Mangalore Cucumber Sambar

 Mangalore cucumber sambar is a delicious gravy dish made using mangalore cucumber, toor dal, coconut and spices, goes well with rice.

The following ingredients are needed to prepare Mangalore Cucumber Sambar.

Ingredients:-

Mangalore Cucumber. -1 medium size
Toor dal.                       -1/2cup
Tamarind.                     - a marble size
Jaggery crushed.           - 1tsp
Salt.                               - to taste

For grinding Sambar masala paste:-

Grate Coconut.     - 1cup
Urad dal.               - 1tsp
Chana dal.             - 1tsp
Dry red chillies.    - 8
Coriander seeds.   - 2 tsp
Cumin seeds.        - 1/2 tsp
Black pepper.        - 1/4 tsp
Fenugreek (methi).- 1/4 tsp
Turmeric powder.  - 1/4 tsp
Coconut oil.           - 1/2 tsp

For Seasoning:-

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

Instructions:-

1). Heat 1/2 tsp coconut oil in a pan and roast urad dal, chana dal, dry red chillies, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, black pepper and fenugreek seeds.Saute well on medium flame till nice aroma comes out and switch of the flame. Allow the roasted ingredients to cool. Once cooled grind the above roasted ingredients along with freshly grated coconut and turmeric powder to a smooth paste adding very little water. Keep aside the ground sambar masala paste.

2). In a small bowl soak tamarind in 1/4 cup of warm water. Squeeze and extract tamarind juice and discard the tamarind residue. Add 1tsp crushed jaggery and mix with the extracted tamarind juice. Keep aside the tamarind jaggery mixture.

3). Wash mangalore cucumber.Cut and remove the seed portion and chop the cucumber into medium size cubes along with skin.

4). Wash and pressure cook toor dal along with chopped mangalore cucumber cubes adding 2 cup of water for 2 whistle or till soft and keep aside.

Method:-

1). In a cooking vessel add the cooked mangalore cucumber cubes and cooked toor dal along with cooked water and boil on low flame.

2). Add required salt and tamarind jaggery mixture into the vessel and boil for a minute.

3). Add ground sambar masala paste into the vessel and mix well. Add little water and boil the sambar for 5 minutes and switch off the flame.

4). Heat 1tsp coconut oil in a small pan for seasoning and splutter mustard seeds and cumin seeds and saute well. Add curry leaves into the pan and saute well in oil for a second and switch off the flame.

5). Pour the above seasoning into the sambar in the vessel and mix well.

6).Transfer the Mangalore Cucumber Sambar to a serving bowl and serve hot with rice.