Moolangi Sambar Recipes
Moolangi Sambar is a hearty and flavorful South Indian lentil stew made with radish, toor dal, and a medley of spices.
Ingredients
For the dal
- 1 cup toor dal rinsed and soaked for 30 minutes
- 3 cups water
- 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
For the masala
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
- 1 teaspoon urad dal
- 1 teaspoon chana dal
- 10 curry leaves
- 5 dried red chilies
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 1 medium tomato chopped
- 1 teaspoon ginger-garlic paste
- 1 teaspoon sambar powder
- 1/2 teaspoon coriander powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cumin powder
- 1/4 teaspoon asafoetida
- Salt to taste
For the vegetables
- 2 medium radishes peeled and sliced
- 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
Instructions
- Cook the dal: In a pressure cooker, combine the toor dal, water, turmeric powder, and salt. Close the lid and cook for 3 whistles or until the dal is tender. Let the pressure release naturally, then open the lid and mash the dal with a potato masher or the back of a spoon.
- Make the masala: Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the mustard seeds and let them crackle for a few seconds. Add the urad dal, chana dal, curry leaves, and dried red chilies and cook for about 30 seconds, until the urad dal and chana dal turn golden brown.
- Add the onion and cook until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the tomato and ginger-garlic paste and cook until the tomato is soft and mushy, about 5 minutes more.
- Stir in the sambar powder, coriander powder, cumin powder, and asafoetida. Cook for 1 minute, until the spices are fragrant.
- Add the cooked dal and 2 cups of water. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes, or until the flavors have melded.
- Stir in the radishes and cilantro. Cook for 5 minutes more, or until the radishes are tender.
- Taste and adjust the seasonings as needed. Serve hot with rice, idlis, or dosas.
Video
Notes
Here are some additional tips for making Moolangi Sambar:
You can use any type of radish for this recipe, but white radishes are the most common.
If you don't have a pressure cooker, you can cook the dal in a regular pot over medium heat. Just add more water and cook for an additional 20-30 minutes, or until the dal is tender.
You can adjust the amount of spices to your taste. If you like your sambar spicy, add more dried red chilies. If you prefer a milder sambar, omit the dried red chilies altogether.
Moolangi Sambar can be served with a variety of sides, such as rice, idlis, dosas, or chapatis.
You can also add other vegetables to the sambar, such as carrots, potatoes, or green beans.
Nutrition
Calories: 132kcalCarbohydrates: 16gProtein: 6gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.03gSodium: 414mgPotassium: 16mgFiber: 5gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 64IUVitamin C: 34mgCalcium: 31mgIron: 1mg
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