HOTEL - IDLY SAMBHAR

Sambhar is one of the regular dish in tamilnadu, but still the same people will get surprised about the hotel sambhar's taste. Here is the secret recipe and enjoy having it in your kitchen.

Ingredients :

1. Toor dhal - 1/4 cup
2. Sambhar powder - 2 tbs
3. Red chilli powder - 1 tsp ( just to get colour)
4. Onion - 1 finely sliced
5. Tomatoes - 3 small size
6. Tamarind extract - 2 tbs or as required
7. Salt - as required
8. Turmeric powder - 2 tsp

Seasoning:

1. Mustard seeds - 2 tsp
2. Jeera - 1 tsp
3. Asfotedia powder - 1tsp
4. Curry leaves - 1 twig

To grind:

1. Freshly grated coconut - 1/4 cup
2. Coriander seeds - 3 tsp
3. Fried gram dhal / chutney dhal/ pottu kadalai - 1/2 tbs

Method:

1. Clean the dhal and pressure cook it with 3/4 cup of water. Once it gets cooked, smash it well and keep it seperately.

2. Heat oil in a kadai,  add thinly sliced onions and chopped tomatoes and fry until they get soft.

3. Add turmeric powder, red chilli powder, salt, sambhar powder and fry for 30 seconds. Add tamarind extract and smashed dhal to the pan and allow to boil. Add the required quantity of water to the sambhar mixture allow to cook for 6-7 minutes.

4. Keep on stirring then and there to avoid sticking.  In the mean while, grind freshly grated coconut, coriander seeds and fried gram dhal in a blender to a smooth paste with adding lesser quantity of water.

5. Add the ground mixture to the sambhar and allow to cook for 2 more minutes. Add asfotedia powder. After pouring the ground mixture, the consistency of the sambhar will become thick. So add the required quantity of water to make a semi - liquid consistency.

6. Heat oil in a kadai, add mustard seeds, jeera, curry leaves. Once they got popped add red chillies and transfer the seasoning to sambhar.

7. Serve hot with hot idly and dosa. It tastes heavenly for the breakfast.

Note : Adding drumstic pieces and chopped white radish will enhance the sambhar flavor more.