Sambar Recipe : South Indian Lentil Recipe

This sambar recipe is a popular south Indian recipe. It is an important side dish that is served with Idli, Dosa, steamed Rice.

Sambar is made with yellow lentil called 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.

I am using onions and tomatoes in this recipe. 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 powder is the best, which I make once in a while when I have more time.

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How to make Sambar

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Ingredients For Sambar Powder

• Coriander seeds - 1 table spoon
• Chana dal – 1 tea spoon
• Urad dal – ½ tea spoon
• Cumin seeds – 1 tea spoon
• Asafetida – ¼ tea spoon
• Red chillis - 2 to 4, according to taste
• Black pepper - 1/4 tea spoon
• Mustard seeds – ¼ tea spoon
• Methi(fenugreek) seeds – ¼ 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
• Mustard seeds – 1 tsp
• Cumin seeds – 1 tsp
• Asafoetida – 1 pinch
• Turmeric powder – ¼ teaspoon.

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. Boil for 5 minutes.
8. Add chopped coriander leaves.

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

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