SMALL ONIONS SAMBHAR WITH GROUND MASALA

Ingredients :

Small onion - 1/2 cup

salt to taste

lemon size tamarind soaked in water and pulp removed

tur dal – 1 cup

turmeric powder – 1 tsp + 1 tsp

For masala :

methi seeds - 1 tsp

chana dal - 2 tbsp

coriander seeds – 2 tbsp

fresh grated coconut – 1/4 cup

red chillies – 5

ghee – 1 tsp + 1 ttbsp

For tempering :

coconut oil - 1 tbsp

mustard seeds – 1 tsp

green chillies – 2

curry leaves – 4-5

Method :

1) In a pan take 1 tsp ghee and saute methi seeds, chana dal, coriander seeds and red chillies till brown

2) add fresh coconut and switch off the gas

3) make a paste of this along with 3 raw shallots

4) in a cooker cook the tur dal with turmeric powder till done and mash it, keep aside

5)  in a pan take 1 tbsp ghee and sauté onions till light pink

6) add the tamarind pulp, turmeric powder and salt and boil till the raw smell goes and the onions gets cooked

7) add the ground paste and boil for a minute.

8) add the cooked dal and switch off the gas

9) in a pan take coconut oil, splutter mustard seeds, add green chillies and curry leaves

10) temper on sambhar

Variations :

you can use vegetables like ladies finger, drumsticks etc.
in case you are using ladies finger, capsicum, you can saute the veggies lightly in ghee
if you are using drum sticks, you can directly boil it in the tamarind water
for sambhar with vegetables, add hing in the tamarind water and also while grinding the masala
for sambhar with veggies do not add small onions in the masala