Mixed Vegetable Sambar
Recipe Summary
- A hearty and nutritious South Indian style sambar made with yellow split lentils and a variety of fresh vegetables, seasoned with aromatic spices and tangy tamarind. Perfect for a wholesome meal.
All Ingredients - Main Ingredients
- Yellow Split Lentils (Toor Dal) 1 cup
- Cooking Oil 2 tablespoons
- Asafoetida (Hing) 1/4 teaspoon
- Green Cardamom Pod 1
- Mustard Seeds 1/2 teaspoon
- Onion 1 medium, chopped
- Tomato 1 medium, chopped
- Turmeric Powder 1/2 teaspoon
- Bottle Gourd (Lauki) 1/2 cup, chopped
- Pumpkin 1/2 cup, chopped
- Carrots 1/2 cup, chopped
- Green Peas 1/2 cup
- Potato 1 small, chopped
- Water 2.5 cups
- Salt 1 teaspoon (or to taste)
- Tamarind Water 1/4 cup
Tools You'll Need
- Pressure cooker
Don't have an ingredient? Try these swaps
No Asafoetida (hing)?
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder + 1/4 tsp onion powder
No Onion?
- 1 tbsp onion powder (per medium onion)
- 3 tbsp dried minced onion
- Shallots or leeks (1:1)
No Tamarind paste?
- 1 tbsp lime juice + 1 tbsp brown sugar (per 1 tbsp paste)
- Pomegranate molasses (1:1)
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Prepare Ingredients
Gather and chop all the vegetables: green peas, red onion, tomatoes, carrots, pumpkin, bottle gourd, and potato. Keep the yellow split lentils ready.
Step 2: Heat Oil and Add Spices
In a pressure cooker, heat 2 tablespoons of cooking oil. Once hot, add 1/4 teaspoon asafoetida, 1 green cardamom pod, and 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds. Let the mustard seeds splutter for about .
Step 3: Sauté Aromatics
Add 1 chopped medium onion to the cooker and until it turns translucent, which should take approximately . Then, add 1 chopped medium tomato and cook until it softens, about .
Step 4: Add Turmeric and Vegetables
Stir in 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder. Immediately after, add the chopped vegetables: 1/2 cup bottle gourd, 1/2 cup pumpkin, 1/2 cup carrots, 1/2 cup green peas, and 1 small chopped potato.
Step 5: Add Lentils and Water
Add 1 cup of yellow split lentils (toor dal) to the vegetables. Mix all the ingredients thoroughly in the cooker. Pour in 2.5 cups of water.
Step 6: Season and Pressure Cook
Add 1 teaspoon of salt (or to taste) to the mixture and stir. Close the pressure cooker lid and cook for 3-4 whistles or until the lentils and vegetables are tender. This typically takes about after the pressure builds.
Step 7: Add Tamarind Water
Once the pressure is naturally released from the cooker, open the lid and stir the cooked dal and vegetables. Add 1/4 cup of tamarind water and mix well. Let it for another to combine the flavors.
Step 8: Serve
The mixed vegetable sambar is now ready. Serve hot with idli, vada, or rice.
Pro Tips
• Adjust the amount of tamarind water according to your preference for tanginess.
• For a thicker sambar, mash some of the cooked vegetables and lentils before adding tamarind water.
• You can add other vegetables like drumsticks or eggplant for more variety.
Recipe Variations
• Serve with steamed rice for a complete meal.
• Add a tempering of curry leaves and dried red chilies for extra flavor.
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