Ingredients

• 27 ounces coconut milk (2 tins)
• 3 cups water, plus 4 cups
• 4 ounces tamarind pulp
• Pinch saffron
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter
• 2 medium onions, sliced (about 1/2 pound)
• 3 Thai chiles, chopped
• 2 tablespoons Sambhar Spice Mix, recipe follows
• 1 tablespoon ground coriander
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• 2 teaspoons curry powder
• 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 2 cups channa dal, see Cook's Note*
• 2 Yukon gold potatoes, cubed
• 3 tomatoes, diced
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves
• Serving suggestions: String Hoppers, recipe follows

Directions

Sambhar Spice Mix:

2 teaspoons channa dal, see Cook's Note*

2 teaspoons urad dal, see Cook's Note*

4 tablespoons coriander seeds

2 teaspoons cumin seeds

2 teaspoons black peppercorns

1 teaspoon fenugreek seeds

8 dried chilies

1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder

Special equipment: a spice grinder or coffee grinder

In a heavy skillet, over very low heat, dry roast the channa and urad dahl, stiring constantly, for 5 to 8 minutes. See Cook's Note**. Remove the dal from skillet and set aside to cool.

Increase the heat to medium high, add the coriander seeds, cumin seeds, black peppercorns, fenugreek seeds and dried chilies to the skillet, stirring constantly. Toast the spices until they release their aroma, about 3 minutes. Grind the dal to a powder in a spice grinder or coffee grinder. Grind the toasted spices to a powder. Combine the dal, ground spices and turmeric powder. Store in a tightly sealed jar.

*Cook's Note: Channa Dal is a yellow split pea, Urad Dal is a white split gram bean and can be found in specialty Indian stores and health food stores, as well as the spice seeds.

**Cook's Note: Dry Roasting means to roast without adding oil, using a hot, dry skillet.

Yield: 3/4 cup

Preparation Time: 5 minutes

Cooking Time: 10 minutes

String Hoppers:

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup toasted rice flour*

1 teaspoon kosher salt

2 cups hot water

Special equipment: a steamer or steamer basket, cheesecloth or paper towel, string hopper press, 12 thatu, see Cook's Note**

Line a steamer with several layers of cheesecloth and fill with the all-purpose flour. Steam for 45 minutes. Spread the steamed flour on a baking sheet to cool. Combine the steamed flour, rice flour, and salt in a large bowl.

Make a well in the center of the flour and add the hot water. Mix with a spoon until you can gather the dough together into a ball. On a clean surface, knead the dough lightly for 2 to 3 minutes Press the dough through the hopper press onto the thatu. Place 6 filled thatu in the steamer and steam for 5 to 8 minutes. While they are steaming fill the remaining thatu with dough, then steam.

*Can be found in some supermarkets and health food stores

**Cook's Note: A string hopper press is a tool used for extruding dough, similar to the way a pasta machine extrudes noodles. It is usually made of wood or metal and can be found in specialty Sri Lankan stores. Thatu are perforated disks made of plastic or woven bamboo. They are the forms the string hoppers are steamed on. Thatu are also available at Sri Lankan stores.

Yield: 12 pieces

Preparation Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 1 hour

Inactive Time: 15 minutes