Pottukadalai sambar / Roasted Gram Dal Sambar / Instant Tiffin Sambar

Are you bored of usual side for Idli/Dosa then this instant sambar will be a good alternative. Sambar without any dal , interesting right. Try this recipe and you will sure be amazed with the outcome. This is so easy to prepare and also tastes good. This Sambar pairs good with Venpongal / Ghee Pongal too.

The original recipe calls for some more extra tamarind, but I felt that will be more tangy for me so I reduced to my tastebuds. If  you like more tanginess then increase the addition of tamarind. Lets see the recipe….

Recipe Source : Curries and Spices

Ingredients

Onion – 1 small sized , chopped

Tomato – 1 medium sized , chopped

Carrot – 1 , cubed

Pottukadalai / Roasted gram dal – 3 tbsp

Tamarind – a small marble sized

Corriander leaves – For garnishing

Salt to taste

Oil – 1.5 tbsn

To Roast & Grind

Onion – 1 small sized , chopped

Tomato – 1 medium sized , chopped

Dry Red Chillies – 2-3

Corriander Seeds / Malli Vithai – 2 tbsp

To Temper

Mustard Seeds / Kadugu – 1/2 tsp

Urad dal / Ulunthamparuppu – 1/4 tsp

Cumin seeds / Jeeragam – 1/2 tsp

Curry leaves – a spring

Preparation Of Masala

Set ready the needed the ingredients.

Heat 2 tsp oil in a kadai and add the dry red chillies and fry for a min in medium flame.Then add the corriander seeds and fry till nice aroma arises ( it will take 3-4 mins , keep an eye not to burn them ).

Now add the chopped onion and tomato with required salt and fry till they turn soft and mushy in medium low flame and switch it off. Let it cool a bit and transfer to a blender along with the roasted gram dal and make it to a fine paste.

 Preparation Of Sambar

Heat a kadai with 2 tsp oil and add all the ingredients under To Temper and wait till the mustard splutters.

Add the onion and fry till soft.

Then add the tomato and fry for 2 mins.

Add the chopped carrot and fry for 3 more mins , till it 3/4 done.

Pour in the grounded masala with 1 cup water and tamarind extract and mix well.

Allow to boil for 4-5 mins. Throw in some chopped corriander leaves and switch off the flame.

Serve this hot sambar with Idli / Dosa / Pongal.

Variation :

You can just fry onion & tomato and grind with the roasted gram dal to make the masala.  After adding the masala add 1 tsp corriander powder and 1 tsp chilli powder or sambar powder and proceed with the above method. This also tastes good.

Notes:

• Increase or decrease the amount of red chillies according to your taste.
• Use 6-7 sambar onions (pearl onion) instead of big ones.  Use half of it  for masala and other half for tempering.
• Taste the sambar before adding tamarind.  If you find it too tangy then reduce the tamarind or omit it. It purely depends on ones taste.
• You can omit adding carrots too.

Technorati Tags: Pottukadalai Sanbar,Instant Sanbar,Side dish for Idli/ Dosa,Side dish fo ven pongal,Sambar without dal,South Indian Sambar