Delicious South Indian Sambar Recipe

Sambar is a classic dish that is incredibly simple to prepare. This traditional dish is bursting with flavour, thanks to the abundance of vegetables, spices, and herbs. Not to mention that it is nutritious, high in protein and keeps us full for longer.

Sambar is a South Indian lentil-based stew made with a variety of vegetables, tamarind, and a blend of spices. It is typically served as a side dish with rice or as a dip for idli and vada. Common ingredients include toor dal, tamarind, vegetables like drumstick, carrot , beans, tomato, and a blend of spices such as mustard seeds, cumin, coriander, and red chili powder. Here's a basic recipe for sambar.

Ingredients

1 cup toor dal (split pigeon peas)

10 to 15 sambar onions or 1 onion (chopped)

2 tomatoes, chopped

1-2 cups mixed vegetables (such as carrots, beans and drumsticks)

1 tsp tamarind paste

2 to 3 tsp sambar powder (Receipe is given below)

Salt, to taste

1 tsp mustard seeds

1 tsp cumin seeds

1 tsp urad dal (split black lentils)

2 dry red chilies

Small piece of jiggery (optional)

1 sprig curry leaves

2 tbsp oil or ghee

2 cups water

Cooking Method

• Rinse the toor dal and add it to a pressure cooker with 3 cups of water. Cook the toor dal on medium heat for about 3 whistles or until it is cooked and soft.
• In a separate pan, heat oil or ghee and add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, urad dal, and dry red chilies. Once the seeds start to pop, add curry leaves and saute for a few seconds.
• Add chopped onion and saute until translucent.
• Add chopped tomatoes and saute for a few minutes until they are soft.
• Add the mixed vegetables and saute for a few minutes.
• Add sambar powder (Recipe given below) based on your spicy level, and salt to taste. Mix well and saute for a few minutes.

Add the cooked dal, tamarind paste and 2 cups of water. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer for 3-5 minutes. Add a small piece of jaggery and 2 tsp of ghee to the hot sambar to add flavor to the dish. Yummy and flavorful sambar is now ready.

Serve sambar with steamed rice, idli, dosa, vada or pongal and enjoy!

This is a basic recipe and you can add or subtract vegetables as per your preference. Also, you can add more or less water to adjust the consistency of the sambar.

Note: You can also use instant sambar powder which is easily available in Indian grocery stores.

Home Made Sambar Powder Recipe

Sambar powder is a blend of spices used to make the South Indian dish, sambar. Though sambar powder is available in grocery shops, yummy home made sambar powder can be easily prepared.

Ingredients

5 tsp of coriander seeds

2 tbsp of toor dal

1 tsp of urad dal (split black lentils)

2 tsp of cumin seeds

½ tsp of fenugreek seeds

10-12 dried red chilies (depending on desired spiciness)

Preparation Method

• In a pan, dry roast the coriander seeds, toor dal, urad dal, cumin seeds, fenugreek seeds, and dried red chilies on low heat until they turn golden brown. Stir occasionally to prevent burning.
• Remove the pan from the heat and let the ingredients cool.
• Once cooled, grind the roasted ingredients into a fine powder using a spice grinder.
• Stir in the turmeric powder and mix well.
• Store the sambar powder in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.

Note: You can adjust the amounts of each ingredient to your preference.