Capsicum Radish Sambar for Beginners

This post is exclusively for beginners.There are many methods in which sambar can be made.This is the usual / easiest method for new entrants

Ingredients 

Part 1 - Toor dhal

• Toor dhal - 1/2 cup
• Water - to pressure cook
• Methi seeds - little
• Turmeric powder - little
• Oil - a drop

Pressure cook toor dhal with given items for 4 whistles.Mash and keep it ready

Part 2 - Tamarind Extract

• Tamarind - big lemon sized ball
• Luke warm water - 2 cups

Soak tamarind in 2 cups of water for 15 minutes.Squeeze and extract the juice..Discard the pulp

Part 3 - Vegetables and Powders

• Oil - 2 teaspoons
• Hing - little
• Methi seeds - 1/2 teaspoon
• Red chilly - 1
• Tomato - 1
• Capsicum - 1 (cut into big cubes)
• Radish - 1 medium sized (cut into rounds)
• Turmeric - 1/2 teaspoon
• Sambar Powder - 2 teaspoons
• Salt - 1 1/2 teaspoons

Part 4 - Seasoning

• Ghee - 1 tablespoon
• Mustard seeds - 1 teaspoon
• Hing - 1/2 teaspoon
• Curry leaves - little

Method

Step 1 - Saute Vegetables

• Heat oil in a kadai.Add hing, methi seeds and red chilly to it
• Put capsicum and saute it for 3 minutes
• Add tomato pieces and cook till it is soft
• Add radish and saute it

Step 2 - Sambar

• Add turmeric powder, sambar powder and mix well
• Pour tamarind extract and put salt.Let it boil for 5 minutes or till radish gets cooked
• Add boiled and mashed toor dhal ,Blend it well
• Let it boil

Step 3 - Seasoning

• Meanwhile in a small ladle / kadai heat ghee and season with mustard, hing , curry leaves
• Pour the seasonings over the cooked sambar and switch off the stove

Sambar is ready to be served with rice