Sambar Recipe - Kottayam Style

Ingredients

• Toor dal - ¾ - 1 cup
• Water - 2.5-3 cups
• Turmeric powder - ¼ tsp
• Carrot - 1, cubed
• Potato - 1 small-medium, cubed & half cooked
• Drumstick - 2, cut lengthwise
• Tomato - 2, sliced
• Ladies finger(vendakka) - a handful
• Tamarind - size of a lime (adjust the qty as per your taste)
• Sambar powder - 1.5 - 2 tbsp
• Asafoetida (kayam) - ½ tsp
• Small onion - 5, sliced finely
• Red chilly - 2
• Mustard - ¼ tsp
• Curry leaves
• Salt
• Oil

Instructions

1. Pressure cook the dal with water & turmeric powder on high flame for 4 whistles. Keep it closed for 30 minutes or till the steam goes. Mash the cooked dal well using a wooden spoon. Add 3.5-4 cups of water to the mashed dal and blend it well. Add salt and all the veggies except the potato to this. When the veggies are half cooked add potato and the tamarind pulp. Cook till all the veggies are cooked.
2. Meanwhile heat oil in another pan and add the sambar powder and kayam. Fry it for a minute, make sure that it doesn't get burnt. Add some water to the powder and make a thick paste. Add this to the veggies and let it boil. Heat some more oil in the same pan and crackle the mustard seeds. Add sliced, small onions, red chillies and curry leaves. Fry it till the onion becomes golden brown. Add this to the sambar and mix well. Remove from fire.

Notes

You can adjust the qty of water to suit your requirements. I've used Brahmins brand sambar powder. Also you can use the veggies of your choice.