Sambar/Lentil Soup

Dear Friends,

This is a famous soup from southern part of India. The fragrance and taste are so powerful, it will make everyone hungry. This recipe serves 4 people.

Preparation Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

Ingredients to pressure cook
1 cup toor dal/split lentils
10-12 peanuts
4-5 2″ long pieces of drum stick
1 potato peeled and cubed
1/2 tsp fenugreek seeds

Other Ingredients
1 big onion thinly sliced
1 finely chopped tomato
1 tbsp tamarind paste
1 inch cube of jaggery (optional)
2 tbsp sambar powder
1/2 tsp each cumin seeds and mustard seeds
7-8 curry leaves
1 tsp each red chili powder and turmeric powder
1/4 tsp asafetida
Oil for cooking
Salt to taste

Procedure

1. In a pot mix all the ingredients to pressure cook, add 2 cups of water and pressure cook until 4 whistles.

2. In a pan heat the oil, add cumin seeds, mustard seeds and curry leaves. When mustard seeds splutter, add onion. Saute onion for 2-3 minute and then add chopped tomato, tamarind paste, sambhar powder, red chili powder and turmeric powder. Saute all these ingredients on low heat for 1-2 minutes .

3. Now add one cup of water and simmer on low for 5-7 minutes. Once the mixture starts boiling, add cooked dal, piece of jaggery, salt, asafetida and stir all the ingredients thoroughly. Cook for 5-10 minutes on medium to low until sambhar starts boiling.

4. Enjoy sambar itself as a soup or serve it with idly, dosa, medu vada or with plain rice.

Try this healthy, nutritious and  aromatic soup. It tastes best when it is hot. Make a day ahead and it will taste even better on the next day.

Let me know if you have any questions regarding the dish. Your suggestion is welcome.

Thank you for visiting my blog. Happy cooking!