Sambar

Sambar is part of any major meal at home. We have it plain rice, dosa's, Idli's or wada's. I got this recipe from my mom.


Ingredients:

• 1 cup yellow split peas (tuvar dal)
• 2 cups water
• 2 onions, sliced in big pieces
• 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 3-4 dried red chilli
• 6-7 curry leaves
• 6-8 Fenugreek Seeds
• 2 tomatoes, sliced in big pieces
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 2 green chilies, slit
• 1 carrot (optional, peeled and cubed)
• 2 drumsticks (optional)
• 5 okra, chopped (optional)
• 2 tablespoons oil
• 1 inch piece tamarind, soaked in a cup of hot water and extract juice
• 2 teaspoons sambhar powder (I use MTR sambar powder)
• salt to taste
• cilantro leaves (to garnish)

Method:

Boil the split peas in water till they are soft. Churn the peas with a spoon,and it should turn into a soup like consistancy (You can use a pressure cooker)

Heat the oil in a pot(I did it in a non stick pot). Once the oil is hotadd the mustard seeds, cumin seeds, dry red chilli, fenugreek seeds and curry leaves. After the mustard seeds start sputtering(make sure the cuminseeds dont burn) add the sliced onions and any optional vegetables you like. I like the okra, carrots and drumsticks in my sambar. Just saute for 2-3 minutes.

Now add 4-5 cups of water to the pot. Add the extracted tamarind juice, turmeric powder, salt, green chilies and tomatoes and bring it to a boil.

Once the pot comes to a boil add the boiled split peas. Keep on boilingfor 5 more minutes and then add the sambar powder.

After the sambar powder has been added boil for another 5 minutes add choppedcilantro leaves. Then boil for another 5 minutes or till the time the sambar comes to a nice soupy consistancy.