Sambar Vada

# Sambar Vada Recipe: A Delicious Indian Delight from Mom’s Dosa in Cloverdale

## Introduction/Description
Welcome to Mom’s Dosa, where we take pride in serving authentic Indian cuisine right here in Cloverdale! One of our favorite dishes on the menu is **Sambar Vada**, a delightful combination of crispy lentil donuts (vada) served with a flavorful lentil soup (sambar). This dish is not only a popular breakfast item but also a fulfilling snack perfect for any time of the day. In this recipe, we’ll guide you step-by-step to create a delicious Sambar Vada at home. Please note that the recipe is a reference and may not exactly match the technique used in our restaurant.

## Ingredients List

### For the Vada:
– 1 cup urad dal (split black gram)
– 1 green chili, finely chopped
– 1-inch ginger, grated
– ¼ cup onion, finely chopped
– Salt to taste
– Oil for deep frying

### For the Sambar:
– 1 cup toor dal (split pigeon peas)
– 1 medium onion, chopped
– 1 medium tomato, chopped
– 1 carrot, chopped
– 1 potato, cubed
– 1 tablespoon sambar powder
– ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
– Salt to taste
– 2-3 cups water
– 1 tablespoon tamarind pulp (optional)
– For tempering:
– 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
– 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
– 2-3 dried red chilies
– A few curry leaves
– 1 tablespoon ghee or oil

## Instructions/Steps

### Step 1: Prepare the Vada
1. **Soaking the Dal**: Rinse the urad dal thoroughly and soak it in water for at least 4 hours or overnight.
2. **Grinding the Dal**: Drain the soaked dal and grind it into a smooth batter, adding a little water as needed. The batter should be thick and airy.
3. **Add Flavor**: Transfer the batter to a mixing bowl. Fold in the chopped green chili, ginger, onion, and salt.
4. **Fry the Vada**: Heat oil in a deep frying pan. Once hot, wet your hands, take a small portion of the batter, and shape it into a donut with a hole in the center. Fry until golden brown on both sides. Drain on paper towels.

### Step 2: Prepare the Sambar
1. **Cook the Dal**: In a pressure cooker, cook the toor dal with 3 cups of water until soft (around 3 whistles).
2. **Make the Sambar**: In a pot, add the cooked dal, chopped onions, tomatoes, carrots, potatoes, sambar powder, turmeric powder, and salt. Pour in additional water and cook until the vegetables are tender.
3. **Add Tamarind**: If using, stir in the tamarind pulp and bring to a simmer.
4. **Tempering**: In a small pan, heat ghee/oil and add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, dried red chilies, and curry leaves. Let them splutter and pour this tempering over the sambar.

### Step 3: Serving
1. **Serve Hot**: To enjoy your Sambar Vada, serve the hot vada in a bowl and ladle the sambar over it or on the side. Garnish with fresh coriander if desired.

## Cooking Time
– **Preparation Time**: 15 minutes (excluding soaking time)
– **Cooking Time**: 30 minutes
– **Total Time**: Approximately 45 minutes

## Serving Size
– Serves 4 people.

## Tips and Variations
– For a spicier version, add more green chilies and sambar powder.
– You can add other vegetables like pumpkin or radish to the sambar for extra nutrition.
– Try adding soaked and crushed nuts to the vada batter for a unique twist.
– Serve with coconut chutney or a tangy pickle for additional flavor.

Enjoy making this delicious **Sambar Vada** at home, and don’t forget to visit us at Mom’s Dosa in Cloverdale to savor the authentic taste of Indian cuisine straight from our kitchen!

**Disclaimer:** This Sambar Vada recipe is just a reference and the preparation technique might differ from what is served at Mom’s Dosa.