Hanaakuri Huni Havaadhu ( Coconut Based Roasted Curry Powder)

Growing up , my knowledge of local food was pretty limited, I knew a few things but the amount I have come to learn during the past few years has been a lot compared to my childhood. And one of them is this roasted curry powder. I used to depend on store-bought curry powder, and still do but I learnt that store-bought ones tend to go stale if left open for a long time.
Then I asked my mother for the  hanaakuri havaadhu (roasted curry powder) recipe which I have used to till now., but that was actually kothanbiri havaadhu or rather coriander-based curry powder.Then I found out there was another hanaakuri havaadhu recipe that used fresh coconut.  I asked K dhatha  my aunt, how it was made  and after a little chat this is what I came up with. Hopefully, it tastes as good as the original.

Recipe:  Hanaakuri Huni Havaadhu,

1 cup grated coconut
5 tsp cumin seeds
5 tsp coriander seeds
2 1/2 tsp fennel seeds
1/2 tsp turmeric
6 dried chillies
1 small (or 1/2 medium) onion, sliced
3 cloves garlic, Sliced
1 " ginger, sliced
12 cardamon pods, use the seeds only
1 " cinnamon stick
12 curry leaves
a small strip of pandan
10 peppercorns


Take a large frying pan, add all the ingredients except the tumeric. Place over medium heat and dry fry till the coconut becomes golden and the spicy aroma is released.   Add turmeric fry one more minute and then remove from heat and cool.

Grind coarsely and store in a clean glass bottle in the fridge till needed. ( when its time to use, add a little water and grind to a fine paste, will be posting a yummy fish curry using this particular curry powder soon )