Arachu vitta Sambar

Ingredients:

Toor Dal - 1 cup
Asafoetida pdr - a pinch
Tamarind Paste - 1 tsp
Turmeric pdr - 1/4 tsp
Sambar pdr - 1/2 tsp
Salt to taste
Vendaikkai (Okra) - 1/4 kg (Brinjal/Drumstick can be used)
Onion - 1/2 chopped
Tomato - 1 chopped
Oil - 2 tsp
Mustard - 1/4 tsp
curry leaves
coriander leaves
ghee - 2 tsp optional

Grind:
Fresh coconut - 3 tsp
Coriander pdr - 1 tsp
Channa dal - 2 tsp
Vendaya podi (Fenugreek) - a pinch
Red chillies - 4
cumin seeds - 1/4 tsp
pepper - 1/4 tsp

Method:

 1. First pressure cook the toor dal with a pinch of turmeric powder and Asafoetida.Fry the vendaikkai in a pan with little oil

2. In a pan roast channa dal, red chillies, coconut, cumin seeds and pepper3. Grind the roasted ingredients along with vendaya podi,coriander pdr to a fine paste

4. Heat oil in a pan, add mustard seeds when it splutters add onion, curry leaves, salt and fry well
5. Add the ground paste and fry till the raw smell goes off. Now add tomato and the veg
6. Add the cooked dal to this, add the tamarind paste and bring it to a boil
7. Garnish with coriander leaves. Adding ghee in the end gives a nice flavor