Ingredients:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
   4                    tabelspoons olive oil
                        a generous pinch ground asafetida
     1/2  teaspoon      whole cumin seds
     1/2  teaspoon      whole black mustard seeds
   1      medium        onion -- minced
   4      cloves        garlic -- minced
   1 1/2  cups          tomato sauce
     1/2  cup           tamarind pulp
   1      teaspoon      salt -- up to /4 - 1 1/2
     1/2  teaspoon      garam masala
     1/8  tea           pooon ground cinnamon
     1/8  teaspoon      freshly ground black pepper
     1/4  tea           pon cayenne
   1      teaspoon      sugar -- (add a bit more if
                        -- you want to)

Preparation:

Heat the oil in a 2-quart pot over medium-high heat. When hot, put in the asafetida, and a few seconds later, add the cumin and mustard seeds. The cumin seeds will begin to darken in the oil within a few seconds. Put in the chopped onions and minced garlic, and fry, stirring, for about 2 minutes, or until the onions darken at the edges. Now pour in the tomato sauce and tamarind pulp. Also add the salt, garam masala, cinnamon, black pepper, cayenne, and sugar. Bring to a boil. Cover, lower heat, and simmer gently for 15 minutes. makes 2 cups