Sambar, a common and famous recipe from South India. Every home in South India knows how to make sambar. Sambar is usually taken along with rice, idly, pongal, dosa and vadai.

Recipe Summary
Difficulty: Easy
Prep Time:30 minutes
Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients
Red gram dhal - 250 gm
small onions - 10
vegetables - 200 gm (ladies finger)
tamarind - lemon size(10 gm)
turmeric -1/2 teaspoon
sambar chilli powder - 2 teaspoons
tomatoes - 2
oil - 4 table spoons
salt to taste
mustard seeds - 1/2 teaspoon
curry leaves
asafotida -1/4 teaspoon

Preparing Method
1. Pressure cook the dhal with turmeric powder and 3 cups of water for 5 min
2. Heat a thick bottom sauce pan with 2 table spoons of oil
3. Fry the ladies finger in it for 10 min in simmered condition
4. Add tamarind concentrate (see cooker tips) to the ladies finger and allow it to cook
5. Add salt, sambar chilli powder and onions and cook for till the ladies finger is done.
6. Now add the cooked dhal to it and mix well. Water can be added if needed and cook for 5 minutes
7. Heat the oil in kadai and add mustard . When it splutters add asafetida and curry leaves. Add this to the sambar.
This can be served thinly with idly or dosai, and can be served thick with rice