Sambar - Kerala Style

Ingredients:-

Red Lentils or Toor Dal - 1 cup

Turmeric powder - a pinch

Salt to taste

water

Oil - 1 tablespoon

Onion chopped - 1

Garlic - 3 cloves(optional)

Green chili - 2-3

Vegetables chopped - 2 cup( any veg of your choice, i prefer carrot , potato , beans , ashgourd , drumstick,tindora and zucchini)

Tomato - 1

Tamarind pulp - 1/2 tablespoon

Sambar powder - 2 table spoon ( Sakti prefered )

Hing - a large pinch

Salt to taste

Tempering

Oil

Curry leaves

Mustard seeds

Dried red chili  - 2

Method

Soak lentils for sometime in water , drain and pressure cook with just enough water , salt and a pinch of turmeric. Remove the cooked lentils and clean the cooker.

Heat a tablespoon of oil in the cooker and saute onion , garlic and green chilies for a couple of minutes.

Add diced vegetables and saute for 2-3 minutes, followed by tomato.

Dissolve tamarind pulp in 1/4 to 1/2 cup of warm water and mix with Sambar powder  

Add this along with cooked lentils to the cooker , just enough water and pressure cook for 2 whistles

Uncover when cooled , simmer again for a couple of minutes , add a pinch or two of hing and chopped cilantro.

Tempering:-Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds.When it starts to splutter add red chilies and curry leaves.Pour it over the sambar.Serve it with Idli or Rice

Happy Cooking