Sambar

Easy Sambar for Beginners

Sambar has a whole lot of recipes, and since this blog caters to newbies in the kitchen, I have posted one of the easiest recipes for sambar.

This is not the traditional sambar — it is a beginner's delight! 😊

If you're making sambar for the first time, this is a simple recipe to start with.

Ingredients

• Toor dal – ¾ cup
• Vegetables – 1 cup
  (carrot, beans and brinjal)
• Tomato – 2, chopped
• Onion – 1, chopped
• Garlic – 4 cloves
• Sambar powder – 2 tsp
• Green chilli – 2, slit
• Tamarind pulp – 1 tsp
• Turmeric powder – ½ tsp
• Asafoetida (hing) – ¼ tsp
• Salt – to taste
• Oil – as required

For the Tempering

• Mustard seeds – 1 tsp
• Curry leaves – 8
• Dried red chillies – 4
• Oil – as required

Cooking Method

1. Wash the toor dal and add it to a pressure cooker along with the chopped onion, tomatoes, garlic, slit green chillies, sambar powder, turmeric powder, asafoetida and 1 tsp oil.

2. Add enough water and pressure cook for 3 whistles.

3. Meanwhile, cook the vegetables separately with a little salt and turmeric until tender.

4. Once the pressure releases, lightly mix the cooked dal mixture.

5. Add the cooked vegetables, salt and tamarind pulp. Mix well and bring the sambar to a gentle boil.

6. For the tempering, heat oil in a kadai. Add mustard seeds and allow them to splutter. Add the curry leaves and dried red chillies.

7. Pour the tempering over the sambar and mix well.

8. Serve hot with idli, dosa or rice.

Tip

For an extra touch of flavour, finish the sambar with a little ghee before serving. ❤️

Cooking time: 20 minutes
Serves: 3