QUICK AND EASY SAMBAR

                     This receipe is for those who sometimes run short of time but needs to prepare something tasty...this sambar for sure wont take more than 10 minutes if you just follow the same process...this will be definitely useful for office goers/bachelors......This sambar is a bit different from normal sambar , we dont add any sambar podi in it and cooking process also differs a little, since we try to cook it fast..but taste will be definitely good.

INGREDIENTS
Thoordal-1/4 cup
tamarind-small lemonsize
onion-1 small
tomato-1 small
poosanikkai(white pumpkin)-1 small piece(optional)
chilli powder-1 tablespoon
coriander powder-1 tablespoon
turmeric powder-1/4 teapoon
asafoetida-a pinch

SEASONING
OIL-2 Tablespoons
mustard seeds-1/2 teaspoon
urud dal-1/2 teaspoon
fennel seeds-1/4 teaspoon
curry leaves-few

PREPARATION

STEP1
     Wash and soak tamarind with 1/2 cup of water...add a little salt so that it turns soft fast. Wash and soak thoor dal with enough water , turmeric powder, asafoetida and 1 teaspoon of oil in a pressure cooker.

STEP2

    Chop the onions first and add oil in a pan add the items in seasoning.Once it splutters, add the onions and saute it...while it gets cooked chop tomatoes and poosanikkai....now add the tomatoes and poosanikkai...saute for 2 minutes...Meawhile extract water from  tamarind 2-3 times so that you get about 2 cups of tamarind water.once vegetables are sauted add the tamarind water , add chilli and coriander powder and keep in medium flame for about 4 minutes.Now the thoordal might have been cooked once the raw flavour of masala and tamarind water vanishes add the mashed dal cook it 2-3 minutes , now sambar is ready..

Tips

  1.ADD oil while boiling dal so that dal cooks fast.

  2.I have added poosanikkai since it dont take much time to cook,it can  just be added with onions and tomatoes and cooked in 2 minutes.No seperate time needed to cook and boil this vegetable , like other vegatables.though it canbe avoided , just onions and tomatoes is enough. 

  3. Dont add all tamarind water at first stage itself.... keep aside 1/2 cup of tamarind extract...after the dal is added check for taste , if required you can add remaining extract..