A tangy, spicy South Indian lentil stew made with toor dal, tamarind, and a medley of vegetables, flavored with a special sambar powder. The cornerstone of South Indian cuisine.
Ingredients
toor dal (1 cup)
tamarind paste
drumstick
carrots
onions
tomatoes
sambar powder
mustard seeds
fenugreek seeds
curry leaves
dried red chilies
asafoetida
turmeric
oil
salt
fresh coriander
Instructions
1Pressure cook toor dal with turmeric until soft. Mash well.
2Cook vegetables in tamarind water with sambar powder and turmeric until tender.
3Add mashed dal and adjust consistency. Simmer for 10 minutes.
4Prepare tempering: heat oil, add mustard seeds, fenugreek seeds, curry leaves, dried red chilies, and asafoetida.
5Pour tempering over sambar and mix well. Serve with rice, idli, or dosa.
Did You Know?
Legend has it that sambar was accidentally invented by Maratha ruler Sambhaji when he tried to make dal and added tamarind by mistake.