Madras onion sambar

'Madras onions' are nothing but Shallots. It is easily available here in Bangalore and other cities in South Indian. It is used in many South Indian preparations. This is a very interesting sambar recipe made from these onions which taste suberb! The same sambar recipe (the masala) can be used and onions can be replaced with beans, white pumpkin, potatoes, cauliflower


Ingrediants
10-15 madras onions (shallots)
2 tbs dhania seeds (coriander seeds)
2 tbs fresh coconut (grated)
1 tbs chana dal (bengal gram)
1/2 tsp methi seeds (fenugreek seeds)
10 dry red chillies
2 tbs tamarind pulp
1 tbs mustard seeds for making tadka
10-15 curry leaves for making tadka
a pinch hing
2 tbs oil
1 cup tur dal
salt as per taste
Oil for making tadka


Method

1. Peel the onions. Do not cut them. Use them as is in sambar.
2. Boil water and cook the dal with turmeric and salt.
3. Mix the cooked dal well and add salt, tamarind paste and jaggery to the dal. Keep aside.
4. Heat some oil in a pan then add chana dal, methi seeds, red chillies, hing, dhania seeds, coconut and keep frying for a few minutes.
5. Grind the above dry spices to a fine paste by adding little water.
6. Take a hard bottom pot and heat some oil. Add the onions which are peeled. Let then cook for some time. After sometime the onions will start turning transperant. Add the paste to these onions. Cook for a while.
7. Add tur dal and bring it to a boil.
8. Heat oil in a small pan and add 4 red chillies, mustard seeds and a pinch of hing. Pour this over the hot boiling sambar.
9. Enjoy with delicious sambar with dosas, idlis or just plain boiled rice.