Sambar

How can one miss out on the flavoursome sambar that is a sadya staple? Made with vegetables, lentils and a specially powdered masala, this is a lush treat that's loved by the young and old alike.

Ingredients
1 cup toor dal/split red gram
1 cup mixed vegetables, cubed (potato, brinjal, ash gourd)
½ cup onion, chopped
4-5 green chillies
½ cup tomato, chopped
1 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp fenugreek seeds
1 dsp coriander powder
½ tsp turmeric powder
1 tbsp chilli powder
1 tsp asafoetida
Juice of 1 lemon
A few sprigs of coriander leaves
2 dried red chillies
Salt, as required
2 tbsp oil

Preparation
In a pressure cooker, add the washed toor dal, mixed vegetables, onion, green chillies and tomato
Add enough water
Put in salt and turmeric powder, and cook the mixture
Once it's cooked, keep aside
In another pan, pour oil
Splutter mustard seeds and then add fenugreek seeds
Put in dried red chillies
Simmer and add coriander powder and chilli powder
Sprinkle the asafoetida powder
Throw in the coriander leaves and saute well on low flame
Pour in the cooked sambar to this
Add the juice of lemon to it
Easy and tasty Sambar is ready to serve