Varutharacha Sambar Recipe

Last Updated on September 15, 2021

Varutharacha Sambar is a Kerala style sambar made with a mix of different vegetables, roasted and grinded dal, spices and grated coconut. Varutharacha sambar – roasting and grinding the ingredients differentiates this from the regular sambar. There are a lot of variations like Varutharacha Sambar Thrissur Style, Palakkad Style etc.

Pin

About Varutharacha Sambar

Varutharacha Sambar or Kerala style sambar is one of the must items in Onam Sadya Menu. This sambar comes close in taste to our South Indian Arachuvitta Sambar with a slight variation in taste and the sambar consistency is thick suitable to accompany both with rice and idli dosa.But to me it tasted more like a hotel sambar. There are a lot of variations like Varutharacha Sambar Thrissur Style, Palakkad Style etc. I made this sambar for todays lunch with beans poriyal and rice , we had a hearty lunch.

Ingredients

• Vegetables : Vegetables determine the taste of this Kerala style sambar. In my recipe I had used drumstick and carrot. A wide variety of vegetables can be used for this sambar and some of them are Ash Gourd, Raw Mango, Okra, Brinjal, Ladies finger, Radish etc. I have tried with Ashgourd and Ladiesfinger as well and it tasted heaven.
• Coconut : Coconut makes this dish a Kerala cuisine. Fresh grated coconut is recommended for this recipe as it gets roasted well and easy for grinding as a paste with the dal and other spices. We can use desiccated coconut as well when fresh coconut is not available. If grating is difficult, cut the coconut into smaller pieces, pulse it in mixie and  then use.
• Serving and Storage : Varutharacha Sambar is best with rice in meals. 3-4 ladles per serving in rice makes the taste perfect! It is one of the main item in the Onam Sadhya. It also goes well with Rice, Idly, Dosa, Pongal, Kichadi, Upma, Oothappam. Since coconut is used it is better to consume the same day. Use water generously with the leftovers of this Sambhar in the lunch and heat it in the evening to use it as a side dish for the night dinner.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Varutharacha Sambar

Varutharacha Sambar is a Kerala Cuisine Sambar made with a mix of different vegetables and roasted & pasted dal, spices and grated coconut.

Prep Time15 mins

30 mins

Total Time45 mins

Servings2

AuthorSharmilee J

1x2x3x

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup toor dal
• 3/4 cup vegetables chopped I used drumstick, ashgourd, ladies finger, carrot
• a small lemon sized ball tamarind
• 10 nos small onion
• 1 no tomato small chopped roughly
• a pinch turmeric powder
• 2 tsp coriander leaves finely chopped
• water as required
• salt to taste

To roast and grind:

• 1/2 cup fresh grated coconut
• 3 tsp coriander seeds
• 1.5 tsp chana dal
• 1 tsp urad dal
• 1/4 tsp hing
• 2 nos red chillies
• 1/4 tsp fenugreek seeds
• a small sprig curry leaves
• 5 nos small onion

To temper:

• 2 tsp coconut oil
• 1/2 tsp mustard seeds
• 1 no dry red chilli
• a small nos sprig curry leaves
• a tiny pinch hing

Instructions

• To begin with first rinse toor dal well.
• Add dal along with water, salt and turmeric powder to it.Water should be atleast 1/2 inch above dal.
• .Add little water to pressure cooker. Keep the vessel inside the pressure cooker.
• Close with lid.
• Cover and pressure cook for 5 whistles.
• Let pressure release by itself. Remove the vessel.
• Mash dal well.
• The consistency should be runny.
• Heat very little coconut oil. Dry roast urad dal,channa dal, fenugreek seeds,coriander seeds, red chillies.
• Roast in low flame till golden brown. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
• Then add coconut,small onion, curry leaves and hing.If you have solid hing use it.I used the powdered one.
• Then roast till nicely browned.
• Transfer to a bowl. Set aside.
• Add little water and grind it to a fine paste.Set aside
• Add hot water to tamarind crush it well and set aside.
• Heat coconut oil . Then add small onion, tomato, drumstick, carrots.. You can use any veggies of your choice.
• Saute for few mins until raw smell leaves and veggies shrink a bit.
• Add 2 cups water along with salt and turmeric powder.
• Let it start to boil.
• Cook covered for few mins until the veggies are cooked.
• Check if the veggies are cooked.
• Add cooked dal.
• Add coconut paste.
• Add tamarind water.
• Mix it well. Let sambar cook in low flame. Add water if the consistency is too thick. Check and adjust salt. Serve with hot rice and poriyal of your choice.
• Let it simmer for 5-7 mins.
• Meanwhile temper the items listed under 'to temper'.
• Add  tadka to sambar. Garnish with coriander leaves and switch off.
• Varutharacha Sambar ready.

Video

Notes

• After the masala paste is added the sambar tends to thicken so adjust by adding water.
• You can even add vegetables like brinja, ashgourd, potato etc. But generally adding drumstick and carrot enhances the flavour of the sambar.
• Cook vegetables according to the tenderness of the veggie.
• Adding mixed vegetables gives a great taste to the sambar.
• The sambar is slightly thick than our usual sambar.

Tried this recipe?Mention @sharmispassions or tag #sharmispassions

Like our video?Subscribe to our youtube channel to get latest updates!

How to make Varutharacha Sambar

1.To begin with first rinse toor dal well.Pin

2.Add dal along with water, salt and turmeric powder to it.Water should be atleast 1/2 inch above dal.Pin

3.Add little water to pressure cooker. Keep the vessel inside the pressure cooker.Pin

4.Close with lid.Pin

5.Cover and pressure cook for 5 whistles.
Pin

6.Let pressure release by itself. Remove the vessel. Pin

7.Mash dal well. Pin

8.The consistency should be runny.Pin

9.Heat very little coconut oil. Dry roast urad dal,channa dal, fenugreek seeds,coriander seeds, red chillies.

Pin

10.Roast in low flame till golden brown. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.Pin

11. Then add coconut,small onion, curry leaves and hing.If you have solid hing use it.I used the powdered one.Pin

12.Then roast till nicely browned.Pin

13.Transfer to a bowl. Set aside.Pin

14. Add little water and grind it to a fine paste.Set aside.The main task for Varutharacha sambar is ready.Pin

15.Add hot water to tamarind crush it well and set aside.Pin

16.Heat coconut oil . Then add small onion, tomato, drumstick, carrots.. You can use any veggies of your choice.Pin

17.Saute for few mins until raw smell leaves and veggies shrink a bit.Pin

18.Add 2 cups water along with salt and turmeric powder.Pin

19.Let it start to boil.Pin

20.Cook covered for few mins until the veggies are cooked.
Pin

21.Check if the veggies are cooked.Pin

22.Add cooked dal.Pin

23.Add coconut paste.Pin

24.Add tamarind water.Pin

25.Mix it well. Let sambar cook in low flame. Add water if the consistency is too thick. Check and adjust salt. Serve with hot rice and poriyal of your choice.Pin

26.Let it simmer for 5-7 mins.Pin

27.Meanwhile temper the items listed under ‘to temper’.Pin

28.Add  tadka to sambar. Garnish with coriander leaves and switch off.Pin

29.Varutharacha Sambar ready.PinServe with rice and curry of your choice.

Tips