Madras Cucumber Sambar.

Sambar is a south Indian side dish.Madras Cucumber Sambar is a delicious Sambar made by using Madras Cucumber, Drumstick and home made Sambar Powder.Madras Cucumbar Sambar goes well as a side dish with Rice, Dosa or Idli.

The following ingredients are needed to prepare Madras Cucumber Sambar.

Ingredients:-

Tur dal.                   -1cup
Madras Cucumber. -1 medium size
Drumstick.               -2
Tamarind.                - a marble size.
Turmeric powder.    -1/4tsp
Sambar powder.      -3tbsp
Hing powder.            -1tsp
Coconut oil.              -1/2tsp
Salt.                          - to taste
Coriander leaves.     -few.



For Home made Sambar Powder:-

Urad dal.                    -1tsp
Dry Red chillies.         - 5
Coriander seeds.        - 4tsp
Black Pepper.             -1/2tsp
Jeera / Cumin seeds. -1/4tsp
Turmeric powder.        - a pinch


For Seasoning:-

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


Instructions:-

1. For making the Home Made Sambar powder:-

Heat a pan and dry roast on low flame 1tsp Urad dal, 5 dry Red chillies, 4 tsp Coriander seeds, 1/2 tsp Black Pepper and 1/4 tsp Jeera / Cumin seeds. Allow the dry roasted ingredients to cool. Mix a pinch of Turmeric powder and grind the dry roasted ingredients together to a fine powder.Keep aside the Home made Sambar powder.

2. Wash and pressure cook Tur dal along with Turmeric powder, 1/2tsp oil and 1cup of water for 2 whistles and keep aside.

3. Soak Tamarind in little water for 5 minutes and then extract Tamarind juice and keep aside.

4. Chop the Drumstick into 1 and 1/2 inch pieces.Wash and keep aside.

5. Wash and chop the Madras Cucumber lengthwise and remove the seeds. Then chop the Madras Cucumber into 1inch pieces with skin and keep aside.

Madras Cucumber

Method:-

1. In a cooking vessel add the Drumstick pieces and Cucumber pieces. Add 1cup of water and boil and cook the pieces till soft.

2. Add the cooked Tur dal along with cooked Water and mix wel and boil for 1 minute on low flame.

3. Add required Salt and Tamarind juice and mix well.

4. Add 3tbsp Home made Sambar Powder and mix well without any lumps.

5. Add Hing powder and mix well and boil for 3 minutes on low flame and switch off the flame.

6. Heat oil in a pan for seasoning and splutter Mustard seeds and Cumin seeds and saute well. 

7. Add Curry leaves and fry well and switch off the flame.

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

9. Lastly garnish the Madras Cucumber Sambar with few finely chopped Coriander leaves.

10. A very tasty Madras Cucumber Sambar is ready to serve hot with Rice, Dosa, or Idli.