Sambhar tastes like Udupi's

I have been preparing sambhar from many sambhar powders- Eastern, Madras sambhar, Everest, Ramdev, powder brought from the mills of south, home-made masala. All make very good sambhar, but the sambhar made from the MDH sambhar powder tastes just like the sambhar of Krishnasagar or the chain of Udupi restaurants. Arhar or Toor dal alongwith vegetables and the right amount of tamarind gives me the similar taste.

If your kids / grown-ups do not eat vegetables

Children are very fussy about eating gourds and pumpkins (Kaddu, lauki, tinda, turai, petha), arvi and other such vegetables. These, combined with carrots, beans and tomatoes can be used to make the following :

1. BHAAJI can be made from ( finely chopped, boiled and mashed ) all kinds of veggies and eaten with pav or bread roasted on griddle with ghee (Children can afford to eat ghee).

2. MANCHURIAN BALLS made from chopped/grated vegetables of the sort.

3. STOCK (the nutritious water got by boiling vegetables) can be used to make :

Gravies of Manchurian, koftas or any other curry the child loves to eat.
Dough for chappathis.
Rice, fried rice, biryani.
Sambhar, Upma, Chilli paneer etc.
Batter to make idlis, chillas, dosas, utthappams etc.

4. VEG. FOR SALADS can be grated, mixed with cream or hung curd and used for sandwiches