Simple Sambar – South Indian Style
Recipe Summary
- This video demonstrates how to prepare a simple and flavorful South Indian Sambar. It involves sautéing onions, tomatoes, and mixed vegetables with spices, then adding cooked lentils and tamarind pulp, and simmering until all ingredients are well combined and cooked through.
All Ingredients - Main Ingredients
- Cooking Oil 2 tablespoons
- Mustard Seeds 1/2 teaspoon
- Small Onions 1 cup, chopped
- Dried Red Chilies 4, broken
- Tomato 1 medium, chopped
- Mixed Vegetables (Beans, Carrot, Brinjal) 1 cup, chopped
- Sambar Powder 1.5 tablespoons
- Chilli Powder 1 teaspoon
- Salt 1 teaspoon
- Cooked Toor Dal (with 4 cloves garlic) 1 cup, mashed
- Tamarind Pulp from a small lemon-sized ball of tamarind
- Coriander Leaves for garnish
Tools You'll Need
- Pot
Don't have an ingredient? Try these swaps
No Onion?
- 1 tbsp onion powder (per medium onion)
- 3 tbsp dried minced onion
- Shallots or leeks (1:1)
No Garlic (fresh)?
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder (per clove)
- 1/2 tsp garlic granules (per clove)
No Tamarind paste?
- 1 tbsp lime juice + 1 tbsp brown sugar (per 1 tbsp paste)
- Pomegranate molasses (1:1)
No Cilantro?
- Flat-leaf parsley (1:1, milder)
- Fresh mint (in chutneys, salads)
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Heat Oil and Temper Mustard Seeds
Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a pot. Once hot, add 1/2 teaspoon of mustard seeds and let them splutter until they pop.
Step 2: Sauté Onions
Add 1 cup of chopped small onions to the pot and them until they become translucent and slightly softened.
Step 3: Add Dried Chilies and Tomato
Add 4 broken dried red chilies to the onions. Immediately after, add 1 medium chopped tomato and continue to until the tomato softens and breaks down.
Step 4: Incorporate Vegetables and Spices
Add 1 cup of chopped mixed vegetables (such as beans, carrot, and brinjal) to the pot. Then, add 1.5 tablespoons of sambar powder, 1 teaspoon of chili powder, and 1 teaspoon of salt. Mix all the ingredients thoroughly and for about to coat the vegetables with spices.
Step 5: Add Dal Water and Cook Vegetables
Pour in the water from the cooked toor dal (which was cooked with 4 cloves of garlic). Stir to combine all ingredients. Let the mixture , allowing the vegetables to cook until they are about 50% tender.
Step 6: Add Mashed Dal and Tamarind Pulp
Once the vegetables are partially cooked, add the mashed cooked toor dal to the pot. Then, add the tamarind pulp (extracted from a small lemon-sized ball of tamarind).
Step 7: Simmer Sambar to Perfection
Mix all the ingredients well to ensure even distribution. Bring the sambar to a rolling boil, then the heat and let it for . This allows all the flavors to meld together and the vegetables to become fully tender. The sambar should thicken slightly.
Step 8: Garnish and Serve
Once the sambar has and reached the desired consistency, turn off the heat. Garnish generously with fresh coriander leaves before serving hot with rice or idli/dosa.
Pro Tips
• Adjust spice levels according to your preference.
• You can use any combination of vegetables available.
Recipe Variations
• Add a pinch of asafoetida for enhanced flavor.
• Garnish with curry leaves along with coriander.
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