Sambar is a traditional & popular South Indian dish to relish with rice, idli, dosa, pongal and upma. Sambar is tasty & healthy veg stew version made by cooking veggies with dal, sambar powder, spices, tamarind extract & herbs. Meals Sambar recipe explained in this post with step by step pictures.
Pressure cook toor dal with a pinch of turmeric powder and enough water for 4-5 whistles or until mushy. Mash it well with a ladle, Set aside.
In a kadai heat oil add onion, tomato saute till golden brown till tomato raw smell leaves.
Then add drumstick and saute for 3mins.
Then add the sauted items to toor dhal, add 1 cup water(adjust to desired consistency).
Then add sambar powder and mix well to avoid lumps.
Allow it boil in medium flame till the veggie gets cooked.
Once the veggie gets cooked add tamarind extract and allow it to boil for a good 5-10mins till it reaches sambar consistency. Adjust salt at this stage.
Heat oil – add the items under ‘to temper’ and transfer it to the sambar.
Add chopped coriander leaves and switch it off.
Serve Sambar hot with rice and any poriyal of your choice.
Notes
If you are using thick tamarind pulp then add just 1/4 cup. Always add tamarind extract only after the veggie gets cooked.
Tempering at the last stage retains the flavour of the tempering for a long time.
Smells and tastes good for 2 days if refrigerated. But heat it once in between cool down and then refrigerate.
Boil well till the raw smell of the veggie as well as toor dal leaves. Switch off according to the thick consistency you prefer.
I use homemade sambar powder which we grind in bulk.
Nutrition Facts
Sambar | Meals Sambar Recipe
Amount Per Serving (75 g)
Calories 396Calories from Fat 99
% Daily Value*
Fat 11g17%
Saturated Fat 3g19%
Trans Fat 0.04g
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g
Monounsaturated Fat 4g
Cholesterol 49mg16%
Sodium 1400mg61%
Potassium 613mg18%
Carbohydrates 55g18%
Fiber 14g58%
Sugar 15g17%
Protein 24g48%
Vitamin A 1069IU21%
Vitamin C 79mg96%
Calcium 91mg9%
Iron 3mg17%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.