Vegetable Sambar

This is a simple and classic Vegetable Sambar recipe I used to make when I make Idli and Dosa. Vegetable Sambar can be served with many varieties  like Idli, Dosa, rice, Appam etc. Vegetable Sambar can be made with a wide variety of vegetables. Most commonly used vegetables are brinjal, drumstick, pumpkin, radish, Ladiesfingers (okra), beans and carrots. 

Ingredients

1/2 cup  Toor dhal
1/2 tsp Turmeric powder
2 cups chopped mixed vegetables 

• Drumsticks
• Brijal
• Beans
• Carrots
• Ladiesfingers (okra)
• Pumpkin 
• Potatoes

1/2 tsp mustard seeds
2 dry red chillies
few curry leaves
a pinch of asafoetida
a medium sized onion (finely chopped)
a medium sized tomoto (finely chopped)
2 tbsp Sambar powder
1 tbsp tamarind pulp + 1/2 cup water 
1 tbsp vegetable/sunflower oil
1 cup + 2 cups water
1 tsp salt or as per taste

Directions

1. Make the tamarind pulp with water and keep aside. 
2. Wash the toor dhal well and boil Toor dhal with 1 cup of water, turmeric powder and salt. Then blend it using a blender.
   
3. In a separate pan, boil the chopped vegetables with 2 cups of water, turmeric powder and salt. Then keep it aside. 
4. Heat oil in pan and add mustard seeds. When they start to plutter, add curry leaves, dry red chilies, asafoetida powder and saute it 10 seconds.
5. Add the chopped onions. Once the onions becomes transparent, add tamarind juice and cook for 2-3 minutes.
   
6. Now add the chopped tomatoes and saute until the tomotoes become soft and mushy.
7. Then add the Sambar powder and stir & cook for a minute.
8. Add the cooked and the blended dhal, boiled vegetables with the water (vegetable water) and salt. 
   
9. Mix everything well and close and cook well for 10 minutes. Then open the lid and let it come to a boil. Sambar is ready.