ARACHUVITTA SAMBAR

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Arachutvitta (or Araithuvitta) Sambar is usually prepared on special occasion with the freshly ground spices for sambar powder.It is so aromatic and flavourful.Vegetables that can added are usually drumstick, avaraikai,Parangikai(Yellow pumpkin),brinjal. Usually onions are not added to this sambar when cooking on special occasions.

Ingredients
Cubed Vegetables *: 2 cups
Toor dhal: 1/2 cup
Tamarind: lemon sized
Salt: 1 tsp
Hing: a pinch
Turmeric powder: 1/4 tsp


*Vegetables
Raddish/Yellow pumpkin/Brinjal/Drumstick/Avaraikkai/Chow chow

For Sambar powder
Channa dal(Kadala parupu): 1 tablespoon
Coriander seeds: 2 tablespoons
Red chilli (long variety): 6
Fenugreek seeds:1/4 tsp
Grated coconut: 3 tablespoons


For seasoning
Oil: 1 tsp
Mustard seeds:1/2 tsp
Curry leaves: a sprig


Procedure:
1. Peel and cut the vegetables into little large cubes (for raddish/pumpkin/chow chow)
    If using drumstick cut into 2 inch length
    For brinjal cut into 4

2. Soak the tamarind in water
3.Cook the toor dhal with enough water, turmeric powder and hing in a pressure cooker for 3 whistles

4.Mash the cooked dhal with a laddle (or even a whisk)
5. Fry the ingredients for sambar powder in little oil until it turns golden brown

Note:Fry all the other ingredients and then finally fry the grated coconut

6. Allow to cool and grind it to a powder

7. Heat 2 tsp of oil in a pan and add mustard seeds. Once it starts spluttering add curry leaves and vegetables

8.Fry for a minute or two. Add 1/2 of water and cook for 5 - 10 minutes with the lid closed

9. Once the vegetable is half cooked ,dilute the tamarind extract with 1.5 cups of water and add to the vegetables

10. Add salt, turmeric powder and asafeotida as well

11.Close the vessel and cook for around 10 minutes

11. Once the vegetables are completely cooked, add the ground spices

12. Immediately add the cooked dhal and mix well. 

13. Switch off the flame. Do not allow to boil further after adding the spices and dhal

Notes:
First cook the vegetables in plain water and once half cooked add the tamarind water.If the tamarind extract is directly added, then the vegetables may not get cooked properly
Do not boil the sambar after adding dhal and ground spices