Lentil Sambar Recipes

SAMBAR (SPICY LENTIL AND VEGETABLE STEW)

Steps:

• Combine water, toor dal, onion, tomato, pumpkin, okra, peas, and radishes in a pot. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and cook until dal, pumpkin, and radishes start to soften, 30 to 40 minutes.
• Heat oil in a small pan over medium heat and add mustard seeds. Stir in garlic, red peppers, curry leaves, and sambar powder. Cook until fragrant, about 5 minutes.
• Stir seasoned oil mixture into the stew and cook until flavors combine, 25 to 30 minutes more. Stir in tamarind, salt, and red chile powder.

LENTIL SAMBAR

Steps:

• Rinse the lentils, place them in a small saucepan with the 3 cups of water, and bring them to a boil.
• Reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for 45 to 60 minutes, until tender.
• Stir occasionally, adding more water if necessary.
• While the lentils are cooking, chop the onion, cauliflower, sweet potatoes, and bell pepper into bite-sized pieces and set aside.
• Warm the oil in a pot and saute the mustard, fenugreek, and cumin seeds on medium heat, covering the pot and shaking it occasionally to prevent burning.
• When the mustard seeds begin to pop, stir in the turmeric, coriander, cinnamom, cayenne, and chopped chile and saute for another 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
• Stir in the tamarind liquid, then add the onions, cauliflower, sweet potatoes, and salt and combine.
• Cover and simmer for 10 minutes.
• Add the bell peppers, cover, and continue to cook until all of the vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes.
• Drain the cooked lentils and stir them into the vegetable mixture.
• Reheat if necessary, then stir in the cilantro.
• Ladle over basmati rice and serve with Mango Peach Chutney and a generous dollop of yogurt,if desired.