Heat a pan & add 1 tsp of oil, add split Bengal gram beans, saute it till it turns light brown, then add all the ingredients for paste except onion & coriander leaves. Saute it for 3-4 min & keep it aside.
In the same pan, add chopped onion, saute it till it turn slightly brown, let it cool down a little & make paste of all the sauteed spices, coriander leaves & 3-4 tsp water.
Remove the paste from blender pot & rinse the pot with 1 cup clean water, keep that water aside.
Heat 4 tsp of oil in the same pan, add curry leaves , ginger garlic paste & spices paste, saute it on medium heat, till it change its color & stop sticking to the pan
Add 1/2 cup of water from blender pot & mix
Add red chilly powder* (see note) & salt as per taste & Let it simmer for 2-3 minutes
After 2-3 minutes add about 1 cup of water, adjust the quantity of water as per required thickness, curry should not be too much runny or too much thick
simmer it for 5-7 minutes, Turn off the heat
In a plate add curry then add patodi over it, serve hot with roti or rice