Lunch Box Series : LBS#18

There was a time when I used to cook Chow Chow so frequently. Hubby dear finally one day said he had enough of this veggie and didn't want to see it in his lunch box for time unknown. Hence I stopped getting this veggie, but selecting something for the lunch is so difficult, that I finally went back to choosing this after a while. Luckily I prepared the Kootu before doing the sambar. It was a welcome change after our usual sambar that he liked chow chow! Well so this week prepared the sambar out of it. There was a time when Sambar used to feature only once in our lunch box, but off late its become twice or thrice. I guess its high time I sit and think back on the menu again. But before I do, let me talk about the Chow Chow sambar. I packed this for Konda with ghee and rice. She just loved it so much. Its not normally I pack sambar for her as it becomes dry if mixed with rice. But I did't know what else to pack her. I was happy she liked it so much. If only I could make her eat the vegetables too.

Today's Lunch Box had

Chow Chow Sambar ~ Chayote Sambar
Plain Rice
Beans Carrot Moong Dal Usili
Pepper Cumin Rasam
Curd Rice.

Chow Chow / Chayote Sambar

Preparation Time : 15 mins
Cooking Time : 15 mins

Ingredients Needed

Toor Dal - 1 cup
Chow Chow / Chayote - 150 gms
Sambar Onions - 100 gms
Sambar Powder - 1 tsp
Tomatoes - 2 medium
Tamarind pulp - small lime size
Coriander Leaves - few chopped
Oil - 1 tbsp
Salt to Taste
Turmeric a pinch

For Seasoning

Red Chillies - 2
Mustard Seeds + Urud Dal + Fenugreek - 1/2 tsp
Curry Leaves - few
Garlic - 4 pods

Method to Prepare:

Peel and cut Chow Chow into 5" cubes.

Clean Toor Dal and pressure cook it with 2 drops of Oil and turmeric. This makes it cook fast. Keep it for 2 - 3 whistles or till its cooked. Remove and let it cool down. Then add the chopped Chow chow and one for 1 more whistle.

Soak tamarind and extract pulp from it.

Soak Shallot (Sambar onions) for 5 mins, this way the skin comes out easily. Chop Onions and tomatoes.

Heat oil in a pan, add the seasoning ingredients. Then add chopped onions. Sauté till they are cooked, add tomatoes, Sambar powder and Salt. Cook till the tomatoes are soft.

Then add the cooked toor dal. The dal should be well cooked. Bring to boil, in the final stages, add the tamarind pulp and bring to boil.

Cook on high flame for 5 mins, then simmer for 10 mins till its cooked well. Garnish with coriander leaves.

Beans Carrot Moong Dal Usili

Ingredients Needed:

Beans & Carrot - 500 gms
Yellow Moong Dal - Handful
Green Chillies - 2 chopped
Turmeric powder a pinch
Mustard seeds + Urud Dal - 1/2 tsp
Curry Leaves few
Salt to taste
Oil - 1 tbsp

Method to prepare:

Wash and trim the beans. Scrap the carrot skin and chop to fine pieces.Par boil the vegetables in water

Wash Yellow moong dal and pressure cook it for 1 whistle.

Heat oil in kadai. Add seasonings items. Once they splutter, add curry leaves and green chillies. Fry well.

Then add the par boiled vegetables along with dal. Add turmeric pw and salt to taste. Mix well. Simmer it for 5 mins.

Hope you enjoyed!

Reminder: If you are planning to send in your entries for Microwave Easy cooking themed on Side Dish, do send in by today. I will be doing the round up by this weekend. Thank you!

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Lunch Box Series : LBS#18

By Diet Vegetarian

Dish Type Dry Side Dishes, Sambar Varieties

Author Srivalli

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