Kerala Sambar
Simple but extremely Tasty Sambar Recipe. Use store-bought sambar masala powder or try out my homemade Sambar Masala Recipe.
Check out the Intro page for more details, links and video.
Ingredients:
| Tur dal | 1/4 cup | |
| Water ( 1 cup = 240 ml) and more as needed | 2 1/2 cups | |
| Tamarind pulp | 1 Tbsp | |
| Boiled water | 1/4 cup | |
| Red onion, sliced ( or use the same amount of shallots, left whole ) . You can also add 3 whole shallots along with one small onion, sliced. | 1 medium | |
| Lady's fingers (Okra), cut into thumb length pieces | 10 - 12 | |
| Drumstick, scraped gently, cut into thumb length pieces (8 pieces) | 1 | |
| Cubes of carrot( usually cut into cubes, but I prefer to have them the same length as the ladies fingers) | 8 | |
| Tomato, chopped | 1 | |
| Raw plantain (scraped and chopped) | 8 pieces | |
| Coconut oil | 3 Tbsp | |
| Mustard seeds | 1/2 tsp | |
| Cumin seeds | 1/4 tsp | |
| Dried red chillies, broken | 2 | |
| Curry leaves | 1 sprig | |
| Compounded asafoetida ( raw) - this is preferred for best tasting Sambar. If you don’t have it replace with 1/4 tsp powdered asafoetida (or to taste). | 1 small piece | |
| Salt | To taste ( 1 tsp) | |
| Sambar Masala Powder ( check my recipe) | 3 Tbsp | |
| Coriander leaves for garnish | As needed |
You can use other vegetables like ( wintermelon, pumpkin, yam, eggplant etc). Above I have listed my favourite combination. Do not add too many pieces though.
Method:
- Add the tur dal to a small pressure cooker. Rinse the dal well and pour out the water.
- Add 2 1/2 cups of fresh-water. Pressure cook till you hear the 3rd steam whistle. Set aside without opening the cooker, allowing it to cool on its own.
- Prep remaining ingredients now. Add the tamarind pulp to a small bowl and cover with the boiled water. Mash lightly with a fork and set aside, to soften.
- Slice the onion, carrot, drumstick, tomato, and plantain into sambar-sized pieces ( small cubes or thumb-length according to the vegetable being used).
- Heat the coconut oil in a heavy-based wok. Add the mustard seeds and allow them to pop.
- Next, add the cumin seeds, and when fragrant, add the curry leaves and dried red chilies.
- When they are bright in color add a very small piece of the compounded asafoetida directly into the oil. It will melt through. You can add some more, later if you need to.
- Add the onion and saute till softened.
- Once onions are soft, add the tomato and lady’s fingers and saute for 2 minutes on low, whilst stirring.
- Now, open the cooled cooker and add all the contents (cooked dal and its liquid) into the wok. Also, add all the remaining chopped vegetables at this stage. You can do a tasting, and also add a small amount of extra asafoetida if needed.
- Bring to a boil, and add salt to taste(1tsp). Also, add the sambar masala powder. Add about 3 Tbsp of the prepared Sambar Masala powder.
- Strain the tamarind solution and add 3 -4 Tbsp of the thick solution, according to taste.
- Stir well and bring to a boil once again.
- Simmer till all the vegetables are tender. About 2-3 minutes.
- You can add boiled water as needed if you need to loosen the consistency.
- Garnish with fresh coriander leaves ( chopped ) and serve hot with rice, dosa idli etc..
Kerala Sambar
Notes:
- Sambar tends to thicken upon cooling or sitting a while, Simply add boiled hot water as needed and add some salt if needed.
-
Varutharacha Sambar! Mixed Vegetable and Dal Potage with coconut taste -
Homemade Sambar Masala (with Video)
Sambar: Vegetables, Dal, Tamarind, Asafoetida, Oil, Spice.
EAT AND TELL!!!
Let us know if you tried – Kerala Sambar
Hi Shana,
I was feeling very bored with my regular sambar, which although everyone liked, we wanted to change since we have sambar at least once a week.
Tried you simple sambar masala and followed the kerala sambar recipe exactly….
My goodness, it was so tasty. Really we can just lick the plate clean.
Thank you so much ! I will not buy store sambar powder again.
Hi Shana,
I made this Sambar and it was just so so tasty! My whole family loved it.. and kept saying.. today’s sambar is sooo good. I smiled silently, but it is your recipe.. thank you so much.
You didn’t mention when to add all vegetables. Only said about tomato and okra
Hi, I have edited that in step 10. Thanks for the catch!