Sambar
Sambar is a popular dish in South Indian cuisine. Made with lentils, vegetables, tamarind, and aromatic spices, this dish is enjoyed with idli, dosa, rice, and vada. It has a tangy taste and comforting texture, which makes it a favorite in many Indian homes. While sambar may look to be a complex dish to prepare, it is in fact very easy to make at home with a few basic ingredients.
Ingredients Required
To make traditional sambar, you will need one cup of toor dal (pigeon peas), one small onion, one chopped tomato, one carrot, one drumstick, half a cup of pumpkin or brinjal, two tablespoons of sambar powder, a small lemon-sized ball of tamarind, half a teaspoon of turmeric powder, mustard seeds, dried red chillies, curry leaves, asafoetida, salt, and oil. For garnish, fresh coriander leaves are used.
Step-by-Step Method to Cook Sambar
Cook the Dal
Wash the toor dal clean and put it in a pressure cooker. Add turmeric powder and about two cups of water. Pressure cook for 3 to 4 whistles or until the dal is soft. Mash it in a masher or with a spoon and set it aside.
Prepare the Vegetables
Tenderize tamarind in warm water for about 10 minutes and extract its juice. In a separate pot, put in the chopped vegetables, onion, tomato, salt, and enough water. Cook until the vegetables are tender.
Add Spices and Dal
Pour the tamarind extract into the cooked vegetables. Incorporate the sambar powder and allow the mixture to cook for a short while. Now, mix in the masoor dal into the mixture. If it appears too thick, add water little by little until the desired texture is reached. Allow the sambar to boil for 8-10 minutes so that the flavors blend flawlessly.
Make the Tempering
Heat some oil in a pan, then add the mustard seeds and let them crackle. Add the dried red chilies, curry leaves, and asafoetida. Add this tempering to the prepared sambar.
Serving Suggestions
Top it all off with fresh coriander leaves and serve hot. Sambar tastes great when paired with steamed rice, crispy dosa, soft idli, or medu vada.
Final Words
Homemade sambar makes healthy and tasty food that can be included in our daily meals. One can mix and match different seasonal vegetables and vary the spiciness to his/her taste. With a perfect mix of lentils, tamarind, and spices, one can easily create a great bowl of traditional sambar in his/her own kitchen.
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