Ellu Sadam — South Indian Sesame Rice with Cold Pressed Til Oil | Gurugram

What Is Ellu Sadam?

Ellu means sesame in Tamil. Sadam means rice. Ellu sadam is cooked rice mixed with a sesame-based paste and tempered in cold pressed sesame oil. It is:

• A temple food — offered as prasad at Shiva temples, particularly on Pradosham days
• A festival food — made during Makar Sankranti (Pongal season) when sesame is considered sacred
• A travel food — packs well, stays fresh for 6–8 hours without refrigeration
• A weekday lunch — quick to make with leftover rice, deeply satisfying

It is different from the more complex tamarind rice (puliyodarai) — ellu sadam is simpler, nuttier, and has a more direct sesame flavour.

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Ingredients — Serves 4

For the rice:

• 2 cups raw rice (sona masoori or ponni rice) — cooked and cooled
• 1 tsp cold pressed sesame oil — mixed into hot rice to prevent sticking

For the sesame paste:

• 4 tbsp white sesame seeds — dry roasted
• 2 tbsp black sesame seeds — dry roasted (optional, for deeper flavour)
• 3–4 dried red chillies — dry roasted
• ½ tsp black pepper
• ½ tsp cumin seeds — dry roasted
• Salt to taste

For the tadka:

• 3 tbsp cold pressed sesame oil (Dune Aura)
• 1 tsp mustard seeds
• 1 tsp urad dal
• 1 tsp chana dal
• 10–12 curry leaves
• 2 dried red chillies — broken
• 2 tbsp peanuts — raw
• ¼ tsp asafoetida (hing)
• ½ tsp turmeric

For garnish:

• 1 tbsp sesame seeds — toasted
• Fresh curry leaves

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Method

Step 1 — Cook and Cool the Rice

Cook rice until just done — slightly firm, not mushy. Spread on a large plate or tray to cool completely. Mix 1 tsp cold pressed sesame oil into the hot rice immediately after cooking — this coats each grain and prevents clumping.

Important: The rice must be completely cool before mixing with the sesame paste. Hot rice will make the paste clump and the oil will separate.

Step 2 — Make the Sesame Paste

1. Dry roast white sesame seeds in a pan over medium heat, stirring constantly, until they turn light golden and begin to pop — about 3–4 minutes. Do not let them brown.
2. Dry roast black sesame seeds separately for 2 minutes (they are already dark, so watch carefully).
3. Dry roast dried red chillies for 1 minute until fragrant.
4. Dry roast cumin seeds for 1 minute.
5. Let all roasted ingredients cool completely.
6. Grind together: white sesame, black sesame, red chillies, black pepper, cumin, and salt into a coarse powder. Do not grind to a fine paste — the texture should be slightly grainy.

This sesame powder (ellu podi) is the heart of the dish. Made fresh, it has an intense, warm, nutty aroma that pre-made versions cannot match.

Step 3 — The Tadka

1. Heat 3 tbsp cold pressed sesame oil in a kadai over medium heat
2. Add mustard seeds — wait for them to splutter
3. Add urad dal and chana dal — fry until golden (about 1 minute)
4. Add peanuts — fry until lightly browned (about 2 minutes)
5. Add curry leaves — they will crackle; stand back
6. Add dried red chillies — fry for 30 seconds
7. Add asafoetida and turmeric — stir for 10 seconds
8. Remove from heat

The cold pressed sesame oil tadka is what makes this dish distinctively South Indian. The oil's natural nuttiness amplifies the sesame paste and creates a layered flavour that refined oil cannot produce.

Step 4 — Combine

1. Pour the hot tadka over the cooled rice
2. Add the sesame powder — start with 3 tbsp and adjust to taste
3. Mix gently but thoroughly — use a folding motion to avoid breaking the rice grains
4. Taste and adjust salt
5. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and fresh curry leaves

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Serving Suggestions

Ellu sadam is traditionally served:

• At room temperature (not hot)
• With papad (roasted or fried)
• With a simple raita or plain yoghurt
• With a side of pickle (avakaya or lime pickle)
• As part of a South Indian thali

It is also excellent packed in a lunchbox — the flavour improves over 2–3 hours as the sesame oil and paste meld with the rice.

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Variations

Ellu Sadam with Coconut

Some Tamil households add 2 tbsp fresh grated coconut to the sesame paste before grinding. This creates a slightly sweeter, creamier version that is particularly popular as prasad.

Black Sesame Ellu Sadam

Using only black sesame seeds creates a more intensely flavoured, slightly bitter version with a dramatic dark colour. This version is considered more medicinal in Ayurvedic tradition.

Ellu Sadam with Tamarind

A small amount of tamarind paste (1 tsp) added to the tadka creates a version that bridges ellu sadam and puliyodarai — tangy, nutty, and deeply satisfying.

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The Nutritional Power of Ellu Sadam

This simple dish is a nutritional powerhouse:

Nutrient	Source	Benefit
Calcium	Sesame seeds	Bone health
Iron	Sesame seeds	Energy, blood health
Omega-6 (linoleic acid)	Cold pressed sesame oil	Heart health
Omega-9 (oleic acid)	Cold pressed sesame oil	Cholesterol balance
Sesamol, sesamin	Cold pressed sesame oil	Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory
Vitamin E	Cold pressed sesame oil	Cell protection
Protein	Sesame seeds + urad dal	Muscle, satiety
Fibre	Sesame seeds	Digestive health

Sesame seeds are one of the richest plant sources of calcium — 100g of sesame seeds contains more calcium than 100ml of milk. Combined with cold pressed sesame oil's antioxidants and the rice's complex carbohydrates, ellu sadam is a genuinely complete meal.

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Why Cold Pressed Sesame Oil Specifically?

The tadka for ellu sadam must be made in cold pressed sesame oil — not refined sesame oil, not sunflower oil, not coconut oil. Here is why:

Flavour: Cold pressed sesame oil has a rich, warm, nutty aroma that is fundamental to the dish's character. Refined sesame oil is nearly flavourless. The difference is immediately apparent.

Preservation: The natural sesamol in cold pressed sesame oil acts as a preservative, keeping the rice fresh for 6–8 hours without refrigeration. This is why ellu sadam has been a travel food for centuries — the oil itself protects the dish.

Nutrition: Cold pressed sesame oil retains its full complement of vitamin E, sesamol, and lignans. These compounds are largely destroyed in refined oil processing.

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Dune Aura Cold Pressed Sesame Oil

Our sesame oil is cold pressed from premium white sesame seeds in small batches at our Gurugram facility. The same oil that makes ellu sadam taste authentic — rich, nutty, and deeply aromatic.

Available in 500ml and 1 litre. Same-day delivery in Gurugram. Pan-India shipping in 3–5 days.

Order at duneaura.com or WhatsApp +91 99995 55242.

Cold Pressed Sesame Oil in Gurugram — For Authentic South Indian Cooking

Dune Aura is Gurugram's only cold press oil manufacturer. Our sesame oil is pressed in small batches at Sector 9A — the same quality used in traditional South Indian kitchens. Searching for cold pressed sesame oil in Gurugram, gingelly oil in Gurgaon, or til ka tel near me? We deliver same-day across all Gurugram sectors, DLF phases, Sohna Road, Golf Course Road, and Manesar. Pan-India shipping in 3–5 days. WhatsApp +91 99995 55242.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use any rice for ellu sadam? Sona masoori or ponni rice are traditional. Basmati works but the longer grain does not absorb the sesame paste as well. Avoid sticky or glutinous rice.

How long does ellu sadam keep? At room temperature, ellu sadam keeps for 6–8 hours — the cold pressed sesame oil acts as a natural preservative. Refrigerated, it keeps for 2 days. Reheat gently with a few drops of sesame oil.

Can I make ellu sadam with leftover rice? Yes — leftover rice works perfectly. Bring it to room temperature, break up any clumps, and proceed with the recipe. Many Tamil cooks prefer day-old rice for ellu sadam.

Is ellu sadam the same as sesame rice? Yes. Ellu sadam is the Tamil name for sesame rice. It is also called nuvvula annam in Telugu and ellu chitranna in Kannada.

What is the difference between ellu sadam and puliyodarai? Puliyodarai (tamarind rice) uses tamarind as the primary flavour with sesame oil in the tadka. Ellu sadam uses sesame seeds and sesame oil as the primary flavour. Both are South Indian rice dishes but they taste very different.

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The sesame oil in this recipe matters: Use cold pressed til ka tel for authentic flavour and full nutrition. Cold Pressed Sesame Oil Gurugram | Cold Pressed Mustard Oil Gurugram | Shop all oils