SUBRU UNCLE'S DELICIOUS S. INDIAN SAMBAR VEG CURRY WE ALL LOVE

Steps:

• Prepare the tamarind pulp by first soaking a few pieces of tamarind in 1-1/2 cups of hot water.
• Squeeze the tamarind pieces as well as you can and allow the tamarind pulp (juice) to mix into the hot water.
• Once you have squeezed out half a cup, transfer this to a pot.
• Note that the consistency of the tamarind pulp should be such that you have more tamarind pulp and less water.
• Add the chopped ladyfinger to the pot.
• Allow to boil for 5 minutes.
• This is a neat trick Subru uncle's taught me.
• By doing this, the sticky fluid that comes out of the ladyfinger will not come out.
• Remove from heat and keep aside.
• Now, take a large pot in which you will be preparing the sambar.
• Heat the pot on medium-high flame.
• Once its hot, pour 3 cups of water in it.
• Add the drained toor dal (yellow lentils) and mix well.
• Add garlic and mix well.
• Allow it to boil well (for about 15 minutes).
• Lower flame and add all the chopped and diced vegetables to the boiling lentils (toor dal).
• Mix in turmeric powder, asafoetida powder, salt and Sambar masala powder.
• Fold in the chopped tomatoes.
• Cover with a tight-fitting lid and cook until the tomatoes are softened and the veggies are tender.
• In the meantime, prepare the seasoning.
• For this, heat oil in a non-stick frying pan on medium-high flame.
• Once it's hot, add mustard seeds, methi seeds and cumin seeds.
• Allow to crackle and splutter.
• Once this stops, add curry leaves, green chillies and whole red chillies to the pan.
• Mix well and stir-fry for 2 minutes on medium flame.
• Remove the pan from heat.
• Add this seasoning to the sambar.
• 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.