Drumstick Leaves / Murungai Keerai Sambar /முருங்கை கீரை சாம்பார்

This is my mother's style sambar preparation using drumstick leaves; this goes well with rice paired with any stir fry or even with pappad!

Drumstick leaves are rich in vitamins & minerals especially high in protein, calcium, vitamin A, and vitamin C; try and include this in your diet for a healthy living.

Ingredients:

Toor Dahl / Tuvar Dhal / Thuvaram paruppu) - ½ cup
Drumstick leaves - 1 big bunch
Big Onion - 1 / Small onion - 10 (Chopped)
Tomato - 1 (finely chopped)
Tamarind - a small gooseberry size
Sambar Powder - 1 tsp
Asafoetida - a pinch
Salt - to taste

To Grind:
Grated coconut - 2 tbsp
Pepper- tsp- ½ tsp
Cumin seeds- ½ tsp

To Temper:
Mustard seeds - ½ tsp
Urad dhal - ¾ tsp
Fenugreek seeds - ¼ tsp
Curry Leaves - 1 sprig (optional)
Red chillies - 2

Directions:

Pre- preparations:

Separate the leaves from the stalks and wash the leaves.

Drain it completely and keep aside.

Soak the tamarind in a cup of water.  After sometime squeeze and extract the juice; keep it aside.

Wash toor dhal and pressure cook adding water along with turmeric powder and asafoetida till it becomes soft. 

Once the pressure releases; open the lid and mash with the laddle and keep aside.

Grind coconut, pepper and cumin seed with little water to fine paste. Keep aside.

Cooking Procedure:

Heat oil in a kadai and season with mustard seeds; once it splutters add the remaining ingredients 'To Temper', one by one.

Once it is done; add small onions and tomatoes with little salt; fry till tomatoes become soft.

Now add the tamarind water, cooked dhal, sambar powder along with a cup of water.  Mix and allow to boil.

Once it starts boiling, add the grounded paste; mix and allow to cook till it becomes thick in consistency.

At last add drumstick leaves and cook for 5 minutes; switch of the gas.

Note:

You may adjust the water quantity and spice level to suit your taste. 

Your healthy drumstick leaves sambar is ready to serve.