Indian spicy split peas with vegetables (samb

6 Servings

Ingredients

Quantity Ingredient
4 cups Water
1 cup Dried yellow split peas
2 tablespoons Shredded or flaked coconut
1 teaspoon Coriander seed
½ teaspoon Fenugreek seed
1 Stick cinnamon, 1/2-in long
3 tablespoons Oil
¼ teaspoon Salt
¼ teaspoon Cayenne pepper
3 mediums Carrots, diced
2 mediums Zucchini, diced
1 medium Onion, finely chopped
1 small Eggplant, diced
2 tablespoons Water
1 tablespoon Tamarind pulp
Hot cooked rice
Snipped fresh cilantro

Directions

This version of sambar is flavored with just a sampling of the spices loved by Indians: coriander, fenugreek, cinnamon and tamarind.

Heat 4 cups water and peas to boiling in 2-quart saucepan. Reduce heat. Cover and simmer 45 minutes. Cook and stir coconut, coriander, fenugreek and cinnamon in 1 tablespoon oil in 8-inch skillet until coconut is light brown. Remove from heat. Stir in salt and cayenne pepper. Crush coconut mixture with mortar and pestle until finely ground. Reserve. Cook carrots, zucchini, onion and eggplant in 2 tablespoons oil in 12-inch skillet, stirring occasionally, until tender. Stir 2 tablespoons water into tamarind pulp until softened.

Stir tamarind mixture, coconut mixture and peas into skillet. Cook and stir over low heat, adding water until of consistency of soup, if necessary, until hot and well blended. Serve over rice and garnish with cilantro.

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