Chop onion finely, extract tamarind juice by soaking it in hot water for 10 minutes.  Make it 2 and 1/2 cups by adding water to it. Set aside. Heat a kadhai with sesame oil, temper with the items given under ‘To temper’ table. Before adding curry leaves, add sudakkai vathal and fry until everything turns golden brown in colour. Make sure the vathal gets fried. Add curry leaves followed by chopped onion. Fry till it turns brown here and there

Add the tamarind juice, bring to boil, add sambar powder, turmeric and salt. Lower the flame to medium.