Arachuvitta Sambar

The word sambar brings back the memories of Coimbatore's Annaporna Sambar(a very popular hotel in Coimbatore for its sambar which tastes out of the world) I havent tasted any sambar even close to it. I am not a person who drench the idlis/dosa in sambar but when it comes to Annaporna sambar I m no exception to it....I can even drink a cup of it ;) Am sure residents of CBE wud agree with me...Even now when I go on a days visit to CBE, I make sure to go to the hotel however hectic the schedule may be. They also sell their sambar powders but still we cant get the same taste as theirs. If you ask me to write abt CBE I can go on and on....

I followed Lavi's recipe with my own modifications here and there and this arachuvita sambar was very aromatic & flavourful becos of the spices blend into it. So coming to the archuvita sambar recipe right away:

Ingredients :

• Toor Dal(Tuvaram parupu) - 1 cup
• Tamarind - 1 lemon sized ball
• Shallots - 10
• Tomato - 1
• Coriander leaves - 1 tbsp chopped

Roast and grind:

• Coriander Seed's / Dhania - 1 tsp
• Chana Dal / Kadala Paruppu - 1 tsp
• Fenugreek / Vendhayam - 1/4 tsp
• Raw Rice / Arisi - 1 tsp
• Dry Red Chilli / Kanja Milagaai - 1
• Grated Coconut / Thuruviya Thengaai - 1 tbsp

To Temper:

• Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
• Fenugreek seeds - 1/4 tsp
• Hing/Perungayam - a pinch
• Curry leaves - few
• Red chillies - 1

Method:

1. Pressure cook toor dal(4-5 whistles) till its cooked and becomes mashy. Heat a pan, fry the above grinding items one by one in the same order.

2. Dry roast the ingredients under 'to roast and grind' one by one until golden brown and grind it to a fine powder. Keep aside.

3. In a kadai, Heat 2 tsp of oil, add mustard leave to tamper, fenugreek, hing, red chillies and few curry leaves.

4. Now add the shallot's, saute them till they are semi-cooked. Add chopped tomato and saute it well. Add the ground powder and add turmeric powder and saute them for a minute, till the raw smell of onion's and masala's goes off.

5. Add the mashed toor dal, Mix well.Add the cup of Tamarind water and mix well, add half cup of water to make the sambhar little watery. Allow it to boil for 5mins.

6.Add salt and chopped corriander leaves. Let the sambhar boil for 2 minutes and switch off.