Sambar made easy

Sambar is a renowned cuisine all over India especially down south. Its a stew made of vegetables and Indian masala, with lentils(pulses).  There are different types of sambar prepared just with Shallots or Lady finger (okra), drum stick or mixed vegetables.

I have posted one with easy steps. You need not have anything specific or mandatory in terms of vegetables. Below are a range of vegetables you can pick what ever you want to add to your sambar. Other than the main ingredient.

Preparation Steps:

1. Wash dal, and the cut vegetables except bhindi transfer to a pressure cooker.
2. Add water to cover the dal and vegetables.
3. Add garlic, salt, asafoetida 
4. Cook in a low flame for 10 minutes - 12 minutes based on the dal. moong dal gets cooked soon.
5. Open the cooker lid after the wait time. ensure the vegetables and dal are cooked well.
6. Now add tamarind juice/water, sambar powder as per taste and lady finger bring to a boil.
7. Check salt and other seasoning. At this point you can adjust it.
8. We dont want the sambar too watery or thick, but at the right consistency.
9. Add coriander leaves, and the tempering. 
10. In a separate small kadai or tadka pan, heat oil, add mustard seed and all other ingredients of tempering.
11. Add this to the boiling sambar. Remove from stove.
12. Cover and serve after some time.

Note:

• Sambar taste varies based on the brand of sambar powder and the dal.
• If Sambar taste is sour, adjust with water
• Sambar taste good the next day
• If the refrigerated sambar is thick, pour some warm water and bring to a boil before serving.
• Coriander leaves add extra flavor to sambar, its optional though. learnt from my mother.