Sambar

Also known as a spicy lentil stew.

No South Indian home dinner table is complete without sambar. Sambar is made with a variety of vegetables and each has its own unique taste. Pearl onions, mixed vegetables, drumstick, asparagus and more can be added to plain old sambar to jazz it up.

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This recipe serves 5-6 people.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup toor daal (pigeon peas)

• 1 cup vegetables of your choice

• 1 1/2 tbsp sambar powder

• 1/4 tsp turmeric powder

• lime sized tamarind soaked in water or 1/2 tsp of tamarind paste

• 1 tbsp oil

• 1 tsp mustard seeds

• 1 sprig of curry leaves and cilantro to garnish

• salt to taste and enough water to make stew consistency

Method:

1. Wash daal and pressure cook with enough water until soft.

2. In heavy bottom pan, add oil.

3. Add mustard seeds and curry leaves.

4. Sauté vegetables of your choice. I have used onions, 1 tomato and 1 carrot.

5. Add 1 cup water. Add turmeric and sambar powder and let it roll boil.

6. Then, add tamarind paste and after a minute, add cooked toor daal.

7. Garnish with cilantro and serve hot with rice, idli, or dosa.