Sambar

Ingredients:
Toor Dal - 1/2 Cup
Drumstick/Radish - 1 Cup
Tamarind - 1 lemon size
Sambar Onion/Pearl Onion - 10 to 15 (chop into half)
Tomatoes - 2(Medium Size)
Curry Leaves - Few Stalks
Coriander Leaves - Few Stalks
MTR Sambar Powder - 1 tbsp.
Turmeric Powder - 1/4 tsp.
Salt - According To Taste
Oil -1 tbsp.

Seasoning Ingredients:
Mustard Seeds - 1 tsp.
Cumin Seeds - 1 tsp.
Methi Seeds - 1/4 tsp.
Asafoetida/Hing - 1 Pinch

Method:

Soak toor dal in lukewarm water for 30 mins to an hour.

Soak the tamarind in warm water for 30 mins.

Chop the drumstick/radish into desired sizes.

Boil some water in a crock pot and add the chopped vegetables and let
it cook till they are tender.

Drain the water from the soaked toor dal and wash it thoroughly.

Add adequate amount of water and 1/4 tsp. of turmeric powder and pressure
cook the toor dal for 4 to 5 whistles.The dal should be soft and mushy.

Then mash the cooked toor dal nicely and keep it aside.

Extract juice from tamarind and set it aside.

Heat a pan with some oil and add mustard seeds and let it splutter.

Now add cumin seeds,methi seeds,asafoetida/hing and curry leaves and
fry few seconds.

Add chopped sambar/pearl onions and fry for few minutes.

Then add chopped tomatoes and a pinch of salt and saute it until the tomatoes are mushy.

Add MTR sambar powder,boiled vegetables and enough salt and stir it well.

Let it cook till the mixture gets dry and the oil separates from it (approx.
5 mins).

Now add the tamarind juice and mix it well.Let it boil.

When its boiling,add the cooked toor dal and stir it well.

Check for seasoning.Allow it cook for another 5 to 7 mins.

Garnish with some coriander leaves.

Serve it with plain rice,pongal,vada,idli or dosa.

Note:

Frozen drumsticks can also be used for this dish.They are available in Indian Stores.

If using radish,first roast the radish with some oil for 2 to 3 mins and then pressure
cook it for 3 to 4 whistles.

You can use carrot,brinjal/eggplant,chow chow/chayote squash and bottle gourd to
make sambar.

You can find MTR Sambar Powder in all the Indian Stores or you can use homemade
sambar podi.