Sambar I

| Cuisine of India

Category: Indian

Ingredients

• 1 cup (240 ml) toor dal
• 1½ cups water
• 1 tbsp salt
• 3 tbsp sambhar masala (see note)
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1 cup (240 ml) cubed mixed vegetables (see notes)
• 1 big onion, cut into quarters
• 3 tbsp thickish tamarind pulp OR 1 tsp tamarind concentrate
• 2 tbsp oil or ghee
• 2 tsp mustard seeds
• 2–3 whole dry red chile peppers
• 7–8 leaves of curry leaves
• 1 tbsp chopped coriander leaves, to garnish

Instructions

1. Wash the dal, and cook in the water with the salt until absolutely tender and soft, with no grains remaining.
2. Add sambhar masala, sugar and vegetables, including the onions, and cook until the vegetables are tender. Add the tamarind after the vegetables are tenderly cooked.
3. Heat oil in a saucepan, and add the mustard seeds. When they splutter, add the whole red peppers and the curry leaves.
4. Stir 2–3 times, then add the dal mixture. Bring to a boil, and then simmer for about 5 minutes.
5. Garnish with the coriander leaves.

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