Sambar posted by Mahalakshmi

Sambhar

Friends, this is just the way I make it... but incase there are any mistakes in this recipe...let me know...i will be glad to do it :

Things required : (This is for making Sambhar for 2 people)

1 Cup Toor Dhal (Finely cooked and mashed )
8 Shallots or Chinna Vengayam ( I always prefer small onions more as they are very tasty. Have also heard that they have little garlic taste also in them)
1/2 Onion ( I always prefer the pink onion, they have more taste in them than the yellow and white)
2 Tomatoes - Crushed finely in a blender
250 gms Pumpkin (cooked and mashed)
1 spoon Garlic paste
1 Green Chilli
3 Red Chilli flakes
1 1/2 spoon Coriander Powder
1 1/2 spoon of Red Chilli Powder ( I don't like karam, if you like it , please feel free to add more)
1 spoon Coconut flakes
1 spoon Sambhar Powder
1 spoon Jaggery
1/4 tsp Turmeric Powder
1 1/2 cup of Tamrind Juice/water
1/4 tsp of Mustard seeds , Fenugreek seeds, Cumin seeds
1/2 spoon of Ghee
2 spoon of Oil
1/2 tsp of Asafetida or Perungayam
Curry leaves and Coriander to Garnish and add more taste

Method :

Take a Deep Sauce pan, Add 2 spoons of Oil and add Mustard seeds, fenugreek , cumin seeds, red chilli flakes and green chilli. Add the curry leaves, asafetida powder and little turmeric powder also.

Allow them to Splutter and add the shallots and the finely chopped pink onion. Add Garlic paste now and saute them

When the onions turn lightly brown color , add the crushed tomatoes and mix them finely.

Now add the Coriander powder , red chilli powder and saute the mix well.

After this mixture has been cooked lightly , add the tamarind Juice or water to this mixture. Add the Sambhar Powder (readymade sambhar powder available in stores works perfectly for this recipe ) now and allow them to cook for 10 - 15 minutes.

After making sure that the mixture is finely cooked with the tamarind Juice. Now add the finely mashed Cooked pumpkin and mix the sambhar well.

Allow it to cook for another 5 minutes and then add the finely cooked mashed or blended toor Dhal

Add the salt to taste.

Now let the sambhar cook for another 5 minutes and then add the Coconut flakes and Jaggery.

After Sambhar comes to a Boil, Add ghee and fresh cilantro.

Now you have a Tasty sambhar that can be used as side dish for Dosa and pongal.

You can also put mini idlies into this sambhar for making Sambhar Idly.