Murungakai ulli Sambar - Drumstick & Shallot Sambar

Kerala style spicy and delicious Murungakai ulli Sambar - Drumstick and shallot sambar
Ingredients

1 cup - Tuvar dal
2 - Drumstick chopped
10 - shallots ( do not chop- cook as whole)
2 - Tomatoes, cut into 4 pieces
2 - green chilli, slit in center
lime size - Tamarind
one bunch coriander leaves, washed and chopped
Salt

Sambar masala ingredients

1/2 cup - grated coconut
1 tsp - urad dal
1 tsp - channa dal
1 tsp - cumin /jeera
1/2 tsp - fenugreek seeds/ methi
1/2 tsp - asafoetida / hing
4 - pepper corns
2 - garlic flakes chopped
6 - curry leaves
1 tsp - red chilli powder
1/2 tsp - turmeric powder
4 tsp - coriander powder
Sesame oil

Seasoning

1 tsp - mustard seeds
3 whole red chilli
curry leaves

Method

1 ) Cook one cup tuvar dal in enough water. When the dal is half cooked add drumstick,shallots tomatoes,green chilli and salt. Cook till dal and vegetables are well cooked.

2 ) Extract tamarind juice and add to cooked dal and vegetables. Add chopped coriander leaves.

3 ) Meanwhile in a nonstick pan, heat sesame oil, add urad dal,channa dal, jeera, fenugreek,pepper corn,asafoetida , fry for 2 minutes. Cook on low heat.Then add garlic, curry leaves, grated coconut and fry till coconut is light brown in color. Now add chilli powder,turmeric powder and coriander powder. Fry for 2 minutes and take off stove. Cool and grind to a smooth paste.

4 ) Add the ground masala to the cooked dal and vegetables. Add water to get a curry consistency. Add salt as required.

5 ) Season with mustard, red chilli and curry leaves.

Different vegetables can be used to make sambar. The sambar masala ingredients being the same. Coconut gives sambar a delicious taste.There are different ways of making sambar..this is my way. A tasty and nutritious pure vegetarian south Indian dish.