Sambar Recipe

Information

Sambar is a lentil based side dish, especially accompanied with plain rice. In south of India it is a staple diet, almost no day goes without it. It is normally very spicy but can be prepared in many ways.

  • Difficulty level: Medium
  • Cooking time: 40 min
  • Vegetarian
  • Serves: 4-5

Ingredients

  1. Toor Dal (Arhar Dal)­­­: 1/2 cup
  2. Tomato: 1 big
  3. Oil:­­ 2 tbsp
  4. Shallots (or small Onion): ­­Few
  5. Aubergine: 2 small diced in big chunks
  6. Drumstick: 3/4 stick
  7. Carrots: 1 small diced
  8. Okra: 2 medium size
  9. Dudhi: Few diced cube
  10. Ginger: 1 inch piece
  11. Garlic: 3 pods
  12. Turmeric: 1 tsp
  13. Curry leaves: few leaves
  14. Fenugreek Seeds: 1 tsp
  15. Mustard seeds: 1 tsp
  16. Asafoetida: 1/2 tsp
  17. Tamarind Juice: 3 Tbsp
  18. Dry red chili: ­­­3
  19. Sambar Powder: 15 gms /1 tbsp
  20. Sugar or Jaggery ­­little
  21. Coriander Leaves: Few leaves

Method

  • Wash and pressure cook Toor dal with salt,turmeric ginger,garlic and 1 & 1/2 cup of water and cook for at least 15 Min on low heat or till its completely done.
  • Open the lid and mash the dal with back of your ladle. Heat oil in a separate pan and add mustard seeds and let it splutter.
  • Now add fenugreek seeds, asafoetida ,dry red chili,curry leaves and give it a stir.
  • In the same pan add shallots and stir for a minute then add all the vegetables(carrot,drumstick,dudhi,okra,aubergine) and stir a 2 minutes.Now add the chopped tomato cover and cook on low flame till they are soft and oil leave side of the pan.(about 4­5 minute)
  • To the same pan add the sambhar powder and give it a good stir. Add the Tamarind juice to the pan and cook for one minute.
    Transfer the mixture of the pan to the dal & add sugar or jaggery and pressure cook on low flame for 5—7 minute.
  • Open the lid transfer the dal to bowl and garnish with some coriander. Serve hot with plain boiled Basmati rice or Dosa or Idlly or Vada and many more.

Sambar

If you like it more spicy or tangy you can adjust the quantity of sambar powder and tamarind juice to your taste.