SAMBHAR

Sambhar is a lentil-based vegetable stew cooked with pigeon pea (toor dal) and tamarind broth. It is a popular south Indian cuisine. It is mostly eaten with idli, dosa, vada or rice.

It is healthy, nutricious and tastes very good.

Sambar often contains mixed vegetables, sambar powder, tamarind pulp, turmeric, salt and lentils. Lentils are boiled with salt and turmeric and the vegetables are half cooked. Then the cooked lentils are added and allowed to cook until the vegetables are done along with tamarind pulp and sambhar powder. Then an aromatic tempering is done with mustard seeds, dry red chillies and curry leaves and the dish is served.

Recipe

Ingredients

Servings-3

For sambhar

• 1 cup toor dal
• 3 onions
• 1 stem removed eggplant/ brinjal
• 2 drumsticks
• 1/2 bottle gourd
• 1 potato
• 1/2 cup chopped carrot
• 1/2 cup chopped cauliflower
• 1/4 teaspoon powdered turmeric
• 1-2  teaspoon sambhar powder
• 1/2 cup tamarind
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

For sambhar masala

1/2 tsp pigeon pea ( toor dal)

1/2 tsp Bengal gram ( Chana dal)

1/2 tsp black gram ( urad dal)

2 chillies

1 tsp coriander seeds

1 spring curry lead

1/4 tsp fenugreek seeds

4 peppercorns

1/4 tsp cumin (jeera)

For tempering

• 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
• 1 handful curry leaves
• 3 dry red chillies
• 1 tsp oil

Method

1. Prepare Sambhar masala-

To prepare masala,  dry roast all the ingredients of sambhar masala. Once done, remove from the flame and allow it to cool. Then grind all these ingredients in a blender and keep aside till further use.

2. To prepare sambhar put toor dal with 3 cups water, salt and turmeric in a pressure cooker and let it boil till done.

3.In a pan add 1 tsp oil. Then add all the vegetables and saute till half cooked along with a little salt and water.

4. Soak tamarind in 1/2cup water and let it soak. Squeeze tamarind and stain to make tamarind pulp.

5.Add the half cooked vegetables, tamarind pulp and sambhar masala to the cooked dal and let vegetables cook completely.

6.For tempering, add a little refined oil in a separate pan, add mustard seeds, dry red chillies and curry leaves to it. Add to the sambhar and cover the lid for some time.

 7. This will give a nice aroma to the Sambhar.

8. Transfer the dish in a serving bowl. Serve hot with idli, dosa or rice. You can also pair it with chutneys of your choice and relish it with your loved ones.