Tiffin Sambar Version 1

Popular accompaniment for Idly and Dosa
Do click onto Tiffin Sambar Version 3 for much more simpler version
You can also log onto Tiffin Sambar Version-2 for a similar version

Ingredients
Part 1

• Moong dhal - 1/2 cup
• Turmeric - a pinch
• Tamarind - gooseberry sized
• Water - as required

Part 2 - Sambar Powder

• Oil - 1/2 teaspoon
• Red Chilly - 4 nos
• Channa dhal - 1 tablespoon
• Urad dhal - 1 tablespoon
• Coriander seeds - 1/2 tablespoon
• Methi seeds - 1 teaspoon
• Hing - a pinch

Part 3 - Tadka and Saute

• Oil - 2 teaspoons
• Mustard seeds - 1/2 teaspoon
• Cumin / Jeera seeds - 1/2 teaspoon
• Curry leaves - 4 nos
• Hing - little
• Green chilly - 1 (optional)
• Onion - 1 (thinly sliced)
• Tomato - 1 (finely chopped)
• Capsicum - 1 (medium sized)

Salt - 1 1/2 teaspoons or as needed

Part 4 - Garnishing

• Coriander leaves - little

Method

Step 1 - Preparation of Tamarind Extract

• Soak tamarind in luke warm water for about 15 minutes
• Squeeze the pulp and extract juice.Add 1 more cup of water while extracting juice.Discard the pulp

Step 2 -Pressure Cooking Moong Dhal 

• Take moong dhal in a cooker separator
• Add turmeric and a drop of oil to it
• Pour water till the dhal is immersed and pressure cook for 3 whistles
• Take it out and mash the dhal once

Step 3 - Making Sambar Powder

• Heat a drop of oil in a kadai and fry the ingredients one by one mentioned under "Sambar Powder"

(I used coriander powder instead of coriander seeds you will not see coriander seeds in the above picture)

• Let it cool then grind in a mixer

 

• Dissolve this sambar powder in the tamarind extract without any lumps.Keep it aside

Step 4 - Tadka and Saute

• Heat oil in a kadai and splutter mustard / jeera seeds
• Add curry leaves, green chilly and onions.Fry till the onions become golden brown
• Add tomatoes and saute well
• Put diced capsicum cubes and fry till it becomes soft.Add little salt while frying these vegetables

Step 5 - Preparation of Sambar

• Pour in the tamarind extract to the fried vegetables.Add slat and allow it to boil till the raw smell of the tamarind and sambar powder goes.You may also put few coriander leaves

• Add the cooked and mashed moong dhal.Mix well
• Again boil for 5 minutes

• Finally garnish with coriander leaves and switch off the stove

Hot "Tiffin Sambar" is ready.Serve it with Idly / Dosa / Vada.You can also mix it with rice and top it with ghee