Mooli Sambaar

My mom has made this just a few times but even after 30 years I can remember the taste. I had almost forgotten about it then I saw it on Rekha's Blog and was inspired to make it. I added a few little twist like adding tamarind extract and sambaar powder.

Ingredients:
Mooli/Daikon Radish- 1 long one, chopped
Tur dal- 1 cup
Onion-1, chopped (can use few sambar onions too)
Tomato-1, chopped
Sambaar powder-3 tbsp (I use Eastern brand)
Tamarind- lime sized ball, soaked in 1.5 cup hot water
Turmeric-1/4 tsp
To be ground into paste - 1 cup grated coconut, 3 red chillis, 1 tsp cumin seeds
Salt
Tadka- little oil . 1 tsp mustard seeds, 3 whole red chillis,  few curry leaves

Method:
1.First soak the tamarind in 1 cup of hot water. Then pressure cook the dal with, mooli, salt and turmeric for 3-4 whistle and keep it aside.
2. In a sauce pan, add all tadka ingredients and when mustard seeds splutter, add onion and saute till it turns pink and soft.
3. Next add the tomatoes and mix till it turns soft. .
4. Add 3 tbsp sambaar powder and mix it for about 30 sec.
5. Add the ground coconut paste, tamarind extract and cooked dal . Adjust the salt. If its too thick , can add water to get the required consistency. Bring it all to boil and simmer for 10 min.
(I had a drumstick which I put in but its not essential.)
Serve it hot with rice or idli-dosa. Thanks once again to Rekha for sharing this wonderful recipe