Sambar
Sambar is a South Indian lentil stew made with toor dal, vegetables, and spices, simmered to perfection.
Ingredients
| Ingredient | Qty. | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Toor Dal (rinsed and soaked) | 250 | Grams |
| Water (for cooking dal) | 1 | Liter |
| Tamarind (soaked in warm water) | 50 | Grams |
| Carrot (peeled and chopped) | 2 | Count |
| Potato (peeled and diced) | 1 | Count |
| Eggplant (chopped) | 1 | Count |
| Tomato (chopped) | 2 | Count |
| Onion (sliced) | 1 | Count |
| Sambar Powder (store-bought or homemade) | 3 | Tbsp |
| Turmeric Powder | 1 | Tsp |
| Mustard Seeds | 1 | Tsp |
| Cumin Seeds | 1 | Tsp |
| Asafoetida | 0.5 | Tsp |
| Curry Leaves (fresh) | 1 | Bunch |
| Green Chili (slit) | 2 | Count |
| Salt (or to taste) | 2 | Tsp |
| Oil (for tempering) | 2 | Tbsp |
| Coriander Leaves (chopped for garnish) | 1 | Bunch |
Instructions
- Pressure cook the soaked toor dal with 1 liter of water and turmeric powder until soft.
- Extract tamarind juice by squeezing the soaked tamarind and straining the liquid.
- In a pot, add oil and heat. Add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, asafoetida, and curry leaves for tempering.
- Add sliced onions and slit green chilies to the pot and sauté until onions are translucent.
- Add chopped tomatoes, carrots, potatoes, and eggplant. Sauté for a few minutes.
- Pour in the tamarind juice and let the vegetables cook until tender.
- Add cooked toor dal and sambar powder to the pot. Mix well and let it simmer for 10 minutes.
- Adjust salt to taste and garnish with chopped coriander leaves before serving.
Prep
- Soak toor dal in water for at least 30 minutes.
- Soak tamarind in warm water for 20 minutes.
Kitchen equipment
Pressure CookerStrainer