Instant Pot Sambar

Ingredients (Serves 7)

1. Toor dal / thuvaraparippu – 3/4 – 1 cup (you can use masoor dal instead)

Potato – 1 medium-large, cut into large cubes

Kaya / raw plantain – 1/2 medium, peeled and cubed

Carrot – 1 medium, cubed

Brinjal – 1/2 medium, cubed

Amarakka payar – 1/4 cup, cut into 1 inch slices

Drumstick – 1, cut into 2 inch pieces

Onion – 1/2 medium, cubed

Garlic – 4 small (optional)

Tomato – 1 medium, cubed

Green chilies – 2, slit

Tamarind – 1 tsp, soaked in 1/4 cup hot water for 15 minutes, squeezed and strained

Turmeric powder – 3/4 tsp

Chilly powder – 2 – 3 tsp

Coriander powder – 1 tbsp

Hing / asafoetida – 1 – 2 pinches

Fenugreek powder – 1/8 tsp

Water – Around 2 cups or as required

Salt – To taste

To  season

2. Cilantro / coriander leaves – 3 – 4 sprigs

3.  Coconut oil – 1.5 – 2 tbsp

Mustard seeds – 3/4 tsp

Dried red chilies – 2, broken

Uluva / fenugreek seeds – 1 pinch

Curry leaves – 1 sprig

Shallots – 4, thinly sliced

Hing / asafoetida – 1 pinch

Method

1. Add all the ingredients numbered 1 inside the instant pot. Water should be in the same level as that of the vegetables.
2. Close the lid on the pot, and turn valve from VENTING to SEALING position.
3. Set the pot to MANUAL/PRESSURE COOK (High Pressure) and set timer to 8 minutes.
4. Do a NATURAL PRESSURE RELEASE(NPR) (Wait until silver button on lid drops). BE CAREFUL OF THE HOT STEAM OR If you are in a hurry – Allow the pot to sit undisturbed for at least 20 minutes, and then release all remaining pressure.
5. Remove lid and sprinkle a few cilantro sprigs.
6. Heat 2 tbsp coconut oil in a separate small pan and add mustard seeds. When they begin to sputter, add dried red chilies and a pinch of uluva / fenugreek seeds. Fry for around 5 seconds and then add sliced shallots. Cook until golden and then add asafoetida(hing), curry leaves and stir for 5 seconds. Add this to the sambar in the Instant Pot. Keep covered for 10 minutes. Serve with idli/dosa or rice.

Tip

You can use a pressure cooker to cook this recipe. Soak toor dal for 1 hour in enough water, rinse and then follow the instructions above.

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