chickpea sambar with pumpkin and celery

1st December 2013

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I love Autumn

 and I am taking every opportunity to relish in its rain and

vibrant green,

the early morning dew and it’s amazing,

blazing

colour.

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It is enough. 

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I am enough.

chickpea sambar with pumpkin and celery

When I make this to serve with dosa, I leave out the dal and add another cup of chickpeas, as the lessened water makes it a thick consistency for dosa.

ingredients 

1 cup chickpeas, soaked overnight

½ tsp turmeric powder

1 Tbsp ginger, finely chopped 

1 cup ripe tomatoes, finely chopped

3 cardamom pods

¼ cup moong dal/red lentils, well rinsed

2 stalks celery

2 medium carrots

1 cup pumpkin, finely chopped

1 tsp jaggery/brown sugar

½ tsp tamarind paste

1 tsp rock salt

¼ cup coriander leaves, chopped

sambar-coconut paste

1 – 2 tsp Sambar powder, moderately spiced

¼ cup dried shredded coconut

1 cup water

voggarane

1 Tbsp ghee

1 tsp black mustard seeds

⅛ tsp asafoetida powder

10 fresh curry leaves

preparation 

1.   Drain the chickpeas and bring them to the boil in a deep pot of water – simmer for a 1 – 2 hours or until soft.

2.  Heat ghee in a heavy-bottomed pot, when hot, add the turmeric, ginger and tomatoes, lightly crush the cardamom pods and stir them in.  Cover and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent burning – the liquid from the tomatoes keeps everything moist.

3.  Add the dal, celery, carrots, pumpkin and drained chickpeas along with 3 cups water, bring to boil, then turn down heat and simmer uncovered until dal is soft – 20 minutes.

prepare the sambar-coconut paste

4.  Place in a blender, the coconut and sambar powder with 1 cup water, blend into a smooth paste -1 minute.

5.  Add to dal and swish the blender clean using the liquid from the dal.

prepare the voggarane

6.  In a small pan, heat ghee, add the mustard seeds; when they turn grey and pop, add asafoetida, fry for a few seconds then add the curry leaves – fry until fragrant.

7.  Add to sambar, stir in the tamarind paste, jaggery, salt and coriander leaves. Taste, adding more tamarind, jaggery or salt, if needed.

Serve with brown basmati or in winter, whole barley.  Drizzle lavishly with ghee.  Serve with a lemon-dressed green, leafy salad with steamed broccoli and a sprinkling of sesame and pumpkin seeds.

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Goodness shared from Stacey

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2 comments

  • Anna Gatmon

    Hi Stacey,
    This dish has become my favorite Sambar. I make it whenever I want to make something special. I love the layers of flavoring. I made it yesterday with a batch of Dosa batter. The batter turned out exceptionally airy and fluffy as it is very warm in California these days. I even made ghee for the occasion. So, the dosas turned out amazing, and with this sambar dish, topped with mashed avocado with salt and lemon, it was such a delicious meal. We had friends over for dinner and everyone loved the meal. We mentioned you many times during the meal, as it reminded us of the many meals we shared together in Israel. What a great time we had together, sharing delicious meals and wonderful company. Thank you for this dish.

    • Stacey Fisher

      Dear Anna, It’s always a lovely surprise to have you here! You can never go wrong with dosas. I haven’t met anyone who isn’t won over with a sambar, avocado and dosa feast! I have your powders on my desk boxed and ready to post, just waiting for a little love note to be tucked inside. Also grateful for that precious time and delicious meals shared together. Sending love xx

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