• Khichdi and ven pongal
• Everyday yellow dal and light broths
• Kosambari, payasam and sweet dishes

How to cook it

Rinse two or three times until the water runs clear. Pressure cook one cup with two and a half to three cups of water for three whistles, or simmer it uncovered for about twenty-five minutes, skimming the foam that rises early on. For a fuller, nuttier flavour, dry-roast the dal in a pan until it smells toasty before cooking — worth doing for pongal. Temper at the end with ghee, cumin, asafoetida and green chilli.

Pack and storage

2kg pack. Store in a cool, dry place, sealed after opening.

Udhaiyam Urid Dal Split 1kg is split black gram with the skin removed, so the grains are ivory-white and cook down into a thick, sticky paste rather than staying separate. That stickiness is exactly what gives idli and dosa batter its body and what makes vada hold their shape in the oil.

Best for

• Idli and dosa batter, ground with parboiled rice
• Medu vada and ulundu vadai
• Papad dough and thick South Indian dal

How to cook it

For batter, rinse until the water runs clear and soak four to six hours with a teaspoon of fenugreek seeds. Grind with very little water, adding it a splash at a time, until the paste is smooth and light and has roughly doubled in volume. Combine with soaked parboiled rice at about one part urid to three parts rice, salt it, and leave it overnight in a warm spot to ferment. Cooked as dal, one cup takes three to four whistles in a pressure cooker with three cups of water.

Pack and storage

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

Udhaiyam Brown Chickpeas (Kala Chana) are small, dark, thick-skinned chickpeas that stay firm and separate after cooking instead of breaking down. They have a deeper, nuttier, more earthy flavour than the large white variety and a noticeably chewier bite.

Best for

• Kala chana masala and chana sundal
• Sprouting for salads and chaat
• Dry curries, stews and slow-cooked gravies

How to cook it

These want a long soak — eight hours or overnight in plenty of water, as they take up well over double their volume. Drain, rinse, then pressure cook with fresh water and a little salt for six to eight whistles and let the pressure fall naturally. Older stock can need a couple of whistles more, so check one before you open the pan. Keep the cooking liquid; it thickens the gravy and carries the flavour.

Pack and storage

1 Kg pack. Store in a cool, dry place, sealed after opening.

Udhaiyam White Chickpeas are the pale, round chickpeas known as kabuli chana — larger and milder than the darker kala chana, with a soft, buttery texture once cooked.

Best for

• Chana masala and chole
• Hummus and salads
• Sundal and chaat

How to cook them

Soak overnight, or for at least 8 hours, then drain and rinse. Pressure cook for 4 to 5 whistles, or simmer for about an hour until soft enough to crush between two fingers. A pinch of bicarbonate of soda in the soaking water softens them further.

Pack and storage

1 kg. Store in a cool, dry place in a sealed 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 Black Urid Whole are whole black lentils with a deep, earthy flavour and creamy interior. A staple for Dal Makhani, these lentils slow-cook beautifully to create rich, indulgent gravies.

• Whole black lentils with skin retained
• Essential for slow-cooked Dal Makhani
  

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 Urid Chilka is split black gram with the skin (chilka) intact, offering a slightly coarser texture and higher fibre content. Used in dals, stuffed parathas and regional preparations across India.

• Split black gram with skin for extra fibre
• Excellent for stuffed parathas and regional dals
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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 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 Maida is refined wheat flour, milled fine and with the bran removed, so it is soft, white and low in the coarse particles that give atta its character. It makes the stretchy, soft dough that Indian fried breads and restaurant-style breads need, and it behaves like a plain all-purpose flour in baking.

Best for

• Bhatura, naan and poori
• Samosa and kachori pastry
• Cakes, biscuits and general baking

How to cook it

Maida takes less water than atta, so add it gradually. For bhatura or naan, make a soft dough with curd and a raising agent and rest it somewhere warm for two hours before shaping. For samosa pastry, work oil or ghee into the flour first until it holds its shape when pressed, then bring it together with cold water into a stiff dough and rest it thirty minutes, which is what gives a crisp, blistered shell rather than a soft one.

Pack and storage

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

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 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 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.

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 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.