Sambhar is a simple stew or gravy made with chunks of vegetables and lentils making it a very healthy and nutritious dish.
It's hard to categorize a Sambhar - is it breakfast, lunch, dinner? Maybe a snack? A staple in many parts of India, a Sambhar can be literally served at any meal. You can eat it with rice or dunk fluffy idlis or crispy vadas in it. It's typically served as part of a Vegetarian meal but can easily be served as a side with Chicken, Fish or Meat.
For sambhar: | ||
Toor dal | 1/2 Cup (8 tbs) , soaked | |
Tamarind ball | 2 Inch | |
Cubed pumpkin | 1/2 Cup (8 tbs) | |
Cubed potatoes | 1/2 Cup (8 tbs) | |
Chopped green beans | 1/2 Cup (8 tbs) | |
Cubed carrot | 1/2 Cup (8 tbs) | |
Chopped tomatoes | 1/2 Cup (8 tbs) | |
Drumstick | 1 | |
For masala: | ||
Sliced onion | 1/2 Cup (8 tbs) | |
Chopped garilc | 1/4 Cup (4 tbs) | |
Salt | 1 Pinch | |
Coriander seeds | 1 Tablespoon | |
Cumin seeds | 1 Tablespoon | |
Black peppercorns | 1 Tablespoon | |
Fenugreek seeds | 1 Tablespoon | |
Kashmiri chilies | 2 | |
Dried chillies | 4 (regular) | |
Curry leaves | 1/4 Cup (4 tbs) | |
Urad dal | 1 Tablespoon | |
Chana dal | 1 Tablespoon | |
Shredded coconut | 1/4 Cup (4 tbs) | |
Rice | 1 Tablespoon | |
Turmeric | 1 Teaspoon | |
Hing | 1/4 Teaspoon (Asafoetida) | |
Green chillies | 2 Large , slitted | |
Water | 3 Cup (48 tbs) | |
Jaggery | 1 Tablespoon | |
For tadka: | ||
Dried chillies | 4 | |
Urad dal | 1 Teaspoon | |
Cumin seeds | 1 Teaspoon | |
Mustard seeds | 1 Teaspoon | |
Curry leaves | 1/4 Cup (4 tbs) |
GETTING READY:
1. Soak the Toor dhal for at least 30 mins.
2. Soak the Tamarind in about 1/2 - 3/4 cup boiling water.
3. Prepare the masala by first frying the onion and garlic and then adding the rest of the masala ingredients.
4. Allow to cool.
MAKING:
5. Puree masala with a little water.
6. Add some more oil back into the pot and add the green chillies.
7. Cut veggies into fairly uniform pieces and add the potato in first followed by the pumpkin and carrot, beans and the drumstick.
8. Add all of that ground Sambhar masala.
9. Add the Tomato and the soaked Toor dhal.
10. If you don’t have a pressure cooker, cook the toor dhal separately, till mushy and then puree and add to the veggies.
11. In total I’m going to add 2-3 cups of water till the veggies are just about covered.
12. Add salt to taste.
13. Squeeze that tamarind to extract all the juice and add that in as well.
14. Add the Jaggery.
15. Pressure cook mode for 20 mins.
16. Saute all the tadka ingredients and pour it into the Sambhar.
SERVING:
17. Serve and enjoy!