Sambar Recipe | Sambhar Recipe | South Indian Sambhar | Tamil Sambar Recipe

Sambar or Sambhar is a lentil based vegitable stew which gets it's typical tanginess from tamarind. This is one of the most popular and staple dish in south India and Sri-Lanka. This method of preparation is particularly common in Tamil Nadu and Sri-Lanka. There are variants to this. In Kerela there will be usage of coconut, and in karnataka the sambar variant will be sweeter due to inclusion of jaggery & pumpkins.

Serves:4

Ingredients :

• 2 cups tuvar or arhar dal/pigeon pea lentils
• 1 cup cleaned and chopped radish
• 1 cup cleaned and chopped brinjals(small & round)
• 1 cup cleaned and chopped okra/bhindi/ladies finger
• 1.5 cup cleaned and chopped tomato
• 1 cup cleaned and wide chopped onion
• 1 piece drumstick peeled and cut into pieces
• ½ cup tamarind water(water soaked in tamarind)
• 2 tbsp.sambar powder
• salt to taste
• 1 tsp turmeric/haldi powder
• 3 tbsp oil
• 1 tsp black mustard seeds/rai
• 12 to 15 curry leaves
• 3-4 small dry red chillies(optional)
• pinch of asafoetida(optional)

• 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Preparation:

1. Put washed lentil in pressure cooker and add double water.
   
   
    
2. Add turmeric, salt and 1/2 of the tomatoes. Mix and cover the lid and allow it to cook on low-medium flame till 2 whistles. Usually 10-12 Minutes.
   
   
   
   
3. Meanwhile heat oil in a kadhai/pan.           
   
4. Now add mustard seeds/rai and curry leaves. (Red chilly and asafoetida if using) Allow seeds to splutter.  
   
   
   
   
                                   
5. Add onions. Mix well and stir for 2-3 minutes.
   
   
   
   
6. Add all vegetables except drumsticks and tomatoes. Stir well and cook for another 3 minutes over low-medium heat.  
   
   
   
   
7. Now add drumsticks , turmeric and salt. Mix well and keep stirring for another 2 minutes.
   
8. Now add remaining tomatoes, sambar masala. mix well and keep on stirring for 2-3 minutes.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
9. By now the toor daal / arhar daal would be ready. Put off the heat from pressure cooker and open its lid.
   
   
   
10. In the pan , add tamarind water and mix well with vegetables.
    
    
    
    
11. Now pour the contents of the cooker(daal) into the pan and mix well.
    
    
    
    
12. Close with a lid and simmer for 5-6 minutes till all the ingredients and masala properly infuse into each other to turn out to a delicious sambar.
    
    
    
    
13. Pour the sambar in serving bowl and enjoy hot with Idly, Dosa, Vada etc.
    
    
    
    
    

Share on Google Plus

About Unknown

At NaiveCook we are trying to build a community to discover a cook within everyone. We appreciate help and suggestions to help this community grow.