Flat Beans Sambar / Avarakkai Sambar

Flat beans also known as Avarakkai in south India is a vegetable and a type of beans with a wide and flat green pods.Flat beans Sambar is a tasty, healthy and delicious Sambar made with Flat Beans (Avarakkai) adding Toor dal, Tomato,Tamarind and other Spices.

The following ingredients are needed to prepare Flat beans Sambar / Avarakkai Sambar.

Ingredients:-

Toor dal.             - 3/4cup
Flat beans.          -10
Tomato.               -1big
Tamarind.            - a chickpea size
Sambar powder.   - 3tbsp
Hing powder.        -1tsp
Coriander leaves.  - few chopped
Salt.                       - to taste

For Seasoning:-

Cooking oil.     -2tsp
Mustard seeds. -1/2tsp
Cumin seeds.    -1/2tsp
Curry leaves.     -1spring

For Sambar Powder:-

Coriander seeds.             -2tbsp
Black gram (Urad dal).   -1tbsp
Red chillies.                     - 5
Black Pepper.                   -1tsp
Cumin seeds.                    -1/2tsp
Fenugreek seeds (Methi). - 8 seeds
Turmeric powder.              -1/4tsp
Hing powder.                     -1/2tsp 

Instructions:-

Heat a pan and dry roast on low flame Urad dal, Red chillies, Fenugreek seeds, Coriander seeds, Black Pepper and Cumin seeds till aroma comes out .When little cooled add Turmeric powder and Hing powder. Mix well all the above ingredients and grind together to a smooth powder. Sambar Powder is ready.

Wash and pressure cook Toor dal adding sufficient water for 3 whistles and keep aside.

Wash the Flat beans and trim both the ends.Peel and remove the thread like part on both sides and chop the Flat beans into 1inch pieces and keep aside.

Wash and chop Tomatoes into small pieces and keep aside.

Soak Tamarind in 1/4 cup of water and extract Tamarind juice and keep aside.

Wash and finely chop few Coriander leaves and keep aside.

Method:-

In cooking vessel add the chopped Flat beans, chopped Tomato pieces, required Salt, and 2 cup of water. Boil and cook the Flat beans and Tomatoes till soft.

Add the cooked Toor dal and little water into the cooking vessel and mix well with the cooked Flat beans and Tomato pieces.

Add the extracted Tamarind juice and mix well.

Add the Sambar powder and 1/2tsp Hing powder and mix well. Boil and cook for 2 minutes on low flame and switch off the flame.

Heat a pan for seasoning and splutter Mustard seeds and Cumin seeds and saute well. Add Curry leaves and fry well. Switch off the flame.

Pour the above seasoning into the Sambar in the cooking vessel.

A very tasty and delicious Flat Beans Sambar / Avarakkai Sambar is ready to serve with Rice, Idly, Dosa etc.