SAMBAR WITH HOMEMADE MASALA

While  pursuing my engineering  we used to hangout at connaught place for two reasons ,one of them  was movie in Odian another was south indian treat at madras hotel,now it has been closed though I still memorise the taste and aroma of the sambar they used to prepare.  It was really awesome.So I tried my hands for making sambar with homemade masala ,believe me result was really  fantastic . I succeeded in achieving that taste,flavour and aroma very near to the original one.so here is a recipe which everyone should try at least once.....

INGREDIENTS

SAMBAR MASALA

Channa Dal(soaked for two or three hour)       1cup
Dried coriander seeds                                      1/2 cup
Dried coconut powder                                        1 cup
                                        Or
Fresh grated coconut                                         half

Dried whole red chili                                        5or 6
Asfoetida (hing)                                                2or 3 pinch
Whole methi seeds(fenugreek seed)               just 8 or 9
Cumin seeds                                                      1 tea spoon
Kari leaves                                                        7or 8
Oil                                                                      2 or 3 table spoon

PREPARATION

First of all  take one tablespoon oil in a pan then add methi dana roast it till it became red then add hing ,curry pata,cumin seeds,whole chili and stir all of them for a while,once all the ingredients are roasted properly then add coconut and coriander seeds, stir them with other things ,now add Chana Dal and keep stirring till all of the ingredients became reddish means all are roasted properly

Once this masala is ready keep it aside to get it cool .once it is cool enough then grinned it properly
you can also add water to make a fine paste of it. you can store this by freezing it and can be used again.

(TIP: don't  over fry fenugreek seeds otherwise it will give bitter taste)

SAMBAR

Arhar Dal (tur dal)                                           1 cup
Home made sambar masala                            1 cup
Kari leaves                                                       7 or 8
Mustard seeds (black)                                   just a pinch
Asfoetida(hing)                                               just a pinch
Turmeric powder                                              1 tea spoon
Red chili powder                                            1 tea spoon
Red chili dried (whole)                                  1 or 2  
Pumpkin                                                          1/2 lb
Small egg plant                                               3 or 4
Bottle gourd                                                    1/2 lb    
drumstick (optional)                                        2 or 3 stick
Red Onion (big)                                               just 1
salt                                                                   according to  taste                        
Tamarind (soaked for 2 or 3 hours)                 1cup 
Oil                                                                    4or 5 table spoon 
Water                                                               3 to 4 cup                     
 
PREPARATION

Soak the tur dal for half an hour. now cook it in the open pan by adding water, salt ,turmeric powder,little oil in it.once it is cooked keep it aside. now take a pan add oil and heat it ,once it is hot add hing and onion in the pan and saute the onion ,once onions are done add all the cut vegetables then add red chili powder,salt in  it.let the vegetable to cook .once all the vegetables are cooked add homemade masala in to this.Mix them very well.now add the cooked dal. keep mixing it properly now add strained tamarind paste in to the sambar.let it be on the heat for a while ,so every thing will be blend together very well

For the final touch make the tadka .for this you have to heat the oil very much. once the oil is very hot add hing powder,mustard seeds ,Kari leaves and dried whole chili. fry it very well and add it in to the sambar from the top.your sambar is ready to serve with idly,dosa or anything....