Podi potta sambar

This is one of the simple and easy to prepare sambar. This does not involve any grinding. If you have any unexpected guests and you wish to cook something easy and quick then you can prepare this. Since no coconut is involved in this dish, the usage of toor dal (red gram) is more. As such it is nutritious as well.

Generally any vegetable like ladies finger, pumpkin, potato, etc can be used for this sambar. In this recipe I am using pumpkin. Here is the recipe.

Ingredients:
Vegetable - 1 cup
Toor dal/Red gram - 1
Tomato - 1 (medium sized)
Green chillies - 2
Red chilli powder - 1 full tsp
Tamarin - small lemon sized
Jaggery (optional) - a small piece
Turmeric - a pinch
Salt
Ghee/clarified butter - 1 tbsp
Mustard - 2 tsp
Curry leaves - 7 to 8
Asafoetida - a pinch



Method:
Cook the toor dal/red gram, mash and keep aside.
Dice the vegetable into small cubes. Extract tamarind pulp by soaking it in 1/2 cup of water for sometime.
Cook the vegetable in tamarind water adding a pinch of turmeric and salt as required.
If you are using jaggery then it can be added as well.
Once the vegetable is cooked add the mashed toor dal/red gram and red chilli powder.
Let it boil for 5 to 6 mins.
In a separate pan heat the ghee. Add the mustard. Once it splutters add the curry leaves and asafoedtida.
Pour this garnish to the sambar.
Serve hot with rice.

Preparation time: About 15 mins
Serves: 2 people