Step-by-Step Instructions

1. 1.Prepare Ingredients

   Cut pumpkin, brinjal, potato, and bottle gourd into small pieces. Soak toor dal. Finely chop tomatoes, green chillies, and onions.

2. 2.Heat Cooker and Oil

   Turn on the gas and place a pressure cooker on the burner. Add 3-4 tablespoons of cooking oil to the hot cooker.

3. 3.Initial Tempering

   Once the oil is hot, add 1 teaspoon of mustard seeds and 7-8 curry leaves. Let them splutter.

4. 4.Sauté Onions

   Add 2 finely chopped onions to the cooker and sauté until they become translucent.

5. 5.Sauté Tomatoes and Green Chillies

   Add 2 chopped tomatoes and 2 green chillies. Cook until the tomatoes soften.

6. 6.Add Vegetables

   Add the chopped vegetables (pumpkin, brinjal, potato, and bottle gourd) to the cooker and mix well with the sautéed ingredients.

7. 7.Add Soaked Dal

   Add the 1 cup of soaked Toor Dal to the cooker and mix it thoroughly with the vegetables.

8. 8.Add Dry Spices

   Add 2 tablespoons of coriander powder, 2 tablespoons of sambar masala, 1 tablespoon of red chilli powder, salt to taste, 0.5 teaspoon of garam masala, and 0.5 teaspoon of turmeric powder. Mix all the spices thoroughly with the vegetables and dal.

9. 9.Add Tamarind Paste

   Pour in 3-4 tablespoons of tamarind paste and mix it well into the mixture.

10. 10.Add Water and Pressure Cook

    Add approximately 400ml of water, stir everything together, and then close the pressure cooker lid. Cook for 3 whistles.

11. 11.Prepare Final Tempering

    While the sambar is cooking, turn on another burner and place a small pan (tadka pan). Add 1-2 tablespoons of cooking oil. Once the oil is hot, add 1 teaspoon of mustard seeds, 7-8 curry leaves, 0.5 teaspoon of sambar masala, and 0.5 teaspoon of red chilli powder. Let them sizzle.

12. 12.Combine and Serve

    Carefully pour the hot tempering mixture into the cooked sambar. Stir the sambar well to incorporate the tempering. Your South Indian style sambar is now ready to be served hot with idli or rice.