Awesome Sambhar Recipes

Steps:

• Combine leaves, chiles, peas and spices in a bowl and drizzle with sesame oil, tossing to coat evenly.
• Heat medium-sized skillet over medium-high heat. When the pan is hot, add coated spices and toast, stirring constantly, 2 to 4 minutes, until the leaves appear dry and brittle, the chiles begin to blacken slightly, the split peas turn dark brown and the mustard seeds begin to pop. Watch carefully, so the mixture does not burn. Remove to a plate to cool.
• When spices are cool to the touch, pour half into a spice grinder. (A clean coffee grinder will do.) Grind until spices are the texture of finely ground pepper. Transfer mixture to a bowl and repeat with remaining spices. The mixture will keep at room temperature for up to 2 months in a tightly sealed container.

Steps:

• Combine the lentils, water and carrots in a large pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to med/low and partially cover, letting it simmer for 20 minutes.
• (If you're going to cook basmati rice, start it now.) Add the potatoes, and cook for 15-20 minutes more, till the potatoes are soft. You may need to add an additional 1/2-1 cup of water if you find it getting too thick.
• Meanwhile, in a small frying pan heat the olive oil (over med/high)and stir in the mustard seeds. Stir for a minute, till they start to pop. Reduce heat. Stir in the other spices and saute for 1 minute. Set aside.
• When the potatoes and lentils are fully cooked, stir in the spice mixture, salt and lemon juice. Serve immediately. (With chapatis or over rice; steamed collards or salad).

Steps:

• In a large stainless steel pot combine the coconut milk and 3 cups water. Whisk in the tamarind pulp. Over high heat, bring the mixture to a boil, then remove from the heat. Add the saffron and steep for 15 minutes. Strain the mixture and reserve liquid for later.
• Melt the unsalted butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onions and saute for 5 minutes until soft and just beginning to brown. Add the Thai chiles, Sambhar Spice Mix, ground coriander, ground cumin, curry powder, and turmeric powder. Stir to combine, reduce heat to low and simmer for 3 to 4 minutes to bring out the flavor of the spices. Add the remaining 4 cups water, channa dal, potatoes and tomatoes and cook until tender, but not mushy, about 18 to 20 minutes.
• Add the reserved coconut/tamarind liquid and simmer for 5 minutes. Serve warm and garnish with the cilantro leaves.
• In a heavy skillet, over very low heat, dry roast the channa and urad dahl, stiring constantly, for 5 to 8 minutes. See Cook's Note**. Remove the dal from skillet and set aside to cool.
• Increase the heat to medium high, add the coriander seeds, cumin seeds, black peppercorns, fenugreek seeds and dried chilies to the skillet, stirring constantly. Toast the spices until they release their aroma, about 3 minutes. Grind the dal to a powder in a spice grinder or coffee grinder. Grind the toasted spices to a powder. Combine the dal, ground spices and turmeric powder. Store in a tightly sealed jar.
• Line a steamer with several layers of cheesecloth and fill with the all-purpose flour. Steam for 45 minutes. Spread the steamed flour on a baking sheet to cool. Combine the steamed flour, rice flour, and salt in a large bowl.
• Make a well in the center of the flour and add the hot water. Mix with a spoon until you can gather the dough together into a ball. On a clean surface, knead the dough lightly for 2 to 3 minutes Press the dough through the hopper press onto the thatu. Place 6 filled thatu in the steamer and steam for 5 to 8 minutes. While they are steaming fill the remaining thatu with dough, then steam.

Steps:

• In a heatproof bowl, combine the tamarind pulp and 1 cup of boiling water, and let stand for 30 minutes. At the end of this time, squeeze and press the tamarind with your fingers to release as much pulp in the water as possible, then strain, discard the fibrous residue and seeds, and reserve the tamarind water.
• Meanwhile, place the lentils in a deep saucepan, add the 3 cups of water and the turmeric, and bring to the boil over high heat. Reduce heat to a simmer and gently cook, uncovered, until the lentils are just tender, 20 to 30 minutes. If the water evaporates too quickly, add another 1/2 to 1 cup in total.
• While the lentils are cooking, heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a small skillet, and saute the mustard seeds, cumin seeds, sambhar masala, dried red chillies, asafoetida, curry leaves, garlic and coconut, until the coconut becomes a golden brown - take care not to burn. Remove from heat and set aside.
• When the lentils are tender, add the sauteed spice mix, along with the prepared vegetables, tomatoes and the tamarind water. Mix well, cover, and simmer until the vegetables are just tender. This should take 10 to 20 minutes, depending on how small or large you have diced the vegetables. As the tomatoes cook down, they should provide enough fluid to simmer the other vegetables in, but you can add another 1/2 cup water at your discretion.
• Just before serving, heat the extra oil in a small skillet, and saute the sliced garlic and fresh cilantro for 30 seconds. Pour this mixture over the sambhar and mix through gently.
• Serve immediately.