Ingredients in first step cooking Dal/ lentils:
1 cup toor dal/pigeon pea lentils
2 1/2 to 3 cups water for cooking the dal
1/2 tsp turmeric/haldi powder
1 tbsp oil
I do not have a pressure cooker at home, instead i use heavy pot to cook the lentils/dal in the first step of preparing Sambar/Dal Gravy.
For faster cooking you can soak the lentils in water for 20 mins before cooking them.
Do Not Walkaway, you have to stay by side till it boil and to prevent from boil over.* i use wood spoon on top pot to prevent it from boil over*
*For the next step for preparing Sambar/ Lentils Gravy*
-any veg (potato, spinach, carrot, radish,turnip and so on) - you can use more than 1 veg in Sambar
-Tamarind extract- 1 cup water, soaked Tamarind in the water, then removed the seeds.
-1 tbsp Sambar Powder = http://murthyniko.blogspot.com/2015/09/basic-masalasambar-powder.html
*Tempering*
Curry leaves
1/2 tsp Mustard seed
2 pcs Dried chilles
1 tbsp Jeera/ Cumin seed
1/2 tsp Methi seed
1/2 Urad dal
2-3 garlic cloves - minced
3 inch of ginger
Hing- pinch
Salt to taste
Method:
After the Dhal cooked well, now can add the veg and add water (2 cups) , and let it cook.
then main ingredient for Sambar is tamarind extract and Sambar powder. (once the veg look soft (cooked), now add the powder, tamarind water and salt), then have to cook it about 5 min.
In other pan heat the oil , then add the mustard, wait till it crackle and followed by all the tempering ingredient. Saute till turn light brown (don't burn it). At last add into Sambar and then combine well. Now the Sambar is ready to serve.
