A plate of hot dosa or a bowl of rice, whatever it is Sambhar is a perfect choice. Sambhar is a south Indian vegetarian stew, made of pulses and vegetables. It is healthy and tasty. Here is the complete recipe for a perfect Ulli Sambhar.
Small Onion/ Ulli
Toor Dal
Water
Salt
Curry leaves
Turmeric powder
Coconut Oil
Garlic
Green chili
Chili powder
Coriander Powder
Sambar Powder
Coconut
Tomato
Tamarind
Mustard seeds
In a pressure cooker add dal with a cup of water and turmeric powder. Pressure cook the dal for a couple of whistles. Then turn the heat to low and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes and turn off the heat. Allow the pressure to release naturally. Once the pressure is released, open the cooker and mash the dal with a potato masher or whisk the dal to make it lightly smooth. Next in a small pan over medium heat, roast the coconut for a few minutes and grind it into a smooth paste. Keep aside. In a saute pan add a tablespoon of coconut oil and add shallots/small onions with a little salt, curry leaves, and green chili and saute until translucent and slightly brown. Add the tomatoes, turmeric powder, sambar powder, salt, and tamarind water to the onion mixture and bring this sambar mixture to a boil. Turn the heat to low and simmer the Ulli sambar mixture for about 3 to 4 minutes. After a few minutes, add the whisked dal and the coconut paste and stir it. Bring the mixture to a simmering boil for another 3 to 4 minutes. Check the salt and spice levels and adjust them to suit your taste. Transfer the Ulli Sambar to a serving bowl. The final step is to make the seasoning. In a small tadka pan, heat a teaspoon of coconut oil. Add the mustard seeds and allow them to crackle. Add the remaining ingredients and roast for about a minute until the aromas come through. Pour the seasoning into the Ulli Sambar, add the chopped coriander leaves and stir the sambar.