Sambhar

Half cup toor daal.
Chopped vegetables of your choice ( optional) I don't add to sambhar
Seedless tamarind soaked /wet kokum
Sambhar masala. ( i make fresh but you can buy )
Curry leaves.
Tomatoes
Turmeric, ginger, green chillis, corriander etc

Soak the tamarind
Wash and Soak toor daal in hot water or pressure cook for 7/8 whistles. If not pressure cooking boil soaked daal.
 Make sure it  is well cooked and no seeds are visible. It should be mushy, blend the daal with hand blender. This freezes really well so you can make and freeze

Take a couple of spoons oil in a pan and add cinnamon sticks ,mustard seeds, fenugrrek seed a few only , ( garlic, dry red   chillis optional)
Add curry leaves once the seeds have crackled.
Add tomatoes and saute till soft.
Add vegetables if using.p.s. If you are using fresh vegetables which take a while to cook add before tomatoes or steam/ stir fry first.
Once tomatoes are mushy add masalas like turmeric, ginger, green chillis, salt, kokum. Saute until it all comes together and the oil starts to selarate.
 add  daal and boil for a few minutes. Now add tamarand pulp, garam masala and sambhar masala. Note this will thicken once sambhar masala is added so go easy. Ready to enjoy after adding corriander