Sambaar

Ingredients:

Tuvar dal - 2 cups
Drumsticks (cut into2''pieces) 2
Indian eggplant - 3
Tomatoes - 4
Squash (cut into 1'' cubes) - 1 cup
White pumpkin (cut into 1'' cubes) 1 cup
Fresh grated coconut - 1/2cup
Cilantro (chopped) - 1 cup
Tamarind - 1 small lemon size
Sambar powder - 2 Tbsp
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
Red chilies - 2
Curry leaves - 6 to 8
Hing powder (optional) - a pinch

Procedure:

• Pressure cook dal in 5 cups of water. Set it aside.
• Cut all the vegetables into 1" pieces. Set them aside.
• Grind together tamarind, coconut, tomatoes with 2 cups water. Set it aside.
• Add 2 cups of water to a deep bottomed pan and bring it to a boil. To this add the cut vegetables and boil for 3 to 5 minutes.
• Next add the ground paste, cooked dal, cilantro, turmeric, salt to taste and mix well.
• Next add sambar powder mixed in 2 cups of hot water to this. Let it boil on high for 5 minutes. Set it aside.
• In a small pan add 2 Tbsp ghee (clarified butter) on medium heat. To this add mustard seeds.
• Once the mustard sputters add urad dal, cumin seeds, cut red chilies, curry leaves and a pinch of hing powder if desired.
• When the urad dal turns slightly brown add this to sambaar.

Serve it hot with idli, vada or steamed rice.