Araichu Vita Sambar(araitha sambar)

         Araithu vitta sambar or Varutharaicha sambar is a combination of sambar and coconut. This dish originated from the -land of coconuts. It's made with dal/parupu, any vegetables of our choice and fried and ground coconut with spices. This is a flavorful accompaniment for white rice or pongal.

Varutharaicha sambar

Ingredients:

            ( a )

1/2 cup     red gram
1            *brinjal 
1              drumstick 
1              potato
1/2 cup   *shallots
1/2 tsp      turmeric
few           coriander 
1tsp          tamarind paste 
* eggplant

* small onions
we can add any vegetable
          ( b )

To fry and grind:

1/2 tsp   pepper

1 tsp      jeera/cumin seeds

1 tsp      dal

1 tsp      coriander seeds

1/8 tsp   methi/fenugreek 

6-8         dry red chilli*

3-4tbs     grated coconut 

1tsp         oil
*add or reduce chilli according to preference. 
         ( c )
To temper: 

1 tsp      oil
1 tsp      mustard seed
1/2 tsp   cumin seed 
1/2 tsp   fenugreek/methi seed
1           dried red chilli
few        curry leaves

It's a five step process:
1. Cook the dal and keep it aside

2. Heat the oil in a pan (med), fry the first 6 ingredients under (b)"to fry and grind", lower the heat and add coconut and fry till it becomes dry. Grind every thing together into a fine paste.

Fry the coconut

3. Heat the oil in the same pan, fry the ingredients given under ( c ) "to temper", after the mustard seed crackle add the vegetables and fry for some time now add the turmeric powder and salt with some water and cook till the vegetables are done.

temper and cook the vegetable

4. Add the cooked dal + tamarind paste + ground coconut masala with the vegetables. *Add water as needed, check for salt, cover the pan and simmer for another 10 mins and / or the raw smell is gone. 
* If the dal / parupu is too thick add water to the desired consistency.
5. Transfer it to a serving bowl and garnish with coriander leaves.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my blog. If you try this recipe, please comment on it. I like to hear how it came out.

                                  ENJOY :)