Sambar Recipe
Sambar Recipe
Hotel-style sambar is a South Indian lentil-based stew bursting with flavor and fragrant with aromatic spices, and it’s generously loaded with a medley of vegetables. This delightful dish is a favored accompaniment for idli, dosa, or steamed rice. Below, you’ll find a recipe to prepare this delectable hotel-style sambar right in your own kitchen:
Ingredients
Method
Instructions:
Prepare the Dal:
- Wash the toor dal and pressure cook it with sufficient water, a pinch of salt, and 1/2 tsp of turmeric until it becomes soft and mushy (approximately 3-4 whistles). Mash the cooked dal and set it aside.
- Soak the tamarind in 1/2 cup of warm water for 15 minutes. Squeeze the tamarind to extract the pulp, and discard the solid parts.
- In a separate pot, cook the mixed vegetables in water until they become tender. Drain and set them aside.
- In a large pot, heat 2 tbsp of coconut oil. Add thinly sliced shallots and green chilies. Sauté until the shallots turn translucent. Incorporate the finely chopped tomatoes and cook until they soften.
- Add the sambar powder, turmeric, red chili powder, coriander powder, and sauté for a couple of minutes. Now, introduce the tamarind pulp and blend it thoroughly. Cook until the raw aroma of tamarind dissipates.
- Add the cooked and mashed toor dal to the pot, along with the cooked vegetables. Mix the contents thoroughly. Adjust the consistency by adding water; the sambar should be neither too thick nor too thin. Stir well.
- Allow the sambar to simmer for 10-15 minutes over low heat, enabling the flavors to harmonize. Adjust the seasoning with salt to your taste.
- In a separate pan, heat 2 tbsp of coconut oil for tempering. Add mustard seeds and fenugreek seeds, and let them splutter. Incorporate a pinch of asafoetida, curry leaves, and broken red chilies. Sauté for a minute or two.Pour the prepared tempering over the sambar and stir well.
- Your hotel-style sambar is now ready to delight your taste buds. It complements idli, dosa, or steamed rice beautifully.
- Feel free to personalize the vegetable selection and spice level according to your preferences. This hotel-style sambar is a delectable and nourishing dish, guaranteed to satisfy your cravings for authentic South Indian cuisine.
