Sambar is a traditional South Indian cuisine. A South Indian meal is not complete without Sambar.
Preparation time – 20 min
Cooking time – 30 min
Serves – 4 to 5 people.
Ingredients:
Toor dal – 1 cup.
Bottle gourd – 1 medium sized and chopped into small cubes.
Onions – 1 medium sized chopped.
Tomatoes – 2 medium sized chopped.
Tamarind – 2 tbsp ( soak in some warm water and extract the juice).
Salt – as per your taste.
Turmeric – 1/4 tsp.
Oil – for pan frying.
Coriander leaves/cilantro – few strings finely chopped for garnishing.
Ingredients required to make Sambar powder:
Coriander seeds / whole dhania – 1 1/2 tbsp.
Chana dal – 1 tbsp.
Whole red chilies – 5.
Jeera / cumin – 1/2 tsp.
Methi seeds – 1/4 tsp.
Oil – 1 tsp for pan frying.
Tempering:
Mustard seeds – 1/2 tsp.
Red chilies – 2.
Curry leaves – 4 to 5 leaves.
Asafoetida – 2 pinches.
Method:
1. Wash and soak the toor dal for 30 min.
2. Put the dal in the pressure cooker with 2 cups of water and cook it for 2 whistles.
3. Meanwhile, In a pan add 1 tsp of oil and roast the ingredients required for the sambar powder.Make sure to roast them on a medium flame until they are golden in color. Once they are roasted transfer them to a separate plate and allow it to cool down.Now put them in a blender and make a coarse powder and keep it aside.
4. In a another pan add some oil. Once the oil is hot add the finely chopped onions and saute it till they are nice and translucent.Now add the tomatoes and saute for a minute. Now add the bottle gourd,turmeric and the salt.Add some water and bring it to a nice boil.
5. Once the bottle gourd is nice and tender add the tamarind juice and let it boil for some time.Once the mixture comes to a boil add in the dal and the sambar powder and let it boil for some time.
6. Take an other pan and add a 1 tsp of oil .When the oil is hot add the mustard seeds and allow it to splutter.Now add the red chilies,curry leaves and asafoetida.
7.Now add all the tempering ingredients to the boiling sambar and mix well.
8. Adjust the salt and the consistency according to your taste.
9. Add some finely chopped coriander leaves / cilantro for garnishing.
10.The yummy bottle gourd Sambar is all ready to enjoy.It goes well with idli,dosa,vada or steamed rice.
This sambar can be made with other vegetables like carrots,radish,brinjal,drumsticks.