Thandu Keerai Sambar Recipe - Amaranth Greens Sambar Recipe
Thandu Keerai Sambar is a very traditional South Indian lentil curry made from spinach or amaranth leaves or any other green leaf of radish or beet. The sambar is cooked in a tangy tamarind base flavoured with homemade sambar powder. Thandu Keerai sambar is a favourite at home with my children and a variation from the regular dals.
Ingredients
-
1 cup Tamarind Water
-
1/2 cup Pearl onions (Sambar Onions)
-
quartered
-
2 cups Red Amaranth Leaves
-
chopped
-
2 teaspoons Sambar Powder
-
1/2 teaspoon Turmeric powder (Haldi)
-
1 cup Arhar dal (Split Toor Dal)
-
cooked and mashed
-
Salt
-
to taste
-
Ingredients for Seasoning
-
1 teaspoon Sesame (Gingelly) Oil
-
1 pinch Asafoetida (hing)
-
1 teaspoon Mustard seeds (Rai/ Kadugu)
-
5-6 Curry leaves
-
roughly chopped
-
1 Dry Red Chilli
Instructions
Step 1
To begin making the Thandu Keerai Sambar recipe, we will first cook the tuvar dal with 2-1/2 cups of water until it becomes very soft
Step 2
See video recipe of how to cook lentils using pressure cooker
Step 3
If you find that the cooked dal is too thick and mushy, add water to it and whisk it till it becomes a thick pouring consistency
Step 4
Into the pressure cooker, add the tamarind water, amaranth greens (thandu keerai), pearl onions, sambar powder, turmeric powder and salt to taste
Step 5
Add little water and pressure cook the Keerai for 1 whistle and turn off the heat
Step 6
Release the pressure immediately by lifting the weight off with the fork or by running cold water over the pressure cooker
Step 7
Once done, add the cooked dal and adjust the consistency of the Thandu Keerai Sambar and give it a taste
Step 8
Adjust the salt as well according to your taste
Step 9
While the sambar is boiling, we will get the seasoning ready
Step 10
Heat oil in a small pan; add in the mustard seeds and the red chillies, stir for a few seconds until the mustard crackles and the red chilli is roasted
Step 11
Finally add in the curry leaves and asafoetida powder and turn off the heat
Step 12
Pour this seasoning to the simmering Thandu Keerai sambar and stir
Step 13
Turn off the heat and transfer the Thandu Keerai sambar to a serving bowl
Step 14
Serve Thandu Keerai Sambar along with Steamed Rice and Raw Banana Roast for a delicious weekday meal