MTR Idli Dosa Chilly Chutney Powder Review – Mishry

Be it a piping hot plate of idlis, or a crispy ghee loaded dosa, a dash of fresh chutney on the side just makes it a complete soul satisfying meal. But the real task is making a chutney or podi from scratch.  Often we are short on time and look for quick ways to prepare chutney. MTR offers a hassle-free way to prepare chutney with its instant Idli/Dosa/Chilli Chutney powder. We conducted an in-depth review on this instant chutney powder to find out how well does it delivers on the taste and convenience factor. 

Do we recommend buying it? Our MTR Idli Dosa Chilly Chutney Powder covers all the details. 

The table highlights all the details that you need to know about MTR Idli Dosa Chilly Chutney Powder : 

What are we expecting? We expect a convenient and mess-free way to prepare chutney seasoned with the right flavors in a pouch pack. 

To test MTR Idli Dosa Chilly Chutney Powder in detail, we have listed the following review parameters :

1. Taste

We judged MTR’s chutney powder on the taste parameter by checking the overall flavor, salt and spice levels and seasoning. Does it come close to a homestyle chutney? Does it deliver on the authentic Southern flavors? 

Southern India has a distinct flavor profile which comes from curry leaf, red chilli, roasted dal, coconut and mustard seeds.

2. Texture

Does it have a coarse texture, or is it a fine powder? Do different elements like roasted dal and mustard seeds add a grainy-crunchy texture? 

3. Convenience

The idea behind getting any packaged ready-to-cook mix is the convenience attached to it. We check how easy the instructions are to follow. Does it require a collection of a lot of ingredients from the pantry? Does it reduce time and effort? 

4. Other Parameters 

Aroma

Does it showcase a distinct aroma of South Indian flavors (characterized by the aroma of curry leaves, roasted dal, red chilli and mustard seeds)? Is it inviting or feels off-putting? 

Appearance 

We checked the chutney powder both in dry form and post-preparation (following the instructions on the pack). Is it a fine powder, or is it coarse? Post-preparation, does it turn out to be thick or is it flowy? 

The other contributing factors, including packaging, price, and shelf life, were also part of our review process.

Related Reading: MTR Ready To Eat Breakfast Masala Upma Review.

Here we discuss the packaging, method of preparation, pros, and cons of MTR Idli Dosa Chilly Chutney Powder : 

Product details, dry inspection, and aroma 

MTR Idli Dosa Chilly Chutney Powder comes in a pouch pack which is not resealable. To retain the freshness, it is best to transfer the remaining contents to an airtight container. 

During the dry inspection stage, we observed this chutney powder has a slightly coarse texture. It is orange in color. The color changes to brick red after mixing in ghee.  

The aroma of curry leaves and roasted dal was the most noticeable here. We could also whiff a lingering aroma of red chilli powder. 

Podi masala is a popular spice blend, sprinkled to enhance the flavor of idli and dosas. It is made using a combination of lentils, sesame seeds, curry leaves and seasoned with chilli, black pepper and cumin. Mix it in ghee and eat with idlis, dosas and vadas.

Main Ingredients 

The main ingredients include – Black gram dal (84%), Red chilli, and Salt (5.5%). 

The list also includes mustard lemon flavor premix (maltodextrin, acidity regulator, citric acid (INS 330) and tartaric acid (INS 334), and lemon flavor), Acidity regulator, Citric acid (INS 330), Curry leaves, and Asafoetida.

Moreover, it contains an added flavor of nature identical – lemon. 

Maltodextrin: It acts as a thickener, is used to sweeten products and increases the shelf life of packaged foods. 

Tartaric acid (INS 334): It is known to impart a sour, sharp, and tart flavor. 

Sure, this chutney powder packs in a lot of convenience but when you compare the ingredients to a homemade chutney, this has a lot of additives which is not meant for regular consumption.

Method Of Preparation 

The pack states the following directions for use: 

• Mix – equal quantity of MTR idli/dosa/chilly chutney powder with ghee/cooking oil to use it as a chutney with idli/dosa etc. 
• You can also mix MTR chutney powder with curd and use it as a chutney with vada pav/roti.

We followed the same instructions mentioned on the pack for preparing the chutney. First things first, we mixed an equal quantity of ghee (we used Amul ghee) with the chutney powder. The following things were noticed during our process of preparation :

• Initially, the consistency of the chutney powder was extremely flowy. 
• With time the chutney started to thicken. Two possible reasons for this could be the presence of maltodextrin (which acts as a thickener), and slight thickening/solidifying of ghee.

Our Findings:

Taste & Texture 

Taste-wise, this chutney powder is excellent. It is spicy with medium intensity with the right amount of salt and seasoning. 

We also appreciate the presence of roasted dal. It brings in a nice nutty flavor. The subtle notes of asafoetida (hing) and curry leaves makes the overall taste pop out. This is mildly sour. 

We tasted the chutney both in dry form as well as with idli. Overall, it showcases an authentic taste of South Indian flavors. 

Coming to the texture, we liked the crunch of the roasted dal. It is just perfect. And the bits of mustard seeds in between adds to the overall crunch. 

Also Read: Mother’s Recipe Ready To Cook Mix Review.

Here are some interesting FAQs on Mtr Idli Dosa Chilly Chutney Powder.

We recommend trying MTR’s Idli Dosa Chilli Chutney Powder for the ease of preparation, delicious taste, and zero cooking time. The balance of salt, seasoning, and the authentic south Indian flavors in this chutney powder are the positive attributes we appreciate. It is a great hack for instant preparation of chutney, especially when you are short on time. 

Have you tried this chutney powder yet? If yes, how did your experience turn out?

Our reviews are unbiased and all samples used during the reviews were paid for by us. Read our entire ethics statement here.