Sambar - Mixed vegetable Curry

Kerala Special Sambar

SAMBAR - South Indian Mixed Vegetable Curry

In most places their will be a dish containing different vegetables, prepared mainly to consume the leftover vegetables. Like pizzas for Italinas, Sambar for Keralites.

This recipe is a kerala special Sambar.. My mom is a sambar addict and used to drink sambar in spoons n cups even if her lunch is over looong b4..due to her sambar craze we call her appending sambar in front of her name .. Sambar is a regular member in our family whether its usual weekday or festival time. We makes it at home as side dish for Idlis and Dosas and at Onam.

This is how my mom makes sambar.

Things needed :

Toor Dal (Sambar parippu) 1 handful
Note : Toor Dal is needed to make the gravy thicker.
Vegetables used:
Brinjal 1 ( 250 gm)
Zuccini 1
Cucumber 1/2 long one
Shallots - 7 or 1 handful
Tomatoes - 3
Potatoes - 3
Coriander leaves a bunch 8 springs
Curry leaves - 1 spring
Tamarind pulp - 4 tbsp
Spices :
Turmeric 1/2 tsp
Asafoetida powder 1 tsp
Chilly powder 1 sp
Coriander powder 2 sp

others :
Mustard seeds 1/2 tsp
Dry redchillies 4
Jaggery 1 inch piece (optional)
salt , oil

You can also use Amarakka (Indian Bean), Chembu,Carrot, Ladies Finger , Moringa or Drumstick , pumpkin as vegetables for this curry.

Serving size : 8 persons

Preparation method :

Clean and wash the toor dal. Cook it in a vessel adding enough water.
Mash the cooked dal.
Add 1/2 tsp turmeric , 1 sp salt & 1 tsp asafoelda powder . Add all the cut vegetables, enough water & pressurecook. Note always the waterlevel should be slightly less than the vegetable level . The vege. once cooked will go below the water level.
To prepare the curry masala,
Heat oil in pan.Add mustard seeds , allow to splutter. Add red chillies brown them turning around.
Turn off the heat . Set aside the pan..allow to cool the oil a lil bit . Add the chilly powder,coriander powder Please note, the oil shouldn't be hot enough to burn the spices.
Add water & tamarind pulp to make it a paste.
Add this curry paste to the cooked vegetables. Add an inch sized piece of jaggery.Boil until you get your desired consistency.

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