Brinjal Sambar | Kathirikai Sambar recipe

 How to prepare

Brinjal Sambar | Kathirikai Sambar recipe

                       

Sure! Here is a recipe for Brinjal Sambar (Kathirikai Sambar), a delicious South Indian lentil stew with eggplants (brinjal) as the star ingredient.

Ingredients

For the Sambar:

• 1 cup toor dal (pigeon pea lentils)
• 6-8 small brinjals (eggplants), cut into cubes
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 medium tomato, chopped
• 1-2 green chilies, slit
• 1 tablespoon tamarind pulp
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1-2 tablespoons sambar powder
• Salt to taste
• Fresh coriander leaves, chopped for garnish

For the Tempering:

• 2 tablespoons oil
• 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1/4 teaspoon fenugreek seeds (methi seeds)
• 1-2 dried red chilies
• A pinch of asafoetida (hing)
• A few curry leaves

Instructions

1. Cook the Toor Dal:
• Rinse the toor dal thoroughly in water.
• In a pressure cooker, add the rinsed toor dal with 3 cups of water and a pinch of turmeric powder.
• Pressure cook for 4-5 whistles or until the dal is soft and mushy. Mash the cooked dal and set aside.
2. Prepare the Tamarind Extract:
• Soak a small lemon-sized ball of tamarind in 1/2 cup of warm water for about 10 minutes.
• Squeeze and extract the tamarind juice, discard the pulp, and set aside.
3. Cook the Vegetables:
• In a large pot, heat oil and add mustard seeds. Let them splutter.
• Add cumin seeds, fenugreek seeds, dried red chilies, asafoetida, and curry leaves. Sauté for a few seconds.
• Add the chopped onions and green chilies. Sauté until the onions turn translucent.
• Add the chopped tomatoes and cook until they become soft and mushy.
• Add the chopped brinjals and sauté for a few minutes.
• Add the turmeric powder, sambar powder, and salt. Mix well.
• Pour in the tamarind extract and 1 cup of water. Bring to a boil and let it simmer until the brinjals are cooked and tender.
4. Combine Dal and Vegetables:
• Once the brinjals are cooked, add the mashed toor dal to the pot. Mix well.
• Add more water if necessary to achieve the desired consistency of the sambar.
• Let the sambar simmer for 10-15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
5. Garnish and Serve:
• Garnish with fresh coriander leaves.
• Serve hot with steamed rice, idli, dosa, or any South Indian main dish.

Enjoy your Brinjal Sambar!

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