Sambar

 Sambar is essentially a lentil soup made with variety of vegetables and spices. South Indian dishes such as Idali, Dosa are incomplete without a side of Sambar.
 It is vegetarian, diabetes friendly, low calorie, low cholesterol soup.

Ingredients:
1. Toor Dal/ split pigeon peas lentil - 1 Cup Dry
2. Onion - 1 Medium
3. Potato - 1 Small
4. Sweet Potato- 1 Small
5. Drumsticks- 1 Cup
6. Tomato- 1 Large
7. Mix Vegetables- Carrot, Peas, Green Beans - 1 Cup
8. Oil - 1 TBSP (Vegetable Oil/ Corn Oil/ Saffola Oil/ Extra Virgin Olive Oil)
9. Muster Seeds - 1/2 TSP
10. Red Chili- 2/3 Dry
11. Curry Leaves- 4/5
12. Red Chili Powder- 1/2 TSP
13. Sambar Powder- 2/3 TBSP
14. Turmeric Powder- 1/2 TSP
15. Tamarind Pulp - 1 TBSP
16. Salt - 2 TSP or as per taste

Method:
1. Chop onion, potato and sweet potato. I am using frozen cut drumsticks. If you are using fresh ones,  cut those as well.

2. . Boil all four vegetables with 3 Cups of water with turmeric powder and half of the salt.

3. Boil for about 10 min or until onion is translucent; completely cooked.

4. Pressure cook toor dal in 3 Cups of water. 

5. Blend it with immersion blender. Then add boiled vegetables. Keep the flame Medium or low as you will be adding more vegetables and all the spices.  Now add chopped tomato and other mix vegetables. I am using frozen mix of carrots, peas and French beans.

6. Star of the recipe is Sambar powder. I am using 24 Mantra Organic Sambar Powder; 3 TBSP. This gives the most spicy taste.

7. In a small thick bottom pan, heat oil. Add muster seeds. Once those starts to sputter, add in curry leaves and red chili. Add this tampering to sambar. We like the sambar spicy, so add in red chili powder at this point. But it’s optional if you are looking for mild taste. 

8. Give the pot a good stir and add tamarind pulp and salt. Let Sambar simmer for 5-7 min to species.    get obsorbed. Serve hot!