Sambar with Coconut ( Palakkad Style)

Ingredients needed for the Sambar
1/2 Cup Tuvar Dal / Tuvaram paruppu
1 cup Small Onions
1 cup vegetables (Drumsticks, Radish, Brinjals)
2 green chillies
2 tsps tamarind paste

Roast and Grind to a fine paste 
1 tbsp oil
1/2 tsp Fenugreek seeds
1 tsp Urad Dal
6 Dry red chillies
2 tsps Corriander seeds
Handful Curry Leaves
1 cup fresh coconut (Grated)

Ingredients for tempering Sambar
1 tsp Mustard Seeds
1 pinch asafoetida
a sprig curry leaves
a pinch of hing

How to prepare Sambar
Pressure cook the tuvar dal for about 5 minutes after the first whistle. Open the cooker when cool and mash nicely.
Heat a tbsp oil in a fry pan and roast the fenugreek seeds till it turns dark, then add 1/2 tsp each urad dal and channa dal. Saute till they change colour too. Add the red chilli and coriander seeds and stir for a minute or two. Add curry leaves and the grated coconut, Simmer and stir well till the coconut starts getting a golden. add asafoetida powder to this and stir nicely. When cool grind to a fine paste with a little water.
Heat a tbsp oil in a pan splutter mustard seeds. Add the onions and green chillies, slit and the rest of the curry leaves.
Add cubed vegetables and fry for a while.
Add just enough water for the vegetables to cook.
Cover and simmer till the vegetables get tender
Extract pulp from the tamarind or if you are usoing the ready made tamarind paste add directly to the cooked vegetables.
Add salt to taste and cook till the raw smell of the tamarind disappears.
Add the mashed dal and the ground masala mix well, Adjust the consistency as per your taste
Cover and simmer for a few minutes. Sambar is ready to serve.
Serve along with dosas, idlis or rice.

Points to Note: 
You can also try this Sambar recipe with Sambar powder. You can add the Sambar powder as you fry coconut to a golden colour.