Most of us Indians have one or the other kind of favorite sambar which we like to go back again and again. I have an undying love for any type of sambar . So I feel I can never have enough recipes for this dish. Just change the spices and vegetables used and you get a whole new comforting meal.
I have some categories of sambar. – Our favorite Konkani sambar(Kolmbo) that goes well with rice. Whenever I make this, I make it in huge quantities and go on for about 2 days. It helps a lot when I am really tired after a busy day. – Rajma sambar is what I make when I want to leave out vegetables and use some red kidney beans( rajma ). – When I am making for idlis , I prefer this no-coconut version with home made sambar powder.
One day when I asked my routine question – “what do you want for dinner?” to V, he said he wants a new kind of sambar . I went through many recipes and finally zeroed on this version in my collection of Kannada magazines. It became an instant hit. My usual sambars are hot, but this one had a hot, sweet and tangy taste. We absolutely loved this dish. It is making a regular appearance on our table these days. This goes well with rice, idlis or dosas .
Ingredients: 2 cups vegetables – like green beans, cauliflower, carrots, eggplant, drumstick, potato, ivy gourd( tendli ) etc 2/3rd cup toor dal 1/4 tea spn fenugreek seeds 1 tea spn urad dal 1 tea spn coriander seeds 2 tbl spn coconut A pinch asafoetida 4-5 curry leaves Oil 1/2 tea spn mustard seeds 1/2 cup tomato 1/2 cup onion 1/4 tea spn tamarind 1 tea spn jaggery 3-4 red chilies 3-4 strands coriander leaves A pinch turmeric Salt
Method: Heat oil and fry fenugreek seeds, urad dal , coriander seeds, red chilies, coconut. Grind to a smooth paste. Cook toor dal with turmeric and vegetables (keep dal in lower container and veggies on topmost one). Heat oil and fry onion. When they are translucent, add mustard seeds, curry leaves, asafoetida. Fry for sometime and add tomato, one cup water, close and cook. When tomato is cooked, add cooked dal , tamarind and salt. Cook for 2-3 mins. Add the ground paste, vegetables, jaggery and cook for about 7-8mins. Garnish with coriander leaves. Serve hot with rice.
Serves : 4-5 Preparation time : 30mins
This is another dish that I cooked from Coorg special . This is a very simple dish to make and turns out lip smacking good. I love such simple dishes when I am making a big spread. It helps to increase the number of dishes ;).
Ingredients: 1/4 kg chicken 1/4 tea spn turmeric powder 1/2 tea spn red chili powder 1/4 tea spn cumin powder 1/2 cup onion 3-4 strands coriander leaves 1/4 cup tomato 1 tea spn chopped garlic 1/2 tea spn pepper powder 1 tea spn chopped ginger 4 green chilies 1 tbl spn lemon juice Oil Salt
Method: Add turmeric, salt and red chili powder to chicken pieces and keep aside. Heat oil and add chopped green chilies, ginger, garlic, onion till onions turn brownish. Add tomatoes and fry for some time. Add chicken pieces, fry for about 5mins. Pour about 1/2 cup water, cover and cook till chicken is almost done. Now add cumin powder, pepper and cook till chicken is completely done. Now pour the lemon juice and cook till all water is absorbed. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot.
Serves : 3-4 Preparation time : 20mins
