Sambhar

After staying for almost 8 years in Bangalore, one recipe that I have mastered from here is that of the delicious Sambhar.
If you happen to visit South India, you cannot miss out on the mouthwatering Idli Sambhar.

Sambhar is prepared by cooking the arhar dal with all the veggies and hence it is high in nutrition as well as proteins. Also it is a very easy way to introduce the veggies to your kids. In short, it is a healthpacked food. Having Idli Sambhar or Plain Dosa Sambhar is a good healthy start for your busy day.

Ingriedients:
Arhar dal\ Tur dal - 4 tablespoon
3 Sambhar onions or 1 normal onion - medium chopped
1 Tomato - finely chopped
2 Red chillies
2 small Brinjal - medium chopped
2 Drumsticks
1 Carrot - medium chopped
1 Cup Pumpkin cubes
Turmeric powder - half teaspoon
Chilli powder - half teaspoon
Sambhar Masala - 1 teaspoon (I generally use Everest Sambhar Masala)
Mustard seeds - half teaspoon
Jeera\ Cumin seeds - half teaspoon
Karipatta - 5-6 leaves
Asoefatida\ Hing
Cilantro\ Coraiander leaves - finely chopped
Salt
Water
Oil

Procedure:
1. Pre soak the arhar dal for about an hour. Also wash the drumsticks and chop it. Boil it with a pinch of salt for around 5 minutes. Keep this aside.

2. Take a steel pressure cooker, and add 2 tablespoon oil. Next add mustard. Once the mustard splutters, add the jeera.
3. Next add Hing, Karipatta and red chillies
4. Add the chopped onions with a pinch of salt.
5. Once the onion turns golden brown, add the turmeric powder, chilli powder and sambhar powder and let it cook for a minute.
6. Next add the chopped tomatoes and let it cook for another minute.
7. Finally add the chopped veggies. I have used brinjal, pumpkin and carrot. You can use any veggies of your choice.

8. Fry the veggies nicely with the masala. Next add the soaked dal.
9. Add 4 cups of water and necessary salt.
10. Let it pressure cook for 4 whistles.
11. Once the pressure cooker cools down, add the boiled drumsticks and mix well.
12. Then transfer the contents in a serving bowl and garnish with chopped corainder leaves.

The delicious sambhar is ready.
Serve it hot with Idlis and Dosas.

Notes:
1. Pre soaking the Arhar dal in water for 2-3 hours gives a very good consistency to Sambhar.
2. You can add any veggies of your choice like pumpkin, raddish, brinjal, carrot, Bhindi, etc.
3. You can also prepare sambhar by cooking the dal and the veggies togather(do not add Okra) in pressure cooker and adding the seasoning(tadka) later. In this case, add the okra after the tadka and let it cook for some time and then add the boiled veggies and dal.
4. Another way of preparing sambhar is to cook all the veggies and dal togather with onion in pressure cooker and then prepare the seasconing and pour it in the cooked dal and veggies.