Omapodi, also known as plain sev, is a delicate and crunchy South Indian festive snack infused with fragrant ajwain. Quick to prepare using besan and rice flour, here is how to make crispy traditional South Indian style omapodi easily at home with step-by-step photos!
Omapodi is my daughter’s favourite snack. It is also known as Plain sev. Yesterday I tried Oma podi recipe for the first time by referring a cook book. It came out really well with simple ingredients. The flavour of ajwain/omam is the highlight of this recipe. If you don’t like ajwain flavor, you can skip it and add hing. Its taste will surely remind you of store bought sev. It is very easy to prepare. Do try this for your kids during this Diwali. Store in an air tight box and consume within a week.
You can also use this to make crunchy South Indian Madras Mixture for Diwali.
Quick Notes for US & Abroad Kitchens
- Ajwain Preparation: Soak ajwain seeds in warm water for 20 minutes before grinding and straining through a fine tea strainer. This ensures no tiny seed particles clog the fine idiyappam holes of your murukku press.
- Flour Consistency: Fine besan from Indian grocery stores (like Deep or Swad) works best. Sieve both besan and rice flour thoroughly to ensure a velvety smooth dough that presses effortlessly.
- Stovetop Temperature: On electric coil or glass-top cooktops, maintain the burner strictly at medium heat. Omapodi is very delicate and fries in just 30 to 40 seconds; high heat will cause it to brown before it turns crisp.
- Mould Disc Choice: Use the disc with multiple tiny round holes (idiyappam or sev disc) for the classic thin sev strands.
Omapodi Recipe (Plain Sev)
Ingredients
- 1 cup Gram flour / Besan / Kadalai maavu (approx. 100 g / 3.5 oz)
- ¼ cup Rice flour (approx. 35 g / 1.2 oz)
- 1 tbsp Hot cooking oil or melted butter (approx. 15 ml / 0.5 fl oz)
- ¼ tsp Turmeric powder
- 1 ½ tsp Ajwain / Omam or Hing – 1/4 tsp
- Water as needed
- Salt as needed
- Cooking oil to deep fry
Instructions
- Dry roast omam/ajwain for 2 minutes or soak it in water for 30 mins. Grind it to make a coarse paste and strain it well. Keep the water aside.
- Now in a wide bowl, sieve the flour, add salt, turmeric powder, hot oil and the ajwain water.
- Mix well and add little more water to make a dough. No problem even if the dough is slightly sticky. It will be easy to press in oil. Make a smooth dough and fill it in the press by placing the idiyappam mould.
- Heat oil in a kadai, put a small piece and if it rises immediately the oil temperature is just right. Now press the dough in a circular manner. Do not crowd the oil. Just one round is enough. Cook for few seconds and flip it, remove after the “sssssh” sound and bubble ceases.
- Deep fry as mentioned and place them in a tissue. After it cools down, break them into pieces and store in a box.
Notes
- If you find hard to press, sprinkle little water, mix well and press in oil.
- Always maintain the oil in right temperature by adjusting the flame otherwise omapodi turns brown in color.
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Nice n delicious omapudi..looks perfect
Very nicely done Chitra …looks yum
Flavourful omapodi….love it…
Flavorful snack, love the aachu very much!!!
Diwali Special recipe – Peanut Pakoda
Prefectly done, love this crispy crunchy munchy sev.
Love this snack with some chaai… Looks perfect
Yum crunchy snack
wow…Yummy and crispy omapodi…
OMG!!! Looks soooo….good!!!
crunchy and yummy,so good
Nice crispy snack !!! Love it anytime !!!
Love it anytime. Looks very good.Need to make it this weekend !!
Perfect…My all time fav one…Love this!!
wow Perfect sev,luks tempting…
Perfect and beautifully done sev…Love anything crispy and fried this is no different..:)
very festive!!! very nice stepwise as usual!!
Sowmya
Ongoing Event – CWF – Whole Wheat Flour
We absolutely loved your Oma Podi recipe! At Kovilpatti Murukku Kadai, it brought back the nostalgic aroma of freshly made sev from our kitchens. The way you’ve explained each step — from roasting ajwain to achieving that perfect golden crisp — beautifully captures the soul of South Indian snack making. It’s simple, authentic, and truly heartwarming!
For more information visit our website: https://kovilpattimurukkukadai.com/