Sambar / Lentil stew from South India
Equipment
- Pressure cooker
- kadai / wok
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup Toor dal / Yellow split pigeon peas
- 1 cup chopped veggies (carrots/ beans/brinjal/ladies finger)
- 1 tsp oil
- 1/2 large onion chopped or you can use small onions
- 1 sprig curry leaves (optional)
- 3 medium sized tomatoes
- 2 tsp sambar powder
- 1 small lemon size tamarind pulp
- 3 cups water
- 1 tsp mustard seeds
- 1/4 tsp fenugreek seeds
- 1/4 tsp cumin seeds
- 1/4 asafoetida
- 2 tsp salt to taste
- 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
- Coriander leaves (for garnishing)
- 1 tsp Jaggery
Instructions
- Wash the toor dal until the dirt is removed and soak it in water for 30-60 minutes. Soaking the lentils before cooking it helps in cooking the lentils through to a smooth consistency.
- Add the Soaked toor dal to a pressure cooker and add 2 cups of water, add turmeric and pressure cook it to about 4-5 whistles or until the lentil is smooth. (read Note).
- Once the pressure is released, whisk it to a smooth creamy consistency and keep it aside.
- In a separate wok/kadai, add oil, mustard seeds and allow it to sputter, next add in cumin and fenugreek seeds, asafoetida and saute for a few seconds and add the onions, curry leaves, little salt and cook until the onions are soft and translucent.
- Add the chopped veggies and saute along with the onions and cover and cook for a 5 mins.
- Next add in the chopped tomatoes, salt , cover and cook until the tomatoes are soft. and the vegetables are cooked.
- Add the remaining 1 cup water, tamarind pulp and jaggery and cook for 5 - 10 minutes.
- Add in the sambar powder, salt and the cooked and mashed lentils (toor dal) and cook on medium to low flame for about 10-15 minutes.
- You will see the sambar is bubbling gently and you will see froth coming on the sides. Turn off the sambar and garnish with coriander leaves.
- Serve hot with white rice with a dollop of ghee and appalam on the sides.
Notes
1.Alternatively you can cook the lentils in a pot until they are cooked well.
2.To make the tamarind pulp, soak the tamarind in warm water and gently squeeze it to get all the tamarind extract, discard the residue. 3. If your sambar feels a bit thicker and you want to add water please boil the water on the side slightly to bring to the same temperature as the sambar and then add it and mix well.
2.To make the tamarind pulp, soak the tamarind in warm water and gently squeeze it to get all the tamarind extract, discard the residue. 3. If your sambar feels a bit thicker and you want to add water please boil the water on the side slightly to bring to the same temperature as the sambar and then add it and mix well.