Reciepe of the Month

Sambar

Ingredients
• 1 cup Arhar dal (a variety of pigeon-pea),
• 1/2 cup grated coconut,
• Some curry leaves,
• 1/4 cup coriander,
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin,
• 1/2 teaspoon methi (fenugreek seed),
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder,
• 5-1/2 cup water,
• 3-1/2 tablespoon vegetable oil,
• 6 red chillies,
• A piece of hing (asafoetida) of size 1/2 cm,
• salt to taste,
• 1 big onion cut into four pieces,
• 2 drumsticks cut into 5cm pieces,
• 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds,
• 25 gms tamarind soaked in a cup of warm water for about 15 minutes and then deseeded

Method:

Heat 1-1/2 tablespoon oil in a pan. Add red chillies, hing, coconut, coriander, cumin, methi and fry well till the coconut turns golden brown. Now make a paste of the whole thing in a mixer by adding water as necessary. Take a separate pan and pour 3 cups of water. Pour the arhar dal, turmeric powder and salt to it. Boil this well. Remove the pan from burner and whip the whole thing. Now add the paste of the spices prepared earlier. Also add tamarind, onion, drumsticks,curry leaves and 2 cups of water. Mix thoroughly and cook the sambar for about 6 minutes.

Heat 2 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a pan. Fry the mustard seeds in it. Now add this oil along with the mustard seeds to the sambar. Stir well. Sambar is ready to serve.