Kerala Sambar

A favourite of any malayalee and a must item in a Keralite menu, thats our sambar. It is rich in vegetables and flavour and also has high nutritional value. It needs good amount of experience to make a good sambar .

Serves six

INGREDIENTS:

• Toor dal -1 cup
• Vegetables- 2  cup ( Pearl onions ) Cheriya ulli) ,Okra (Ladies finger), Potatoes, Tomatoes, Carrots, Drumsticks, Brinjal )
• Tamarind - a lemon sized piece made to a paste in warm water.
• Garlic- one pod finely chopped.
• Grated Coconut- 1/2 cup 
• Turmeric powder- 1 tablespoon
• Red chilly powder- 2 tablespoon
• Sambar powder- 4 heaped tablespoons
• Salt as needed
• Mustard seeds- 1 tablespoon
• Red chilly- 4 nos.
• Coriander leaves- finely chopped- 1/4 cup

How to Prepare:
Step 1: Vegetables
Boil 2 cups water in a pressure cooker. When it is at boiling point add the toor dal , chopped tomatoes, Potatoes, Carrot , Brinjal and  Pearl onions  Add salt , 1/4 turmeric powder, 1 tablespoon red chilly powder. Pressure cook for one whistle. Keep aside.

Step 2: Masala
Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a kadai, add coconut , minced garlic and saute till it becomes yellow in color. Add 1/2 tablespoon turmeric powder and saute till it becomes brown. Add 1 tablespoon red chilly powder and saute till it becomes dark brown. Switch off the flame and add the sambar powder. Allow it to cool and then grind it to a smooth paste.

Step 3: Gravy
Heat the boiled vegetables . Add drumsticks, okra and add the tamarind juice to the mixture and also add the sambar masala paste to it .Add the required amount of salt when all the masala and vegetables are cooked.

Step 4: Seasoning
Heat oil in a kadai, splutter mustard seeds, add red chilly . Pout the mix over the prepared sambar. Garnish with coriander leaves . serve hot .