Tamil Nadu Style Vengaya Sambar Recipe – Pearl Onion Sambar

Ingredients

• 1 cup Arhar dal (Split Toor Dal)
• 1 cup Pearl onions (Sambar Onions)
• 1 Tomatoes chopped
• 1 cup Tamarind Water
• 2 tablespoons Sambar Powder
• 1 teaspoon Turmeric powder (Haldi)
• Salt to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon Mustard seeds (Rai/ Kadugu)
• 1 teaspoon Methi Seeds (Fenugreek Seeds)
• 2 Dry Red Chilli
• Asafoetida (hing) a pinch
• 1 sprig Curry leaves roughly torn

Steps

1. To begin making the Tamil Nadu Style Vengaya Sambar / Onion Sambar Recipe, pressure cook the dal with turmeric powder, salt and 2 cups water for about 5 whistles until the dal is done. Once done, mash the toor dal and keep aside.
2. Into a pressure cooker, add a teaspoon of oil and add the pearl onions to it. Roast the pearl onions for about 4 to 5 minutes until you get a roasted aroma. Once the onions are roasted, add the tomatoes and the homemade sambar powder, salt, turmeric powder the the tamarind water.
3. Cover the pressure cooker and allow the Vengaya Sambar Masala to pressure cook for 2 whistles and turn off the heat. Allow the pressure to release naturally.
4. Open the cooker, add the mashed toor dal and combine the Onion Sambar well. Check the salt and adjust accordingly.
5. To season, heat a small tadka pan with oil add mustard seeds, fenugreek seeds, dry red chilli and pinch of hing and let it crackle. Add the curry leaves and turn off the heat.
6. Pour the tempering over the onion sambar and give the sambar a brisk boil. Once done, stir in the chopped coriander leaves and transfer the Onion Sambar to a serving bowl.
7. Serve the Tamil Nadu Style Vengaya Sambar Recipe along withHomemade Soft Idli, Ghee Roast Dosa and Coconut Chutney for a weekend breakfast.
8. You can also the Onion Sambar along with with Steamed Rice and Beetroot Thoran for a weekday lunch.