Moong dhal sambar

Serves -3 to 4

Ingredients:

• Shallots -10 nos
• Tomato -2
• Tamarind paste -1 tbsp
• Moong dhal -1/2 cup
• Turmeric powder -1/4 tsp
• Green chilli -2 to 3
• Sambar powder -2 tsp
• Coriander leaves -2 tbsp
• Jaggery -1/4 tsp(optional)
• Salt -To taste

To temper:

• Oil -1 tsp
• Mustard seeds -1/2 tsp
• Urad dhal -1/2 tsp
• Cumin -1/2 tsp
• Curry leaves -A spring
• Asafoetida -A pinch

Method:

• Pressure cook moong dhal for 3 to 4 whistles.
• Now in a pan add oil and  temper with items mentioned under 'to temper'.
• Now add shallots,green chilli and cook till it turns soft,then add tomato and cook till tomato turns mushy.
• Now add tamarind paste, turmeric powder,salt and required water .
• When it comes to boil add cooked moong dhal.
• Mix well and let it boil.Add coriander leaves.
• Now in a pan add 2 tsp of oil when it is hot enough add the sambar powder and pour this to the sambar mixture.Mix well.
• Serve hot with idly or dosa.

Notes:

• You can add vegetables like drumstick,carrot and brinjal. If so add it after shallots and  more water for the vegetables to cook.
• You can also add sambar powder when you add tamarind extract and avoid adding it at last.
• You can use regular onion instead of shallots.
• Refer sambar powder post for the recipe