To boost immune system including drumstick is highly recommended by nutritionists. Moringa is the name for drumstick plant. Its leaves are highly nutritious and known to improve overall health. Moringa fruits are commonly known as drumsticks due to its appearance. It rich in vitamin A, C and supplies calcium. Fruit is known to be aphrodisiac.

This drumstick season, start including Moringa in your diet to get all the benefits that it offers. People in South India get plenty of drumsticks during this season and it is often used with small onions to prepare delicious sambar.

Drumstick-small onion sambar recipe:

Ingredients:

1. Drumsticks – 4
2. Small onions – 10
3. Toor daal – ¾ cup
4. Turmeric – 1 tsp
5. Curry leaves – few
6. Asafetida – pinch
7. Mustard – ½ tsp
8. Red chili – 1
9. Sambar masala – see instructions

Ingredients for sambar masala

1. Grated coconut – 1 cup
2. Coriander seeds – 1 Tbsp
3. Tamarind – 3 inch (or small lemon size)
4. Salt – as per taste
5. Jaggery – small piece
6. Red chili – 6-8 (Byadagi chili is recommended)
7. Fenugreek – ½ tsp

Preparation of sambar masala.

1. In a frying pan, dry fry all ingredients except coconut, jaggery and salt.
2. Transfer fried items, coconut, salt, jaggery and add one cup water. Grind ingredients to a paste and keep it aside. (you can also grind ingredients without frying)

Preparation of sambar:

1. Pressure cook toor daal with turmeric and few drops of oil.
2. Wash and cut drumsticks to 2-inch pieces. Remove outer skin of onions.
3. Boil 2 cups of water.
4. Place a deep vessel on medium heat. Add 1.5 Tbsp cooking oil. Add cut drumsticks and onion. Fry for 2-3 minutes. Add boiled water to fried drumstick and onions. Continue cooking the vegetables on medium heat. Cover the vessel with a lid. In between check to see whether drumsticks are cooked (Option: you can add one cut tomato too)
5. Once drumsticks are cooked, add sambar masala paste, stir and continue to boil. After the content reaches boiling point, add cooked toor daal and stir the contents. If needed add little more salt. Continue boiling.
6. Prepare seasoning using oil, mustard, curry leaves and asafetida.
7. Transfer seasoning to sambar and turn off the heat.
8. Serve hot drumstick – onion sambar with rice, chapati or idli.

Image credit: https://in.pinterest.com/pin/843580573946123713/