Here’s a simple recipe for making Sambar with vegetables:

Taste the Difference, and Embrace the Spices.

Discover the essence of South Indian cuisine with our Sambar recipe – a delightful blend of lentils, vegetables, and spices. This aromatic dish, perfect with rice or idlis, brings warmth and flavor to your table. Uncomplicate your cooking with our step-by-step guide and savor the rich taste of homemade Sambar in minutes!

Ingredients:

For Cooking Dal:

• 1/2 cup toor dal (split pigeon peas)
• 1.5 cups water
• 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder

For Sambar:

• 1 cup mixed vegetables (drumsticks, carrots, potatoes, beans, pumpkin, etc.), chopped
• 1 small lemon-sized tamarind ball, soaked in water
• 2 tablespoons sambar powder
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1 medium-sized onion, chopped
• 2 tomatoes, chopped
• 2-3 green chilies, slit
• A small piece of jaggery (optional)
• Salt to taste

For Tempering (Tadka):

• 2 tablespoons oil
• 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
• A pinch of asafoetida (hing)
• 2-3 dry red chilies
• 10-12 curry leaves

Instructions:

1. Cooking Toor Dal:
   • Wash the toor dal and cook it with water and turmeric powder until it becomes soft and mushy. You can use a pressure cooker for faster cooking.
2. Soaking Tamarind:
   • Soak the tamarind in warm water for about 15-20 minutes. Extract the tamarind juice and set it aside.
3. Cooking Vegetables:
   • Boil the chopped vegetables in a pot with enough water until they are tender. Add turmeric powder and salt while cooking.
4. Preparing Sambar Base:
   • In a large pot, combine the cooked toor dal and boiled vegetables.
   • Add the tamarind extract, sambar powder, chopped onions, tomatoes, green chilies, and salt. Mix well.
5. Boiling Sambar:
   • Bring the mixture to a boil and let it simmer for 15-20 minutes. Add more water if needed to achieve the desired consistency.
6. Tempering (Tadka):
   • Heat oil in a small pan. Add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, asafoetida, dry red chilies, and curry leaves. Let them splutter.
7. Adding Tempering to Sambar:
   • Pour the tempering into the boiling sambar. Mix well.
8. Adding Jaggery:
   • Add a small piece of jaggery (optional) to balance the flavors. Stir until it dissolves.
9. Adjusting Consistency and Seasoning:
   • If needed, adjust the consistency by adding more water. Adjust the salt and spice levels according to your taste.
10. Simmering:
    • Let the sambar simmer for an additional 5-10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
11. Garnishing:
    • Garnish with chopped coriander leaves.

Your Vegetable Sambar is ready to be served! Enjoy it with rice, idli, dosa, or any South Indian bread of your choice.