Drumstick Sambar

Ingredients:
1 cup of Toor dhal
3 cups of water

2 cloves of Garlic (Chopped)

2 Green chillies (Slit)

1 Ripe tomato (Quartered)

A pinch of hing (Perunkayam)

1/4 tsp Turmeric powder

1 Drumstick (Cut into 3 inch pieces)

1 small lime size tamarind ball

1 tbsp Sambar powder

1 tsp Jaggery (optional)

For tempering:

1 tbsp Gingerly oil

1 small onion (thinly sliced)

2 dried red chillies (deseeded and torn into 2)

Few strands of Curry leaves

1/2 tsp Mustard seeds

1/4 tsp Urad dhal

Few stalks of coriander leaves for garnishing

Method:

• Boil washed toor dhal, water, garlic, chillies, tomato, turmeric powder, hing and salt in a deep bottomed pan.
• Soak tamarind in 1/2 cup of warm water. Extract the thick pulp and set aside.
• When the toor dhal is half cooked, add the drumstick pieces.
• To the tamarind pulp, add the jaggery and the sambar powder.
• Add the tamarind extract to the dhal when the drumstick is almost cooked.
• In a separate pan, heat gingerly oil on medium heat, splutter mustard seeds and urad dhal. Add the onions, dry chillies and curry leaves and fry till golden brown.
• Add the tempering to the sambar and let it boil for 2 mins. Garnish with chopped Coriander leaves.
• Serve hot with rice, pickle and pappadam.