• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Spice and Life
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Food Facts
  • About
  • Subscribe
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Food Facts
    • About
    • Subscribe
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home | All Recipes | Curry Recipes

    Delicious South Indian Sambar Recipe

    Published: Jul 16, 2021 · Modified: May 27, 2022 by Elle

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    A rich and delicious lentil and vegetable stew, this sambar recipe is really tasty, yet quick and easy to prepare. Made with toor dal (split pigeon peas), mixed vegetables of choice, sambar masala, and a quick tadka with mustard seeds and red chilies, this lentil soup is delicious and perfect to be served with steamed rice, idli, dosa, vada, but also simple chapattis. And don't forget the chutney!

    Jump to:
    • Sambar Recipe Ingredients
    • How to make sambar?
    • Video Recipe For Sambar
    • People Also Ask [FAQs]
    • Tips and Tricks for Sambar
    • Recipe

    Sambar is a recipe I hold close to my heart, as it is probably one of my proudest culinary achievements, not because of its difficulty (it’s not difficult to prepare!) but because of how much this dish means to Jay.

    While my husband is the proudest Mumbaikar I ever met (well, all Mumbaikars are proud of being so, really!), my parents-in-law are from Kerala and Sambar is the one dish they can have any time of the day, breakfast, lunch, or dinner (and snacks… my mother-in-law is a feeder!).

    Like any sambar recipe, you can choose your own mixed vegetables, however, unlike most other sambar recipes you can find online, in this one you cook the vegetables in the lentils, once the toor dal is ready.

    This not only makes the process quicker, as there are no odd processes, but it also involves only two saucepans (a pressure cooker and a small pan for the tadka).

    Should you not have the sambar powder [the spice powder made especially for this vegetable sambar recipe], I have shared a quick and tasty way of making your own.

    Believe me when I say there are no long processes involved, only loads of flavor!

    Sambar Recipe

    Sambar Recipe Ingredients

    • Toor Dal [Split Pigeon Peas, Tuvar Dal, Tur Dal]: The main ingredient for this lentil and vegetable stew.
    • Turmeric Powder: The only other ground spice, except for the sambar powder itself.
    • Tomato, Onion, Potatoes, Green Beans, Carrots, Kerala Cucumber: This is the combination of vegetables I use, however you can make your own. Try not to skip the tomatoes, as they add that tangy taste to the vegetable sambar.
    • Asafetida [Hing]: Very important for its savory taste; it is used in the tadka.
    • Mustard Seeds, Curry Leaves, Dry Red Chilies: The other ingredients in the tadka, are to be prepared in sunflower or vegetable oil.
    • Tamarind: Very important, as it adds a salty and sour note to the sambar; it needs to be added after the vegetables have cooked.
    • Sambar Masala: You can either make your own or purchase ready-made sambar powder.
    • Salt, and Vegetable Oil
    chopped vegetables for sambar

    How to make sambar?

    1. To start, wash three times and then cook yellow split Pigeon peas with some sunflower oil and turmeric powder in a pressure cooker on low to medium heat; this should take about thirty minutes from boiling to become completely mashed.
    2. While the lentils cook, chop all the vegetables you wish to use and set them aside; I use tomato, onion, green beans, Kerala cucumber (Vellarikka), potato, and carrots. If you find good-quality shallots or pearl onions, use those instead of onion.
    3. Once the vegetables are chopped and set aside, put some tamarind to soak in warm water. 
    4. Once the lentils are completely cooked and mushy (will have lost shape), add some more water (about one liter and a half or 3 pints) and bring back to the boil; add the vegetables you previously chopped and allow them to cook in the lentils, on low heat.
    cooked toor dal for sambar
    add vegetables
    1. Once the vegetables are nearly cooked (cooked three-quarters of the way), remove the pulp of the tamarind from the side dish and add the infused water only to the sambar and bring it back to the boil. Ensure there are no tamarind seeds.
    2. While the sambar simmers for another couple of minutes, add the sambar powder to a small side pot and add some water to it slowly while mixing it to make a paste; once the masala is well mixed with water and the consistency is quite creamy and without knots, add it to the sambar and mix well.
    add tamarind water
    sambar masala recipe
    1. Allow the sambar to simmer while you prepare the tadka on the side lightly.
    2. Prepare the tadka. In a small pot add some oil and once that is warm, add some asafoetida (hing), and mustard seeds and allow them to pop, then finally add the curry leaves and a couple of whole dry red chilies (if wanted).
    3. Remove from the heat immediately to ensure the curry leaves and red dry chilies do not burn and add the whole to the sambar.
    4. Enjoy with idli, medu vada, dosa with chutney, or simple steamed rice.
    curry leaves and red chilies for tadka for sambar
    add tadka to pot of sambar

    Video Recipe For Sambar

    People Also Ask [FAQs]

    What is sambar?

    Sambar is a popular South Indian vegan soup that is made with lentils, chopped vegetables, and spices. It can be served with many sides, however, they are mostly eaten with dosas (thin rice and lentil flour pancakes), rice, idlis (South Indian rice flour steamed buns), vada, and chapattis; furthermore, it is very common to have this dish with some coconut chutney.

    Which dal is used for sambar?

    Sambar is typically prepared with toor dal (arhar dal, tuvur dal, tur dal or pigeon pea lentils). Sambar (also spelled sambhar) can be prepared using moong dal (yellow mung lentils) or masoor dal (orange lentils), or using a combination of tur dal and masoor dal.

    How to store lentil and vegetable sambar?

    This sambar recipe can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to four days, or in the freezer for up to three months.

    How to make sambar powder?

    To make your own sambar powder recipe using Indian spices, start by lightly popping 2 cups of coriander seeds in a bit of coconut oil and setting them aside once they turn aromatic.
    In the same pan, with a little more oil, lightly roast half a cup of cumin seeds, 4 tablespoons of urad dal, 4 tablespoons of dry fenugreek seeds, and 2 tablespoons of chana dal.

    Once these are nearly roasted, add 1 cup of curry leaves and roast until this turns aromatic as well, without burning them. Set this mix aside with the coriander seeds.
    In the same pan add a little more oil and roast 200 grams (7 oz) of whole dry red chillies until they turn crispy and aromatic. 
    Set all of the roasted spices aside and allow them to cool down. 
    Once all the spices have cooled down completely, add them to a grinder together with two teaspoons of turmeric powder and grind to a fine paste.
    Should you wish, you can add some peppercorns to the recipe.

    Enjoy the sambar!

    Tips and Tricks for Sambar

    • Sambar Powder: Although nothing beats homemade sambar powder, there are very good pre-made alternatives on the market, such as Aachi's Sambar powder. So, if you are very busy, just learning to cook, or prefer to use the ready-made spice powder, I would recommend trying a few different brands before selecting the one you like the most.
    • Spice: If you like your sambar extra spicy and are using a ready-made sambar powder, you can add some red chili powder to it, and follow the rest of the recipe as described.
    • Serve With: Chutney, of course! White coconut chutney is the most known one, however, also red chili coconut chutney and green coconut chutney are must-tries!
    • Kerala Cucumber: Normally, this vegetable is quite large, so you can prepare it (peel it, deseed it, and dice it), then use how much you need and freeze the rest. The diced vegetables can be frozen in zip lock bags or airtight containers.
    • Frozen Mixed Vegetables: For the most part, you can use frozen vegetables to prepare this sambar recipe. Vegetables such as green beans, shallots, and ladyfingers can be quite annoying to prepare, and as you require very little for this recipe, you can either purchase larger pre-prepared bags or prepare your own and freeze them in a big mixed container.
    • South Indian Dish: This is a very typical dish you will find in all South Indian homes, however, if you do not fancy serving it with dosa, vada, sambar, or idli, this vegetable sambar is delicious also eaten with chapatis or simple boiled rice.
    • Chopped Cilantro Leaves: Should you like it, you can sprinkle some freshly chopped coriander leaves [cilantro], on top of your sambar before serving.
    • Choose your own vegetables: You can choose your own vegetables when making this lentil stew. Good additions are ladyfingers, pumpkin, eggplant, drumstick, cauliflower, and capsicum.
    how to prepare sambar

    This sambar recipe is a great way of adding more vegetables to your diet, preparing a large meal that can be used over more days, having a warming lentil stew during the cold months, or a perfect rice topper for the lunchbox. Yes, all of this is in one single recipe!

    This typical South Indian dish is simple, tasty, and filling, perfect for when you 'fancy something fancy' yet are trying to eat well. Enjoy with any side you like, but most of all, don't forget the chutney!

    🥗 For more dishes you would find in South Indian homes, try these:

    • Kerala Style Chicken and Potato Curry with Coconut
    • Egg Curry
    • Potato Curry Without Tomato
    • Coconut and Potato Curry
    • Green Peas Curry

    Recipe

    how to cook sambar

    Delicious South Indian Sambar Recipe

    Elle
    A lentil and vegetable stew with spices, easy and tasty to prepare.
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 40 mins
    Total Time 50 mins
    Course Main Course, Soup
    Cuisine Indian
    Servings 10 portions
    Calories 144 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    For the lentil base:

    • 150 g Toor Dal
    • 600 ml Water
    • 1 teaspoon Turmeric Powder
    • 1 teaspoon Sunflower Oil

    Vegetables for the stew:

    • 2 Medium Tomatoes Diced
    • 1 Medium Onion Peeled and Diced
    • 1 Large Potatoes Peeled and Diced
    • 90 g Green Beans, Chopped
    • 1 Medium Carrot Peeled and Chopped in Sticks
    • 90 g Kerala Cucumber, Peeled, Seeds removed and Diced
    • 1.2 l Water

    For the Tadka:

    • 2 tablespoon Sunflower Oil
    • ½ teaspoon Asafetida
    • 1 teaspoon Mustard Seeds
    • 15 Curry Leaves
    • 2 Dry Red Chilies Optional

    Other Ingredients:

    • 30 g Tamarind
    • 50 g Sambar Masala
    • Salt to Taste

    Instructions
     

    Preparation:

    • Clean and chop all of the vegetables you will be putting in the sambar and set aside.
    • Put the tamarind in a bowl with warm water and allow it to infuse while you proceed with the next steps.

    Start preparing the lentil base:

    • Rinse the toor dal three times and then add it to the pressure cooker with the water, turmeric, and oil; mix well and cook on a low to medium flame for about 20 minutes. 20 minutes on a low flame should allow the lentils to be completely cooked and mashed, while not evaporating the water completely. To open the pressure cooker, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for security; most of the time you will need to remove from the heat and allow for all the pressure to be released from the cooker before opening it.
    • Once the lentils are completely mashed, add between 1.2 and (5 cups) 1.5 liters (6.5 cups) of water to the pan, mix well and bring to the boil.
    • Once the lentil soup is simmering, add the finely chopped vegetables and adjust the salt level.
    • Once the vegetables are three quarters cooked, remove the tamarind pulp from the bowl of water you kept aside and add only the flavored water to the sambar (eliminate the tamarind, especially the seeds, but ensure you squeeze the juice out of the pulp).
    • Allow the sambar to simmer for another couple of minutes and in the meantime add the sambar masala to a small pot and add slowly water to it, while mixing well; once the sambar masala creates with the water a nice semi-liquid paste that has no knots, add it to the sambar and mix well.

    Prepare the Tadka

    • While you allow the spices to cook in the sambar, prepare the tadka by warming up the oil in a small pot; once the oil is warm add the mustard seeds, and as soon as this is cooked (about 30 seconds) add the asafetida (hing).
    • Once the mustard seeds have all popped (about one minute), remove them from the heat and add the curry leaves and dry red chilies and allow them to fry without burning for about 15 seconds.
    • Once all the spices in the tadka are fragrant, add it on top of the sambar and mix well, but be careful of any splatter.
    • Serve with your chosen accompaniment and enjoy!

    Video

    Notes

    You can make your own sambar powder as follows: 
    To make your own sambar powder recipe using Indian spices, start by lightly popping 2 cups of coriander seeds in a bit of coconut oil and setting them aside once they turn aromatic.
    In the same pan, with a little coconut oil, lightly roast half a cup of cumin seeds, 4 tablespoons of urad dal, 4 tablespoons of dry fenugreek seeds, and 2 tablespoons of chana dal; once these are nearly roasted, add 1 cup of curry leaves and roast until this turns aromatic as well, without burning them. Set this mix aside with the coriander seeds. 
    In the same pan add a little more coconut oil and roast 200 grams (7 oz) of whole dry red chilies until they turn crispy and aromatic. 
    Set all of the roasted spices aside and allow them to cool down. 
    Once all the spices have cooled down completely, add them to a grinder together with two teaspoons of turmeric powder and grind to a fine paste.
    Should you wish, you can add some peppercorns to the recipe.
     
    This sambar recipe can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to four days, or in the freezer for up to three months.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 144kcalCarbohydrates: 21gProtein: 6gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 26mgPotassium: 275mgFiber: 7gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 1437IUVitamin C: 53mgCalcium: 37mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword sambar recipe
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
    « Yummy Light and Creamy Chicken Mushroom Recipe
    Easy and Hot Schezwan Sauce Recipe »

    Subscribe

    for your weekly recipe fix.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Raj Kumar

      April 10, 2021 at 10:33 am

      This is the best sambar recipe I have found over the years. Well done!5 stars

      Reply
      • Elle

        April 10, 2021 at 7:19 pm

        Thank you, Raj! Tasty and easy!

        Reply
    2. Sarah Ross

      April 10, 2021 at 10:19 am

      I was looking for this recipe since I tried this back in India during my visit. It came really delicious same like I had in Kerala. Thank you for this amazing tasty and healthy recipe.5 stars

      Reply
      • Elle

        April 10, 2021 at 7:19 pm

        Thank you, Sarah! It is authentic and that is how I get Jay to have it too!

        Reply

    Leave a Comment Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Elle - Author

    Thank you for being here. If you are having a look around, it is most probably because you too love cooking with herbs and spices and are looking for your next recipe, tip, or trick. 

    I love food, the sun, good music, and having a laugh, and if you want to know how this small-town Italian got this site together, then

    .

    More about me →

    Popular Recipes

    • The Best German Goulash without Tomatoes
    • The Best Hibachi Fried Rice Recipe
    • The Best Easy Baked Chicken Kabobs
    • The Best Banana Pancakes Without Milk: Fluffy and Delicious

    Footer


    ↑ back to top

    Get Started

    • Recipes
    • Food Facts
    • Videos

    Follow Us

    • Pinterest
    • Instagram
    • YouTube

    About

    • Terms & Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

    Copyright © 2022 Spice and Life

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Read More
    Do not sell my personal information.
    Cookie SettingsAccept
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
    CookieDurationDescription
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-advertisement1 yearSet by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin, this cookie is used to record the user consent for the cookies in the "Advertisement" category .
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
    CookieLawInfoConsent1 yearRecords the default button state of the corresponding category & the status of CCPA. It works only in coordination with the primary cookie.
    viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
    Functional
    Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
    Performance
    Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
    Analytics
    Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
    CookieDurationDescription
    _ga2 yearsThe _ga cookie, installed by Google Analytics, calculates visitor, session and campaign data and also keeps track of site usage for the site's analytics report. The cookie stores information anonymously and assigns a randomly generated number to recognize unique visitors.
    _ga_XE09ND6NBN2 yearsThis cookie is installed by Google Analytics.
    _gat_gtag_UA_184831917_11 minuteSet by Google to distinguish users.
    _gid1 dayInstalled by Google Analytics, _gid cookie stores information on how visitors use a website, while also creating an analytics report of the website's performance. Some of the data that are collected include the number of visitors, their source, and the pages they visit anonymously.
    CONSENT2 yearsYouTube sets this cookie via embedded youtube-videos and registers anonymous statistical data.
    Advertisement
    Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
    CookieDurationDescription
    VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE5 months 27 daysA cookie set by YouTube to measure bandwidth that determines whether the user gets the new or old player interface.
    YSCsessionYSC cookie is set by Youtube and is used to track the views of embedded videos on Youtube pages.
    yt-remote-connected-devicesneverYouTube sets this cookie to store the video preferences of the user using embedded YouTube video.
    yt-remote-device-idneverYouTube sets this cookie to store the video preferences of the user using embedded YouTube video.
    yt.innertube::nextIdneverThis cookie, set by YouTube, registers a unique ID to store data on what videos from YouTube the user has seen.
    yt.innertube::requestsneverThis cookie, set by YouTube, registers a unique ID to store data on what videos from YouTube the user has seen.
    Others
    Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
    SAVE & ACCEPT
    Powered by CookieYes Logo