Sambhar

Sambhar is a wonder recipe from the South of India. The various vegetables, spices and condiments that go into a typical Sambhar gives all the nutrients the body needs. Goodness of dal and vegetables in one of the simple yet healthy dish!

Preparation time : 10-15 min

Cooking time : 25-30 min

Ingredients :

For Boiling :

• 1 ½ cup toor (arhar / toovar / split pigeon peas) dal
• 4 cup water     
• 2 small onion                
• 1 tsp turmeric
• 1 tsp salt

Other Ingredients :

• 1 tbsp oil
• 1 tsp mustard seeds
• 1 ½ tbsp urad dal (split black lentils)
• 3-4 dry red chilies
• 15-20 curry leaves
• Pinch asafoetida
• 3 medium size onions ( fine chopped )
• 3 tomato ( puree )
• 2-3 tsp salt
• 3tbsp sambhar masala
• 1 ½ tsp turmeric
• 2 tsp coriander
• 2 tsp red chilli powder
• ¼ cup imali ( tamarind ) / ½ tsp dry mango powder
• 1 cup water
• ¼ tsp fenugreek powder (methi powder ).
• 2 tbsp fine chopped coriander
• Vegetables of your choice.

Preparation :

• Soak sambhar masala, turmeric powder, red chili powder and coriander powder with the help of 1 cup of water for at least one hour.
• Soak imali in 1 cup hot water for 1 hour. Mesh it with fingers. Strain pulp.

Method :

• Rains dal properly.
• Mix all ingrediants for boiling in pressure cooker.
• Boil till 4 whistles and then simmer it on slow flame for 5 min.
• Allow the steam to escape before opening the lid.
• Blend dal using hand blender into smooth texture.
• Add imali pulp, methi powder, half curry leaves, water according to requirement and salt into dal and boil it for 10-15 min on slow flame.
• Combine the drumsticks and bottle gourd or vegetables of your choice with 1 cup of water in a deep non-stick pan and cook on a medium flame for 4 to 5 minutes or till the vegetables are soft. Keep aside. ( optional )
• At the same time heat oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds.
• When the mustard seeds crackle, add dry red chili and curry leaves. Sauté for few seconds.
• Add urad dal and sauté till it turns into pink color. Add asafoetida.
• Add onion. Sauté till onions get transparent.
• Add tomato puree and sauté for 2-3 minutes.
• Add soaked masala water, boiled vegetables and salt.
• Sauté till oil starts to get released.
• Transfer this mixture into dal.
• Boil for 10-15 minutes.
• Turn off flame.
• Garnish with coriander and serve hot with south Indian recipes.