SIMPLE LADIESFINGER SAMBAR

You may eat a hundred and one dishes...

but here is a wholesome comfort food 

for the South Indian soul....

Piping hot  sambar with hot ,steamed rice 

and a dollop of ghee served with crisp appalam 

and a liberal helping of vegetable poriyal/curry....

Mmmmmmmmmm....incomparable!!!!!!

There are different kinds of sambars - to start with ,

I am sharing the recipe of a simple to prepare,

no-fuss vendakkai sambar(ladies finger sambar)

INGREDIENTS

• LADIES FINGER-   8
• ONION-1 (chopped)-optional
• TAMARIND - 1 INCH BALL
• SAMBAR POWDER -1 1/2 TEASPOON
• TURMERIC POWDER-1/4 TEASPOON
• TOOR DHAL-1/2 CUP (pressure cooked)
• OIL-1 TABLESPOON
• ASAFOETIDA POWDER-1/4 TEAASPOON
• MUSTARD SEEDS-1/4 TEASPOON
• URAD DAL-1/4 TEASPOON
• FENUGREEK SEEDS-1/4 TEASPOON
• SALT TO TASTE
• CURRY LEAVES AND CORIANDER LEAVES-FEW

METHOD

• Pressure cook the dhal and mash it well.
• Chop ladies finger into 1 1/2 inch bits.
• Soak the tamarind in 3 cups of warm water .
• Extract the puree.
• Heat 1 teaspoon of oil.
• Sautee the chopped onions and ladies finger  for a minute.
• Add the tamarind puree and turmeric powder.Boil well till the raw smell of the tamarind goes away.
• Now add the sambar powder and salt and boil well till the ladies fingers are cooked and the raw smell of the sambar powder leaves.
• Now add the mashed dhal and enough water. Simmer for a few minutes.
• Add the asafoetida powder .
• Heat the remaining oil and splutter the mustard seeds,fenugreek  seeds and urad dhal.
• Add to the hot sambar.
• Garnish with curry leaves and coriander leaves.
• Serve hot with steamed rice ,idlis,dosas  etc.