SOUTH INDIAN SAMBAR (SAMBHAR) RECIPE

South Indian Sambar / South Indian Lentil vegetable Curry Recipe /Sambhar recipe

This is a very popular dish in south india...it's easy to prepare.sambar masala can be obtained from indian grocer or make your own....This is one of the variety of making sambar....spicy veg sambar... 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,  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.  You may use 1 1/2 tbsp ready sambar powder instead if you do not have time to make it now.Pls read my post on Home made sambar powder recipe.

Ingredients

1 cup toovar (arhar/pigeon peas /toor ) dal

1 cup of a vegetable of your choice like green beans, chopped carrot , brinjals , pumpkin

7 small sized shallots (madras onions) (you can use normal onion cut into big chunks

6 to 8 drumsticks (shektachya shenga /saijan ki phalli / saragavo), pieces (optional)

2 tbsp sambhar powder

2-3 green chillies

2 tsp red chilli powder

1 tsp turmeric

2 tbsp tamarind (imli)

1 tbsp chopped coriander (dhania)

1 large or 2 medium tomatoes, quartered

2 tbsp oil

 1 tsp jaggery /sugar

salt to taste

Tempering / phodni (tadka)

1 red chili cut into pieces

1 tsp mustard seeds ( rai / sarson)

1 tsp fenugreek (methi) seeds

6 to 7 curry leaves (kadi patta)

2 pinches asafoetida (hing)

Method :

1.Wash the dal thoroughly and add 2 cups of water.

2.Pressure cook the dal with turmeric,hing,red chilli powder until soft.dal should be finely cooked. Blend the cooked dal in a mixer.

3.Soak the tamarind in a little water and keep aside for 30 minutes. Rub the tamarind by hand and strain the juice. Add to the dal mixture.

5.Heat the oil and fry the mustard seeds and fenugreek seeds,red chilli, until they begin to crackle. Add the curry leaves and fry for 2 to 3 minutes.

6.Add the asafoetida,green chillies, vegetables ,cooked dal mixture, sambhar powder ,turmeric,red chilli powder ,jaggery and coriander.

7.Add salt and boil for 5 to 7 minutes or till veggies are cooked .Add water if required to adjust the consistency

8.Add the tomatoes and boil again for 2 to 3 minutes.

9.Serve hot , garnish  with coriander leaves enjoy with rice, idli ,dosa ,uttapam,set dosa

Tip: 

1. Every South Indian makes sambar differently and there are various kinds. In richer households the sambar will probably be thicker.

2.You can even add the tempering at the end. by simmering the boiled dal with other ingredients.
3.Another method is to cook dal with veggies ,spices & tamarind juice in pressure cooker till dal is cooked well & then simmering dal with jaggery,salt & water .Lastly do the tempering with the tempering ingredients