Mulakkai/Drumsticks Sambar

This is yet another authentic dish of South India and is quite nutritious and easy to make. Sambar with rice is one of the main courses of our house and we looovvveee it....as its comforting and delicious!! Its so versatile that it can be taken with rice, idli, dosa, vada, upma, pongal and just about any south indian snack.

Secret for perfect sambar is the tamarind extract we use, the tangy taste of the tamarind will effect the sambar a lot so be generous in using tamarind and avoid using the ready made tamarind paste.

Ingredients
Cooked dal 2 cups  
Tamarind juice 1 cup  
Water 1 cup 
Tomato1  
Onion 1 small
Drum sticks 1 cup  
Green chillies slit 3  
Curry leaves few  
Ginger garlic paste 1/2 tsp
Chilli powder 1/2 tsp
Sambar powder 1/2tsp 
Cumin & Mustard seeds 1/2 tsp each  
Red chillies 2
Garlic pods 3  
Salt to taste  
Oil

Method

In a kadai add oil, cumin & mustard seeds and once they start to splutter add curry leaves, red chillies. 

 Let them fry for a minute, now add onions, green chillies, garlic pods crushed and gg paste. 

Once the onions change colour add tomatoes, drumsticks, chilli powder, sambar powder and salt. 

Cover with lid and let it cook for few minutes. When you see oil floating on top add tamarind juice, water and cook for another 5 minutes. 
Add cooked dal and cook on low flame for 10 minutes. Add more water as per your consistency.
Garnish with coriander and serve hot with steamed rice and some papad!! 

Note:
You can add veggies of your choice also just like drumsticks to make mixed veg sambaar.