Udipi Sambar

Udipi Sambhar in marathi

Time: approx 45 minutes
serves: 4 persons

Ingredients:
1/2 Toor Dal
1/4 cup Tamarind (Soak in water and make 1 cup juice)
4 to 6 Shallots or pearl onions (peeled)
4 to 6 medium cubes of Bottle gourd
5 to 6 medium cubes of Eggplant
2 Drumsticks, cut into 3 inch sticks
2 medium tomatoes, big cubes
1 tsp Jaggery
Sambar Masala
For tempering
2 tsp Oil, 1 tsp Urad Dal, 1/4 tsp Mustard seeds, 1/8 tsp Hing (Asafoetida), 1/4 tsp Turmeric powder, 10 curry leaves, 1 green chilies

Method:
1) First make Sambar Masala. Pressure cook Toor dal until tender. whisk nicely.
2) Heat oil for tempering. Add mustard seeds, urad dal, asafoetida, curry leaves and green chili. Add onion and drumsticks, saute for 1 minute. Add 1 cup water, cover and cook over medium heat until half done.
3) Once drumsticks and onions are half cooked, add eggplant and bottle gourd. Add tamarind juice and 1 tsp salt. Cover and simmer over medium heat for 15 minutes. Add some water if needed.
4) After all vegetables get cooked add cooked toor dal and little water. Taste and add salt if needed. Add ground Sambar masala, jaggery, and tomatoes. Cover and cook for 2 to 3 minutes over medium heat. Add 1/2 tsp red chili powder for little color.
5) Taste samhar, and add any ingredient if needed.
Serve hot with Idli, Dosa, Uttappa, Medu Vada and other south Indian recipes.

Note:
1) Do not roast Masala ingredients for too long it can change color of sambar.
2) Peel bottle gourd before adding, the peels take longer to get cooked.
3) Add Potatoes, red pumpkin in sambar according to your taste.
4) If you don't have shallots, just dice normal onion into big chunks and use it.