Spicy Split Pea Curry(Kerala Sambar)

Brief Overview

Sambar is one of the typical South Indian dish. Each state and region has its own recipe.  The vegetables you add to Sambar and the heat can be adjusted to your taste. This is from my state Kerala( Trichur region). Ingredients for this can be got from any Indian store.

Ingredients
Yellow split pea- 1/2 cup
Small eggplants- 5 cut length wise
Okra- 6 cut into pieces and sautéd in little oil
Cherry tomatoes- 8- cut in half length wise
Red onions or button onions- 1 medium size chopped into chunks or 8 button onions cut in half
Potato - one medium sized cut into chunks
Carrots- one medium size cut. Into chunks
Grated coconut - 1/4 cup
For Sambar powder( store brought can be used)
Coriander seeds- 4 tablespoons
Whole Red Chilly - 6
Whole Fenugreek- 1 teaspoon
Whole cumin - 1 teaspoon
Asafoetida powder - 1 teaspoon
Tamarind paste - 1 teaspoon
Turmeric - 1 teaspoon
Fresh Coriander leaves
Canola/olive oil for garnish and frying coconuts about - 4 tablespoons
Salt to taste

For Garnish
Curry leaves
Mustard seeds
Whole red Chillies- 4

Steps
Cook the split pea in a pressure cooker till well done or in pot with  about 2 cups water till the split pea in easy to mash.

Dry roast the red chilly, coriander seeds, fenugreek and cumin each separately and grind in a coffee grinder.  Put 2 tablespoons cooking oil and fry the grated coconut till dark brown. add the ground spices and asafoetida powder to this a fry for few more minutes. Let this mixture cool and then grind to a smooth paste with water in a blender.

Combine salt and turmeric to the cooked split pea and add eggplant, carrots, tomatoes and onions. Cook the potatoes separate and add to this . Saute the okra in little oil till cooked well and add to this. Add the tamarind paste and the ground spices with coconut to this and let it boil for few minutes. Add fresh chopped coriander leaves and salt to taste.

Heat another pan with 3 tablespoon oil. When the oil is hot add the mustard seeds till it splutters. Then add whole red chilly( broken) and curry leaves. turn off the heat and add this mixture to the prepared sambar.

Makes about 10 serving, Good to serve with plain white rice. Enjoy