Sambar - A South Indian Pride

A stew with Lentil and Vegies

Sambar is yet another south Indian delicacy. It is a wholesome meal when accompanied with rice or Indian rice crepes dosa. This is one stew made every other day in most of the households in South India. There are a few versions of making it..here is one of them.

Ingredients :
To pressure cook or boil:
1 cup - Toor Dhal/Tuvaram Paruppu/Kandi pappu
1/4 tsp. turmeric powder
1 tsp. red chilli powder
2-3 garlic pods
2 cups water
1 tsp oil

Vegies :
1 large tomato
2 drumsticks cut into 2 inch pieces
1/2 cup each of chopped mixed vegetables, beans, carrot,radish, potato,
1 cup Shallots or pearl onions
2 brinjals cut length wise
1/2 cup bottle gourd cubed

Others :
1 lemon size ball of tamarind soaked in water and juice extracted
1 tbsp. jaggery or sugar
2 tbsp. sambar masala
1/2 cup chopped coriander leaves
salt to taste

For tempering:
1 tbsp. ghee
1/2 tsp. each cumin and mustard seeds
3 whole red chillies
2-3 flakes garlics slightly crushed
2 stalks curry leaves
1/2 onion
A pinch of asafoetida.
Procedure:
Put together the ingredients to pressure cook and cook for 15 minutes or till the dhal is fully cooked. When cool add salt and mash well and set aside.
Soak the tamarind in lukewarm water and extract pulp.
Add all the vegetables to the tamarind water along with salt and pressure cook till vegetables are fully cooked.
To this add the mashed dhal and mix well.
Add the jaggery and dissolve it.
Now add the sambar powder boil for another 2 minutes and then add coriander leaves.
In a separate vessel heat oil and add all the tempering ingredients fry and add the tempering to the boiling sambar.
Remove from heat and serve hot with rice accompanied with any veg/non-veg fry/vepudu/poriyal,varuval,appalam or have with dosa.

Slow Cook Chunky Meat and Veggie Stew

With our ever busy schedule, when it comes to cooking a meal, most of us are always on the look out for something quick and healthy without comprising on taste. Slow cook meal is a remedy here. As I was experimenting with different kinds of slow cook meals I came out with this one.

Since I've used Star Anise here as one of the main spices thought this can contribute to this month's Think Spice - Star Anise, which is a monthly food blog event created and hosted by Sunitha.

Since this makes a complete meal, with protein, veggies and carbs, so this qualifies for Meeta's Monthly Mingle for this month's Theme - One dish Dinner.

Ingredients:
Meat and veggies:
2 Lb - Choice of any Chunky Meat with Bones
1 lb - Carrots, beans, Peas, Lima beans, potatoes cut into big chunks
Spices
4 stars - Star Anise
3 Cloves
2 Cardamon
1 Cinnamon Stick
1/2 tsp Funnel seeds
3 Bay leaf
Seasoning:
1 Tbsp oil
1 big Onion chopped
2 big Green Chillies slit
1 Tbsp Ginger Garlic paste
1/4 tsp Red chilly powder
Salt to taste.
For Gravy:
1/2 cup Tomato Puree
1/4 cup Apple Sauce
1 Tbsp Worcester Sauce

Procedure:
Heat oil in a large pot add all the spices one by one saute till color changes and flavours comes out.
Add Onions and chillies, saute for 2 minutes.
Add ginger garlic paste, saute
Add the meat and the chilly powder and salt, mix well.
Add the all sauces, simmer for 1 hour on a regular oven or transfer into a slow cooker crock pot and cook for 2 hours before adding the veggies.
At this time remove any excess fat/oil from the meat, just before you add the veggies.
Slow cook for another 2 hours.
Check for the softness of the meat. If meat attains the stage where it can easily be separated from the bone, the stew is almost done.
The vegetables will be well cooked in this time.
Again remove any excess fat from the bones.
Serve into stew bowls and garnish with finely chopped cilantro.
If desired you can eat with cooked rice or a slice of fresh italian bread.