Sambhar

Ingredients:

Toor dal - 1/2 cup
Onion - 1 (diced into cubes)
Vegetables . 1 and 1/2 cup ( mix of capsicum, carrot, lauki, drum sticks and baby corn. cut into small cubes)
Curry leaves - 12
Turmeric powder - 1 tsp
Salt - as per taste
Green chilles - 2 ( sliced)
Red Chilli powder - 1 tbsp ( as per taste)
Sambhar masala - 1 tbsp
Dried shredded coconut - 1 tbsp
Tamarind - small lemon size ( soak it in water)
Cilantro - for garnishing

For tempering:

Oil - 1 and 1/2 tbsp
Mustard seeds - 1 tbsp
Dried Red chillies - 1 ( broken into pieces)
Asafoetida - 1 tsp

Procedure:

1. Pressure cook the daal along with all vegetables and green chillies.
2. Once done, put the daal on the stove and add the tamarind puree and continue to cook for another 10 min.
3. Add the salt, turmeric powder, red chilli powder and curry leaves. Continue cooking for another 5 to 7 min.
4. Add the dried coconut and sambhar masala. Continue cooking for 7 min.
5. Mean while in a pan pour the oil for tempering. Once the oil is hot add mustard seeds. Once they splutter add red chillies and fry for a min or so. Add the asafoetida.
6. Add the tempering to the daal and mix well. Continue cooking for another 5 min. Garnish with cilantro and serve with rice or idli or even dosa.

Cauliflower Fry

Ingredients:

Cauliflower - 2 cups ( cut into small florets)
Oil - 1 and 1/2 tbsp
Salt - as per taste
Red chilli powder - 1 tbsp ( or as per taste)
Mustard seeds - 1 tbsp
Chana daal - 1tbsp
Urad daal - 1tbsp
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
Dried red chillies - 1 ( broken into pieces)
Coriander powder - 1 and 1/2 tsp
Cumin Powder - 1 tsp
Cilantro - for garnishing
Curry leaves - 6 to 7 leaves or as required

Procedure:

1. Steam the cauliflower and keep it aside.
2. In a pan pour the oil , once it is hot add mustard seeds. Once they start to splutter add urad dal , chana dal and dried red chillies and fry till the dals become crunchy.
3. Add the cauliflower and fry till they turn to golden brown.
4. Add coriander powder, cumin powder, curry leaves, salt and red chilli powder.  Mix and let it cook for about 5 min.
5. Add turmeric powder and mix. Continue to cook for another 3 min.
6. Switch off the stove, garnish with cilantro and serve.