Sambar Recipe - South Indian Lentil Curry Recipe

Yellow Lentil and vegetables dish - South Indian Recipes

This sambar recipe is a popular south Indian recipe. It is an important side dish that is served with Rava Idli, Dosa , Steamed Rice - Plain rice.

Sambar is made with yellow lentil called pigeon peas - Tuvar dal - toor dal and vegetables. You can use any vegetables of your choice such as onions, potatoes, tomatoes, brinjals, beans, cabbage, knolkol, raddish etc. you can use any one or a mix of these vegetables.

The sambar powder can be made in large quantities and stored for 6 months or more. I use it most of the time. Of course the freshly made sambar powder has a special taste, which I make once in a while when I have more time.

I am using onions and tomatoes in this recipe. My family loves it. I am also making fresh sambar powder for this recipe. You may use 1 1/2 tbsp ready sambar powder instead if you do not have time to make it now.

How to make Sambar - South Indian lentil recipe

Ingredients For Sambar Powder

• Coriander seeds - 1 table spoon
• Chana dal - 1 tea spoon
• Urad dal -1/2 tea spoon
• Cumin seeds - 1 tea spoon
• Asafetida - 1/4 tea spoon
• Red chillis - 2 to 4, according to taste
• Black pepper - 1/4 tea spoon
• Mustard seeds - 1/4 tea spoon
• Methi(fenugreek) seeds - 1/4 tea spoon

Ingredients for Sambar:

• Toor dal - 1 small cup
• Tamarind - a lime sized ball
• Onions 2 medium sized, chopped
• Tomatoes - 2 medium sized, chopped
• Curry leaves - a sprig.
• Coriander leaves - 1 tbsp chopped.
• Salt - 1 tea spoon or to taste.
• Water - 3-4 cups.

Ingredients for seasoning:

• Oil+ghee - 1 tsp each
• Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
• Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
• Asafoetida - 1 pinch
• Turmeric powder - 1/4teaspoon.

Preparation:

• Roast the sambar powder ingredients on low flame. Grind to fine powder.
• Soak tamarind in warm water for 15 minutes. Get pulp using 1 cup of water.

Cooking Method:

1. Cook Toor dal in 2 cups of water till it is soft.
2. In a deep pan, Heat oil.
3. Add mustard and cumin seeds. When they stop crackling, add asafetida and turmeric powder, curry leaves, chopped onions.
4. Fry for 5 minutes. Add tomatoes. Cook for 5 minutes.
5. Add 1 cup water. Add ground sambar powder. Boil.
6. Mash the cooked dal. Add to the mixture.
7. Boil for 5 minutes. Add the tamarind pulp, salt. Stir. Add more water if needed.
8. Boil for about 5 minutes.
9. Add chopped coriander leaves.

Sambar is ready to serve with dosa, Rava Idli , Rice.

Enjoy

Go to Lentil Recipes Page from Sambar Recipe Page

Go to Vegetarian Recipes Homepage from Sambar Recipe page