Subru Uncle's Delicious S. Indian Sambar Veg Curry We All Love

Ingredients

• 4 teaspoons salt
• 2 1/4 tablespoons sambar garam masala powder (I use the MTR Madras Sambar Masala powder brand, that's the brand I love the best)
• 1 1/2 tablespoons asafetida powder (known as "hing" in Hindi)
• 1 cup yellow lentils, cleaned, washed, soaked in plenty of water and drained (toor dal)
• 1 1/2 cups peeled washed and diced yams (known as "sooran" in Hindi)
• 1 small potato, peeled, washed and diced
• 5-6 garlic cloves, peeled, washed and slit lengthwise (slit each clove of garlic into 3 parts lengthwise)
• 1 small carrot, peeled, washed and diced
• 1/2 cup flat indian beans, washed, ends trimmed and chopped into 1 inch size pieces (commonly called "guavar" in Hindi)
• 2 large vegetables, drumsticks washed, peeled, ends trimmed and chopped into 2 inch sized pieces
• 3 cups water
• 2 teaspoons turmeric powder
• 2 medium green chilies, washed and slit lengthwise
• 20 fresh curry leaves, washed and torn between the palms of your hands
• 1 teaspoon cumin seed
• 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
• 5-6 tablespoons oil
• 1 large tomato, washed, peeled and chopped
• 10-12 okra, washed and chopped into 1 inch size pieces (commonly called ladyfingers or "bhindi" in Hindi)
• 5 whole red chilies
• 1/2 cup tamarind pulp or tamarind juice
• 1 teaspoon methi seeds

Directions

1. 1

   Prepare the tamarind pulp by first soaking a few pieces of tamarind in 1-1/2 cups of hot water.

2. 2

   Squeeze the tamarind pieces as well as you can and allow the tamarind pulp (juice) to mix into the hot water.

3. 3

   Once you have squeezed out half a cup, transfer this to a pot.

4. 4

   Note that the consistency of the tamarind pulp should be such that you have more tamarind pulp and less water.

5. 5

   Add the chopped ladyfinger to the pot.

6. 6

   Allow to boil for 5 minutes.

7. 7

   This is a neat trick Subru uncle's taught me.

8. 8

   By doing this, the sticky fluid that comes out of the ladyfinger will not come out.

9. 9

   Remove from heat and keep aside.

10. 10

    Now, take a large pot in which you will be preparing the sambar.

11. 11

    Heat the pot on medium-high flame.

12. 12

    Once its hot, pour 3 cups of water in it.

13. 13

    Add the drained toor dal (yellow lentils) and mix well.

14. 14

    Add garlic and mix well.

15. 15

    Allow it to boil well (for about 15 minutes).

16. 16

    Lower flame and add all the chopped and diced vegetables to the boiling lentils (toor dal).

17. 17

    Mix in turmeric powder, asafoetida powder, salt and Sambar masala powder.

18. 18

    Fold in the chopped tomatoes.

19. 19

    Cover with a tight-fitting lid and cook until the tomatoes are softened and the veggies are tender.

20. 20

    In the meantime, prepare the seasoning.

21. 21

    For this, heat oil in a non-stick frying pan on medium-high flame.

22. 22

    Once it's hot, add mustard seeds, methi seeds and cumin seeds.

23. 23

    Allow to crackle and splutter.

24. 24

    Once this stops, add curry leaves, green chillies and whole red chillies to the pan.

25. 25

    Mix well and stir-fry for 2 minutes on medium flame.

26. 26

    Remove the pan from heat.

27. 27

    Add this seasoning to the sambar.

28. 28

    Mix well, cook on simmer for 5 minutes and serve this wonderful curry immediately (hot) with cooked long-grain Basmati white rice and low-fat plain yogurt, if required.