Sambar Curry

Sambar Recipe 

Adapted from South Indian recipes.com

This Sambar recipe is one of the most loved dishes in South Indian cuisine. It accompanies most every meal. 

Ingredients: 

• 1/2 lime sized ball Tamarind
• 1 cup Toor Dal (or red lentils)
• 1/2 teaspoon Turmeric Powder
• 2 teaspoons oil
• Salt to taste
• 5 small dry red chilies (or to taste)
• 8 Curry Leaves (see note)
• 1 medium onion (shallots are preferable)
• 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
• 1/4 tsp asafoetida (optional) (substitute garlic)
• 1/2 teaspoon fenugreek seeds
• 1 large tomato
• 2 tablespoons sambar powder (see note)
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro leaves (also known as coriander leaves)
• 1 cup of a vegetable of your choice like green beans, chopped carrot

Directions:

• Soak the tamarind in 1 cup water for 20 minutes. Squeeze it out, adding water little by little to prepare 1 cup of juice.
• Choose a heavy cooking pot. Wash and clean the dal.
• Boil 2 cups of water and add the dal, turmeric powder and 1 teaspoon of oil.
• As the dal boils, skim off the foam and discard.
• Boil until the dal is soft and then mash it coarsely.
• If needed, add more water as it is boiling but do not let it get too watery. If you use a pressure cooker it will take about 5 minutes.
• In a separate pan, heat to medium and pour in the remaining oil.
• Once the oil is hot, add the chilies, mustard seeds, fenugreek and curry leaves and sauté for 2 minutes.
•  Add the onion and brown lightly. Add the tamarind extract and let boil lightly until the onions are cooked.
• Add this mixture to the dal with asafoetida, tomato, vegetable of choice and sambar powder.
• Allow this to boil for 5 to 10 minutes and remove from the heat. Garnish with cilantro.