Kerala style sambar is made in two different ways; with coconut and without coconut . This one is a simple recepie without coconut and a spicier version. Usually the veggies added in Sambar are carrots, raw banana, drumstick, potatoes, beans, brinjal, pumpkin,ladysfinger, beans . You may add all these or few according to your convinience. For Sambar powder you can use store bought or homemade too. I have used homemade sambar powder which was given to me by my Tamilian neighbour. 

Checkout the recepie below.

Preparation time: 10 mins

Cooking time: 30 mins

Serves: 5 to 6

INGREDIENTS:

• Toor dal : 1 cup
• Shallots : 10 
• Turmeric powder: 1 tsp
• Carrots: 2 cubed 
• Potatoes: 1 chopped
• Tomatoes: 2 chopped
• Drumstick : 2 big chopped
• Pumpkin : chopped 1 cup
• Sambar powder: 3 tbsp
• Kashmiri chilli powder: 1 tsp
• Salt: for taste
• Tamarind: 1 lemon size
• Green chillies: 3 slit
• Asoefitida: 1 small piece
• Curry leaves: 3 strands
• Mustard seeds: 1 tsp
• Dry red chilli : 2
• Coriander leaves: few chopped
• Coconut oil : 3 tbsp

PREPARATION:

• In a pressure cooker add toor dal, shallots, turmeric powder , asoefitida and salt with 2 glasses of water and pressure cook for 5 whistles.
• Once the pressure comes down, open the lid, add chopped veggies, tamarind water ( soak tamarind in 1 cup water for 10 mins) ,2tbsp sambar powder, salt and curry leaves with 2 n 1/2 glasses of water.
• Close the lid and pressure cook for 3 whistles on medium flame.
• You can add more or less water according to the quantity of veggies you add.
• After 3 whistles , switch off the flame. Let the pressure come down. Open the lid , check for salt. Add chopped coriander leaves and mix.
• Now for tempering, heat a kadai, add coconut oil.
• Add mustard seeds, let it splutter.
• Add dry red chilli , curry leaves and toss.
• Now reduce the heat and  add 1 tbsp sambar powder and 1 tsp kashmiri chilli powder , mix for few seconds and pour it into sambar.
• Mix well and keep it closed for atleast 15 mins.