Sambar is a staple part of most South Indian meals. Every family has their own personal recipe/touch to making this fantastic daal. The amazing part is that it is so flavorful and goes so beautifully with a host of things like Dosa, Idli, Rice, Vadas…
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 30 min
Serves: 4-6
Ingredients:
Toor Daal - 1 cup (200 gms)
Water - 3+1 cup ( 1L)
Tindora - 5-6 pcs (slit)
Carrot - 1 (cut)
Green Beans - 1/4 cup (cut)
Winter Melon/Ash Gourd - 1/2 cup (cubed)
Salt - to taste
Tamarind - 1-1.5 tbsp or to taste
Asafoetida - 2 pinches
Turmeric Powder - 1/4 tsp
Red Chili Powder - to taste
Sambar Powder - 4 tsp (divided)
Tomato - 1/2 medium (cubed)
Oil - 1.5 tbsp
Mustard Seeds - 1 tsp
Curry Leaves - 1 sprig
Coriander Powder - 1 tbsp
Cilantro/Coriander Leaves - for garnish
Drumsticks - few pcs (optional)
Method:
1. Wash and soak the Toor Daal for 30 minutes.
2. Drain the water and put it in the Pressure cooker.
3. Add in the Carrots, Green Beans, Tindora, Winter Melon, Water (3cups) and Salt.
4. Close the cooker, cook the Daal on medium heat, 1 whistle and allow the pressure to go down.
5. Meanwhile, soak the Tamarind in 1/2 cup hot Wate and allow it to soften.
6. Once safe, open the Pressure Cooker, turn the heat on medium again.
7. Add in Turmeric Powder, Tomatoes, pinch of Asafoetida, 1/2 the Chilli Powder, 1/2 the Sambar Powder and Drumsticks.
8. Mix and let the Sambar keep boiling.
9. Mash the Tamarind so the juice/paste seperates from the fiber and the seeds.
10. Use a seive and starin the juice into the boiling Sambar.
11. Add the balance of the Water (1/2 cup or amount needed) to get the Sambar to the desired consistency.
12. Allow it boil till the raw Tamarind smell has gone and the Tomatoes should also be cooked.
13. For the seasoning, take a small skillet on medium heat and add in the Oil.
14. Once hot, add in Mustard Seeds and a pinch of Asafoetida.
15. Allow the Mustard Seeds to pop.
16. Then add in Curry Leaves and turn off the stove.
17. Add i n the Red Chillie Powder, Sambar Powder, Coriander powder and a little bit of water to avoid powders burning.
18. Add to the Sambar.
19. Mix and allow it to boil for another 2-3 minutes.
20. Garnish with Cilantro/Coriander Leaves and it’s ready.
Tips:
Use Tamarind Concentrate if regular Tamarind is not available.
1.
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November 21st, 2008 at 9:09 am
Hi Hetal & Anuja
That is the nice variation …thanks for the recipe
I make the Sambhar in a bit different way..
In tadka , u can add methi dana ( fenugreek seeds) which helps in digestion and releases wonderful aroma too…and also u can throw in sliced red onion saute it till translucent ( not brown ) and then add this tadka to the daal as u have already mentioned.
Try adding some byte size pieces of Dudhi and grated coconut…and wow…it tests awesome…
November 21st, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Dear Hetal & Anuja,
Great sambhar receipe, but can you please submit the receipe for Handavo?
Thanks a lot againe.
November 21st, 2008 at 7:38 pm
Hi Anuja and Hetal,
Plllllzzzzzzzzzz give the recipe of sambhar powder also.bcaz there is a lot of difference between what u get in market and what u make home.
November 22nd, 2008 at 4:34 pm
great recipe!
Was just wondering which pressure cooker u are using in this podcast? I am looking to buy one in stainless steel and would like to know the model and volume of the one ya’ll are using here. Will appreciate your input.
thanks.
November 24th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
Hi AHS,
For this video we used a Prestige cooker and got it from India (available at Indian stores here as well). The cooker is a stainless steel one and the capacity is 4 liters.
This one is perfect for a family of 4 and we just love it. Make sure you buy one that is Stainless steel and not aluminum as they are a lot healthier for cooking.
Hope that helps!
November 24th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
Hi Arzoo,
Regarding the Sambar Powder…we stopped making it at home since we found a couple of brands that are excellent. The ones we would reccomend are:
Everest Sambar Powder
MTR Sambar Powder
I can still try and dig up the recipe we have if you really it. Let us know.
Take care
December 1st, 2008 at 4:50 pm
Hi Hital & Anuja,
Thanks for the wonderful recipes you have been showing. I am getting more interested in cooking these days. I love Bakarvadi and Patra, could you please show the recipe for these delicious snacks.
Thanks,
Lara
December 22nd, 2008 at 7:40 am
Great dish, and such a personal touch can be brought to it. I changed the vegetables a little bit, using Mexican squash and bamboo shoots with the dal. I also made seasoning with cumin seeds, paprika, crushed red pepper, and sliced onion. Tamarind and tomato were also included.
Thanks again!
December 25th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
HI
Hetal,Anuja sambar ur recepies are awesome,ai tries sambar,and many more its really good.thanks for nice receipe
January 2nd, 2009 at 9:27 am
Hi Hetal and Anuja
Thanks for the nice sambhar recipe. I would like to add in a piece of advice … a little bit of methi powder adds a lot of aroma and flavour and gives that authentic taste. Also the best vegetables for sambar including the ones you have showed would be raw banana, yam, tarro root and also brinjal. Plus adding finely chopped onions in the tadka makes it even more tastier.
January 3rd, 2009 at 12:04 am
Hi Bindu,
Thanks for the tips. We’ll surely try them!