Tiffin Sambar ~ South Indian Lentil and Tamarind Stew

• Produce

  • 1/2 tsp Asafetida
  • 2 Chillies, dried red
  • 1/4 cup Cilantro
  • 1 Key lime sized
  • 11 Pearl onion
  • 1/2 Red onion
  • 1 Roma tomato
  • 3 Thai green chillies or 2 serrano chillies
  • 2 Yellow potatoes

• Baking & Spices

  • 1 tsp Mustard seeds, black
  • 1 Salt
  • 1/2 tsp Turmeric, powder

• Oils & Vinegars

  • 1 tbsp Oil

• Frozen

  • 8 Curry, leaves

• Other

  • ½ cup yellow moong dal
  • 1½ tbsp sambar powder

Found on cookingcurries.com

Description

Ingredients

• ½ cup yellow moong dal
• Key lime sized ball of tamarind
• ½ tsp turmeric powder
• 2 yellow potatoes, peeled and diced
• 1 roma tomato, diced
• ½ red onion, chopped
• 8 –10 pearl onions, peeled
• 3-4 Thai green chillies or 2 serrano chillies, slit in half lengthwise
• 1½ tbsp sambar powder
• salt, to taste
• ¼ cup cilantro, minced
• To temper:
• 1 tbsp oil
• 1 tsp black mustard seeds
• 8-10 curry leaves
• ½ tsp asafetida
• 2 dried red chillies
• 3-4 pearl onions, peeled and chopped

Directions

• Rinse the moon dal under running water a few times, until the water is no longer cloudy. Soak the tamarind ball in ½ cup warm water and squeeze the pulp out of it. Strain it to a bowl and repeat with two or three more times with ½ cup water each time (water can be room temperature).
• Add the moong dal, tamarind pulp, 2 cups water, potatoes, onions, pearl onions, tomatoes, green chillies, turmeric powder and sambar powder to a pressure cooker or a large pot. Cook till the dal becomes all mushy. If using a pressure cooker, let the pressure weight let the steam off (whistle) 3-4 times. Switch off and open once all the pressure is released. If cooking on stove top in a regular pot, it might take about 25 mins or so to be done.
• Mix the sambar well and add salt. Heat the oil for tempering, add the mustard seeds. Once they splutter, add the asafetida, curry leaves, dried red chillies and pearl onions. Once the onions have browned a little, pour this over the sambar. Garnish with minced cilantro and enjoy!