Sambhar without tamarind

I understand anyone will get bored eating the same food everyday. Imagine getting borrrrred cooking the same food day in, day out! My husband loves sambhar and I being a novice knew just about two sambhar recipes. Using different vegetables was the utmost variation I could manage.
I was always under the impression that tamarind extract is a must in any kind of sambhar. That is probably why I was skeptical when my mother-in-law [amma in all future blogs] told me about this simple variation, during one of my rantings about having to cook the same stuff everyday.


Ingredients:

Onion - 1, chopped into medium sized pieces
Tomatoes - 2, one finely chopped and one blanched and pureed
Thoor dal - 1 big cup
Sambhar powder - 1 heaped tablespoon
Mustard seeds - 1/4 teaspoon
Urad dal - 1/4 teaspoon
Salt - as required
Turmeric powder - a pinch
Curry leaves - few
Oil - 1 tablespoon

Here's how you make the sambhar. Pressure cook the thoor dal along with turmeric powder and enough water. Heat the oil in a kadai and temper mustard and urud dal. Add the curry leaves just as the urud dal turns golden brown. Add the onions and fry till translucent. Add the chopped and pureed tomatoes. Allow to cook for few minutes. Add salt and sambhar powder. Fry for 15-20 secs and add the boiled thoor dal. Pour a small cup of water and allow to boil for 5 minutes. Sambhar without tamarind is ready!!