Tomato saaru / saar

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup ( 80 g ) tur dal
• 3 cups ( 300 ml ) water
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1/2 teaspoon oil
• Extra 1 cup water

Other ingredients:

• 2 tomatoes, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon tamarind paste ( or 1/4 cup tamarind juice )
• 1/2 teaspoon jaggery
• 2 teaspoon MTR Rasam powder
• 1/4 teaspoon asafoetida ( hing )
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt ( or to taste )
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice ( optional )
• 1 teaspoon chopped coriander leaves ( optional )

Seasoning:

• 2 teaspoon oil
• 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
• 1 spring curry leaves
• 2 red chillies, broken

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Preparation

• Wash and clean tur dal. In a pressure cooker, boil dal with 3 cups water, turmeric powder and oil ( reduce the heat to medium after 2 nd whistle and pressure cook for 20 minutes or till done and soft ). Allow to cool naturally.
• Open the lid. Strain the dal stock / water through a strainer ( you can use 1/2 cup leftover cooked dal for dal fry or other dal based dishes ) and mix with extra 1 cup water.
• In a bowl, mix dal stock with extra 1 cup water, jaggery, tamarind paste / juice, chopped tomatoes, MTR Rasam powder, asafoetida, pepper powder and salt to taste.
• Cover with a lid and cook on a medium heat for 20 minutes or till done / fragrant.
• Seasoning:
  In a small pan, heat 2 teaspoon oil. Add mustard seeds. When they begin to pop, add curry leaves and broken red chillies. Pour this seasoning over tomato saar / saaru and serve hot with rice. Add lemon juice ( optional - it will enhance the taste ) and chopped coriander leaves when serving.