Moringa Leaves with Lentil/ Murungai Keerai Sambar

Drumstick leaves/Moringa Leaves/Murungai Keerai is a very healthy vegetable and it can also be used as one of the main ingredients in making a good Sambar.

This Sambar will be a very healthy and tasty Sambar..not a bad combo, right? 🙂

Ingredients:

Oil – 2 tbsp

Fenugreek Seeds – 15 to 20

Mustard Seeds – 1 tsp

Cumin Seeds – ½ tsp

Onion – 1 (chopped)

Red Chilies – 2 (broken)

Curry Leaves – from 1 twig

Asafoetida – 1 pinch

Moringa Leaves – 1 cup

Tamarind – small lemon size

Toor Dal – ¼ cup

Sambar Powder – 2 tsp

Turmeric Powder – ¼ tsp

Jaggery or Gur – 1 tsp

Salt – to suit taste

Method:

Wash and cook the Toor Dal in 1 ½ cups of water and Turmeric Powder in a pressure cooker for 4 to 5 whistles. In the meanwhile, soak the Tamarind in hot water for 10 minutes and extract the juice and keep the juice ready.

Heat the Oil in pan. Add Fenugreek Seeds. In a few seconds, add Mustard Seeds and allow them to crackle. Add the Cumin Seeds. Wait for a few seconds. Add the Red Chilies and stir for a few seconds. Add the Curry Leaves and then the Onion. Sauté it till the Onion becomes translucent.

Add the Moringa Leaves and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes. Add a cup of water. Simmer for 8 to 10 minutes in low to medium flame.

Add the Tamarind juice, Sambar Powder and Salt. Mix well and simmer for 3 to 4 minutes.

Mash the boiled Toor Dal a little with a ladle. Add to the boiling Sambar.

Add Jaggery and more water, if required. Boil for 3 to 4 minutes in medium flame. Keep stirring in between.

Transfer to a serving bowl.