Squash and eggplant sambhar

1 1/4 cups lentils

4 tbsp oil

1/4 tsp fenugreek

2 tsp coriander seeds

1 1/2 tsp cumin seeds

3/4 tsp mustard seeds

12-15 curry leaves

4 big shallots, thinly sliced

1/2 butternut squash, chopped into 1 inch cubes

1 medium eggplant, chopped into 1 inch cubes

4 ripe tomatoes, chopped, or 1 can diced tomatoes

2 tsp salt

1 1/2 tsp sugar

2 tsp tamarind paste

1 1/2 tsp red chile

1/2 lb green beans, trimmed and cut to 1-2 inch lengths

Wash lentils and simmer with 3x the amount of water for ~25 minutes.

Toast fenugreek, coriander, and cumin in 1 tbsp oil, then grind with mortar and pestle.

In a big pot, heat oil. Fry mustard seeds and curry leaves, then shallots. Cook about 10 minutes or until golden.

Add squash and a little water, cover, cook 5 minutes.

Add eggplant and a little water, cook 5 minutes.

Add tomatoes; the toasted and ground fenugreek, coriander, and cumin; salt, sugar, tamarind, red chile; cover, cook 5 minutes, until tomatoes have broken down and squash is tender.

Add lentils, then green beans and water to the texture you want, cook 5 minutes. Adjust salt, sugar, and tamarind to taste.

Source: Fresh India by Meera Sodha