Sambar

Here's a traditional South Indian Sambar recipe — a hearty, tangy, and flavorful lentil and vegetable stew, often served with dosa, idli, rice, or vada.


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🍲 Sambar Recipe

Serves: 4–5 | Prep + Cook Time: ~45 minutes


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🧾 Ingredients

For Dal:

1/2 cup toor dal (pigeon peas)

2 cups water

1/4 tsp turmeric powder

Salt to taste


For Tamarind Water:

1 small lemon-sized ball of tamarind or 1 tbsp tamarind paste

1/2 cup warm water (soak and extract juice)


Vegetables (choose 2–4 types):

1 small carrot – chopped

1 small brinjal (eggplant) – chopped

4–5 drumstick pieces (moringa)

6–8 pieces of bottle gourd or pumpkin

1 small tomato – chopped

5–6 shallots or 1 small onion – chopped


Spice & Seasoning:

1–2 tbsp sambar powder (store-bought or homemade)

1/4 tsp turmeric

Salt to taste


Tempering (Tadka):

1–2 tsp oil or ghee

1/2 tsp mustard seeds

1/2 tsp cumin seeds (optional)

1/2 tsp urad dal (optional)

1–2 dried red chilies

8–10 curry leaves

A pinch of asafoetida (hing)


Garnish:

Fresh chopped coriander leaves



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👩‍🍳 Instructions

1. Cook Dal:

Wash toor dal. Pressure cook with turmeric and water for 3–4 whistles until soft.

Mash well once cooled.


2. Prepare Tamarind Water:

Soak tamarind in warm water for 10–15 minutes. Extract juice and discard pulp.


3. Cook Vegetables:

In a pot, add chopped vegetables with 1.5 cups water, turmeric, and a little salt.

Cook until veggies are tender (but not mushy).


4. Combine Everything:

Add cooked dal to the vegetables.

Add tamarind water and bring to a boil.

Add sambar powder and salt.

Simmer on low for 10–15 minutes, until everything is well-blended and slightly thick.


5. Prepare Tempering (Tadka):

Heat oil or ghee in a small pan.

Add mustard seeds and let them splutter.

Add cumin seeds, urad dal, red chilies, curry leaves, and a pinch of hing.

Pour this hot tempering over the sambar.


6. Garnish & Serve:

Add chopped coriander leaves.

Let it rest for 5–10 minutes before serving for better flavor.



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✅ Best Served With:

Idli, dosa, vada

Steamed rice with ghee

Upma or pongal



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Would you like the recipe for homemade sambar powder or coconut chutney next?


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