Ellu Sadam or Nuvvula Annam is the South Indian Sesame Rice that is a must for many festivals including Navratri. Also called Ellodarai in Tamil, this nutty rice can be made in under 30 minutes.

Ellu Sadam, also called Ellodarai, is is the South Indian Sesame Rice — Ellu Sadam | Ellodarai | South Indian Sesame Rice

Sesame is a seed that I really like and I am always willing to try anything that has Sesame as the star ingredient.

Called Til in Hindi, Ellu in Tamil, and Nuvvulu in Telugu, sesame seeds are widely used in cooking in many regions of India. In Andhra In some districts of Andhra Pradesh, Nuvvula Podi (a coarse powder of roasted sesame and roasted red chilli) is used to flavour an assortment of dishes; or then simply mixed in rice and eaten. I absultely love Nuvvula Podi and as an extension any dish that uses it. It is but natural that this dish, which is called Nuvvula Annam in Telugu and Ellu Sadam or Ellodarai in Tamil, is one that I am particularly fond of.

This South Indian Sesame Rice is a must for Navratri and for poojas for Venkateshwara or Balaji.

Enjoy the Benefits of Sesame Seeds with Ellu Sadam | Ellodarai | Nuvvula Annam

I could go on and on about what a superfood sesame but here are just a few of the benefits you can enjoy:

Sesame seeds are a great source of plant-based protein with about 17 gms of protein per 100 gms of sesame.
Want great hair? Sesame seeds are your answer. They are rich in Omega 3 and help in hair growth.
These seeds help strengthen bones because of their high-calcium content.
Tiny as these seeds are, they are laden with micronutrients such as zinc, magnesium, Vitamin B, copper, and iron.

Want to know more? Read more ab out the benefits of eating sesame.

An easy way to include and enjoy sesame in your diet is to make this delicious and nutritious Ellu Sadam.

Tips For Making Ellu Sadam or Nuvvula Annam

You can use white unpolished sesame, black sesame or then a mix of both (as I have) to make this rice.
The sesame powder used to flavour this rice has a long shelf life. So you can make as a large lot and store in an airtight bottle for at least 1 month. You can use this powder to flavour vegetable stir-fries such as Bhindi Fry or Ivy Gourd Fry.
This is a dry rice with no wet ingredients so I cook the rice and the Ellu Sadam as close to serving time as possible because it tends to dry out. The alternative is to use more oil while tempering the rice, something which I eschew.
You can use any aged short-grained rice like Sona Masuri, Kolam, or Parimal to make this Nuvvula Annam. Avoid using new rice (rice that is less than 6 months old) because when cooked such rice tends be soft and mashes easily. We want the rice grains to remain separate.
Traditionally, cold pressed sesame oil is used to fry the tempering. This oil lends a lovely depth of flavour. You can, however, use any flavourless cooking oil as a substitute.

Ellu Sadam or Nuvvula Annam, the quick and easy South Indian Sesame Rice — Ellu Sadam | Nuvvula Annam for Navratri

Other Recipes with Sesame

How to Make Ellu Sadam | Ellodarai | Nuvulla Annam

Cooking the Rice
1. Wash 1/2 cup short-grained rice well under running water.
2. Add 1 cup water and pressure cook the rice as usual.
3. Let the pressure cooker depressurise naturally and take the rice out to cool.
4. Gently mix the rice with a fork or spoon to separate the grains.
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Making the Roasted Sesame Powder
1. On medium heat, in a heavy-bottomed kadhai, dry roast 2 tbsp white sesame seeds and 1 tbsp black sesame seeds till the white sesame changes colour and becomes aromatic. You can use only white or only black sesame seeds.
2. Transfer the roasted sesame to a plate to cool.
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3. Now dry roast 1.5 tbsp udad dal till it becomes light golden brown.
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4. Turn off the heat and add 4 Bydagi or Kashmiri red chillies.
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5. Let the ingredients sit in the pan for a minute.
6. Grind the roasted udad dal and chillies to a fine powder.
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7. Add the roasted sesame and pulse till the sesame breaks into a coarse powder. Do not grind for long after adding the sesame seeds as they have a high oil content.
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Making the Ellu Sadam
1. In a kadhai, over medium flame, heat 2 tbsp of cold-pressed sesame oil. You can also use any flavourless cooking oil.
2. Add 1 tsp mustard seeds and let them splutter.
3. Now, add 2 tsp udad dal, 1 tsp chana dal, and 2 tbsp peanuts.
4. Stir-fry till the dals and golden brown.
5. Add a few curry leaves and mix well.
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6. Turn off the heat.
7. Add the rice, the sesame powder, and salt.
8. With a light hand, mix well.
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Serving Suggestions
1. Serve the Ellodarai or Nuvvula Annam with papad or vadiyalu (fryums).

Nuvvula Annam or Sesame Rice from Andhra Pradesh — Nuvvula Annam

I had first posted this recipe in 2013 and after all this time and updating it to keep up with the times. 🙂

Recipe for Ellu Sadam | Ellodarai | Nuvvula Annam

Ellu Sadam | Nuvvula Annam | Ellodarai

Aruna

This nutty, South Indian, sesame-flavoured rice—called Ellu Sadam or Ellodarai in Tamil Nadu and Nuvvula Annam in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana—is offered as naivedyam for Navratri and Venkateshwara Poojas. It is very easy to make, gets done in under 30 minutes, and needs very little as accompaniment to make it a complete one-dish meal.

5 from 2 votes

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Prep Time 5

Cook Time 25

Course Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine Andhra, Gluten Free, Indian, South Indian, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Vegan, Vegetarian

Servings People

Calories 305 kcal

Equipment

Wok
Small Plate
Small Vessel
Spatula
Grinder

Ingredients

1/2 Cup Rice 125 gms

For the Sesame Powder

2 tbsp – White Sesame Seeds
1 tbsp – Black Sesame Seeds
1 tbsp – Udad Dal
4 – Bydagi Chillies

For Tempering

2 tbsp Sesame Oil
1 tsp Udad Dal
1/2 tsp Chana Dal
2 tbsp Peanuts
A Few Curry Leaves

Other Ingredients

Salt to Taste

Instructions

Cooking the Rice

Wash 1/2 cup short-grained rice well under running water. I use aged Surti Kolam.
Add 1 cup water and pressure cook the rice as usual.
Let the pressure cooker depressurise naturally and take the rice out to cool a bit.
Gently mix the rice with a fork or spoon (or even your fingers) to separate the grains.
Set aside.
After the rice is cooked, add the salt and 1 tbsp sesame oil and mix well.
Set the rice aside.

Making the Roasted Sesame Powder (I do this while the rice is cooking)

On medium heat, in a heavy-bottomed kadhai, dry roast 2 tbsp white sesame seeds and 1 tbsp black sesame seeds till the white sesame starts to change colour and give off a nice aroma. You can also use only white or only black sesame or play around with the proportions as required.
Transfer the sesame to a plate to cool
Now dry roast 1 tbsp udad dal till it becomes light golden brown.
Turn off the heat and add 4 Bydagi chillies or Kashmiri red chillies.
Let the ingredients sit in the pan for a minute.
Grind the roasted udad dal and chillies to a fine powder.
Add the roasted sesame and pulse till the sesame breaks into a coarse powder. Do not grind for very long after adding the sesame seeds as they have a high oil content that will seep out.
Set aside.

Making the Ellu Sadam

In a kadhai, over medium flame, heat 1 tbsp of cold-pressed sesame oil. You can use other flavourless cooking oils as well but cold-pressed sesame oil gives this rice a lovely depth of flavour.
First, add 1 tsp mustard seeds and let them splutter.
Now, add 2 tsp udad dal, 1 tsp chana dal, and 2 tbsp peanuts.
Stir-fry till the dals and golden brown.
Next, add a few curry leaves and mix well.
Turn off the heat.
Finally, add the rice, the sesame powder, and salt.
With a light hand, mix well.

Serving Suggestions

Serve the Ellodarai or Nuvvula Annam with some papad or vadiyalu (fryums).

Nutrition

Calories: 305 kcalCarbohydrates: 32 gProtein: 7 gFat: 17 gSaturated Fat: 2 gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7 gMonounsaturated Fat: 7 gSodium: 199 mgPotassium: 135 mgFiber: 4 gSugar: 1 gVitamin A: 215 IUVitamin C: 20 mgCalcium: 104 mgIron: 2 mg

Keyword Ellodarai, Ellu Sadam, Nuvvula Annam, Sesame Rice

Tried this recipe?Do let me know how you liked it @aahaaram or tag #aahaaram!