Munakayya Sambar or Lentil Dhal with drumsticks

Recipe Source : Kanthamani Vantakalu (a telugu cook book)

Sambar is my comfort food of any day.  Sambar is a thick lentil soup in which you can almost any vegetables. On Sunday I want to keep the lunch simple so made this simple munakkaya(drumstick) sambar. I have used Toor Dal (Pigeon peas) but you can always use moongdal (greengram) or masoor dal(Red Lentils) instead of it. Have to admit moongdal sambar is bit lighter compared to the toor dal version.

Things you need

1.     Toor dal (Which ever lentils you are using) – 1 Cup

2.     Onion  - 1 Medium One Sliced length wise

3.     Fresh Tomato – 1 Medium Chopped (or) 2 peeled plum tomatoes from can

4.     Drumsticks – 2-3 cut into pieces , or vegetables like carrots , okra , brinjal

5.     Turmeric – ¼ tsp

6.     Red Chilli Powder – 1 tsp

7.     Sambar Powder – 1 tbsp , you can find this in any indian store

8.     Tamarind Paste – ½ tsp , you can always use normal tamarind

9.     Coriander Leaves – chopped handful

10. Salt  - As per taste

11. Water – 4 Cups

For Tempering:

1.     Oil – 3 tsp

2.     Mustard Seeds – ½ tsp

3.     Cumin Seeds – ½ tsp

4.     Curry leaves – 2 Sprigs

5.     Garlic – 1 fat Clove crushed

6.     Dry Red Chilli – 2 teared in between

Now the method:

Once you have the all things you need you can start.

1.     Wash the lentils and soak them for ½ hour in warm water. This makes the lentils to cook easily.

2.     In a Pressure cooker Pan , add soaked dal , tomato , onion and turmeric  , 2 cups of water or until the lentil mixture is immersed and pressure cook for 4 whistles.  Note : Its easy to cook green gram and red lentils on stove top but pigeon peas takes lots of time if you cook on stove top

3.     After you have pressure cooked the mixture mash it smoothly with a masher.

4.     Now heat a deep bottomed pan , add oil then add mustard seeds allow it to splutter followed by cumin seeds then curry leaves , then garlic allow the aroma to release and then finally dry red chilies(be careful not to burn it)

5.     After red chilies quickly add drumstick pieces, sauté them in low-medium flame until they are half cooked. Now add the cooked lentil mixture , then ½ tsp. of tamarind paste , sambar powder , redchilli powder , salt and 2 cups of water and allow it to boil for 10 minutes .

6.     Finally add coriander leaves and switch off the flame.

Any typical south Indian vegetable fry or chicken/mutton fry goes well this.