South Indian Spicy Lentil Curry [Sambhar] recipe.
January 28th 2010 06:18
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Hi everyone,I hope atleast one person reading this blog tried making dosa ! Anyway, I am going to write about the traditional sambhar or lentil curry which is the best dipping sauce for dosa along with coconut chutney[which will be my next post, of course!].
I have mentioned it as semi home made because I am writing this recipe with an instant sambhar mix,which you can purchase in any Indian grocery store.
In olden days almost every south Indian family made their own version of sambhar powder[which is made by processing and blending a mixture of coriander seeds,a variety of dhals,red chilly,peppercorns and turmeric in exact proportions].Though many still stick on to their own homemade powder,I prefer getting the instant mix which gives the same original flavor when used in the correct method of cooking.I prefer using SAKTHI MASALA brand sambhar powder, as it is spicy and gives the exact flavor of a homemade powder.
Let me keep a period[.] to the story and continue with the recipe.
Basically "Sambhar is a very healthy, spicy lentil soup made with Lentils,tamarind and any vegetable with a pinch of asafoetida and turmeric powder and the sambhar powder".You can use any of your favorite vegetable[carrot/beans/potato/cauliflower/drumstick or even just make it plain with sliced onion].The surprise is, you get a different taste with different vegetable used.My all time favorite is drumstick sambhar which I guess will be most of the south Indians favorite too.
Ingredients:
-Lentils [toor dhal / thuvar dhal] 1 cup
-Vegetable [I am using drumstick here.You can either use ONE-TWO fresh long drumsticks or go for 6-8 frozen drumstick pieces.Either way it tastes the same].
-Instant Sambhar powder - 2 tablespoons.
-1 and a half tomato coarsely chopped.
-Instant tamarind paste -1 tablespoon.
-1 Big red onion coarsely chopped.
-Fresh coriander leaves for garnishing and extra flavor.
-Salt as required
For seasoning:
-1 tablespoon of any oil[veg/canola/corn]
-mustard seeds -1 tsp
-1 teaspoon of turmeric powder
-A pinch of asafoetida
Quick method:
In a pressure cooker,add oil followed by asafoetida and mustard seeds.Once the seeds split,add the onions and fry it for a minute.Meantime wash the dhal and soak it in water.Add tomatoes,turmeric powder,vegetable[drumstick],sambhar powder and fry for another minute.Now add the soaked toor dhal with two cups of water and pressure cook for 5-6 whistles.Let it cool completely.Then remove the lid,mash the cooked lentil with the ladle,place it on heat and add the tamarind paste and the salt to taste.Let it boil for 5 mins.Garnish with finely chopped coriander leaves and let it rest in the cooker for a while.
Before transferring it to the serving bowl,try to take the excess clear soup[which is called Rasam / clear lentil soup]. Mix well and serve hot with dosa.
To make this in a more traditional way:
1.Pressure cook 1 cup of toor dhal with turmeric and 2 cups of water.
2.In a separate pan mix drumsticks,half of the chopped onions,1 tablespoon of sambhar powder,chopped tomatoes and a little salt and water.Let the drumstick fully cook in the pan.
[You can follow this for other vegetables too,so that they don't get mashed up with dhal in cooker].
3.In a large pan,heat oil,add mustard seeds, asafoetida, the rest of the onions, fry for a minute, followed by mashed cooked dhal, vegetable mixture and the tamarind paste.Taste it and if you want it more spicy add some more sambhar mix. Cover it and let it come to a boil.
4.Remove the lid halfway through and boil it for 5-10 minutes until all the flavors blend together. Add the coriander leaves.
5.Remove the excess clear soup and mix well and serve hot.
I have mentioned it as semi home made because I am writing this recipe with an instant sambhar mix,which you can purchase in any Indian grocery store.
In olden days almost every south Indian family made their own version of sambhar powder[which is made by processing and blending a mixture of coriander seeds,a variety of dhals,red chilly,peppercorns and turmeric in exact proportions].Though many still stick on to their own homemade powder,I prefer getting the instant mix which gives the same original flavor when used in the correct method of cooking.I prefer using SAKTHI MASALA brand sambhar powder, as it is spicy and gives the exact flavor of a homemade powder.
Let me keep a period[.] to the story and continue with the recipe.
Basically "Sambhar is a very healthy, spicy lentil soup made with Lentils,tamarind and any vegetable with a pinch of asafoetida and turmeric powder and the sambhar powder".You can use any of your favorite vegetable[carrot/beans/potato/cauliflower/drumstick or even just make it plain with sliced onion].The surprise is, you get a different taste with different vegetable used.My all time favorite is drumstick sambhar which I guess will be most of the south Indians favorite too.
Ingredients:
-Lentils [toor dhal / thuvar dhal] 1 cup
-Vegetable [I am using drumstick here.You can either use ONE-TWO fresh long drumsticks or go for 6-8 frozen drumstick pieces.Either way it tastes the same].
-Instant Sambhar powder - 2 tablespoons.
-1 and a half tomato coarsely chopped.
-Instant tamarind paste -1 tablespoon.
-1 Big red onion coarsely chopped.
-Fresh coriander leaves for garnishing and extra flavor.
-Salt as required
For seasoning:
-1 tablespoon of any oil[veg/canola/corn]
-mustard seeds -1 tsp
-1 teaspoon of turmeric powder
-A pinch of asafoetida
Quick method:
In a pressure cooker,add oil followed by asafoetida and mustard seeds.Once the seeds split,add the onions and fry it for a minute.Meantime wash the dhal and soak it in water.Add tomatoes,turmeric powder,vegetable[drumstick],sambhar powder and fry for another minute.Now add the soaked toor dhal with two cups of water and pressure cook for 5-6 whistles.Let it cool completely.Then remove the lid,mash the cooked lentil with the ladle,place it on heat and add the tamarind paste and the salt to taste.Let it boil for 5 mins.Garnish with finely chopped coriander leaves and let it rest in the cooker for a while.
Before transferring it to the serving bowl,try to take the excess clear soup[which is called Rasam / clear lentil soup]. Mix well and serve hot with dosa.
To make this in a more traditional way:
1.Pressure cook 1 cup of toor dhal with turmeric and 2 cups of water.
2.In a separate pan mix drumsticks,half of the chopped onions,1 tablespoon of sambhar powder,chopped tomatoes and a little salt and water.Let the drumstick fully cook in the pan.
[You can follow this for other vegetables too,so that they don't get mashed up with dhal in cooker].
3.In a large pan,heat oil,add mustard seeds, asafoetida, the rest of the onions, fry for a minute, followed by mashed cooked dhal, vegetable mixture and the tamarind paste.Taste it and if you want it more spicy add some more sambhar mix. Cover it and let it come to a boil.
4.Remove the lid halfway through and boil it for 5-10 minutes until all the flavors blend together. Add the coriander leaves.
5.Remove the excess clear soup and mix well and serve hot.
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