How to Make Vegetable Sambar – A Classic South Indian Dish

Vegetable Sambar Recipe

Vegetable Sambar is a flavorful and nutritious South Indian lentil soup made with a variety of vegetables and aromatic spices. This popular dish is often served with rice or as a side dish with dosa, idli, or vada.

Here’s an easy recipe to make delicious Vegetable Sambar:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of Toor Dal (Pigeon Pea Lentils)
• 2 cups of mixed Vegetables (carrots, beans, potatoes, eggplant, pumpkin, etc.)
• 1 Onion, chopped
• 2 Tomatoes, chopped
• 1 Green Chili, slit lengthwise
• 1/2 inch Ginger, grated
• A handful of Curry Leaves
• 2 tbsp of Sambar Powder
• 1/2 tsp of Turmeric Powder
• 1 tsp of Mustard Seeds
• 1 tsp of Cumin Seeds
• A pinch of Asafoetida
• Salt to taste
• Water as required
• Coriander Leaves for garnishing
• 1 tbsp of Oil

Instructions for recipe:

1. Rinse the toor dal and add it to a pressure cooker with 2 cups of water. Cook the dal for 4-5 whistles or until it becomes soft and mushy.
2. In a separate pan, heat oil over medium heat. Add mustard seeds and cumin seeds and let them splutter.
3. Add chopped onions, grated ginger, green chili, and curry leaves. Saute until the onions turn translucent.
4. Add chopped tomatoes and cook until they become soft and mushy.
5. Add sambar powder, turmeric powder, and a pinch of asafoetida. Mix well and cook for 1-2 minutes.
6. Add the mixed vegetables and 2 cups of water. Mix well and cover the pan with a lid. Let it cook until the vegetables become tender.
7. Add the cooked dal to the pan and mix well. Adjust the consistency of the sambar by adding more water if required.
8. Add salt to taste and let the sambar simmer for 5-10 minutes.
9. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot with rice or as a side dish with dosa, idli, or vada.

Vegetable Sambar is a delicious and healthy dish that is packed with the goodness of lentils and vegetables. You can adjust the spice level and add more vegetables of your choice to make it even more nutritious. Enjoy!

Tips💡:

• Use fresh and seasonal vegetables: Use fresh and seasonal vegetables to make the sambar. This will ensure that the vegetables are full of flavor and nutrients.
• Soak the dal: Soak the toor dal for at least 30 minutes before cooking to ensure that it cooks well and becomes soft and mushy.
• Cook the dal well: Cook the dal until it becomes soft and mushy. This will help to thicken the sambar and give it a creamy texture.
• Add the vegetables in stages: Add the vegetables in stages based on their cooking time. Hard vegetables like carrots and beans should be added first, followed by softer vegetables like eggplant and pumpkin.
• Use sambar powder: Use good quality sambar powder to get the authentic flavor of the dish. You can also make your own sambar powder by roasting and grinding the spices at home.
• Tempering: Tempering is an important step in making sambar. Add mustard seeds and cumin seeds to hot oil and let them splutter before adding the onions, ginger, and curry leaves.
• Adjust the consistency: Adjust the consistency of the sambar by adding more water if required. The sambar should be thick and creamy, but not too thick or too thin.
• Simmer the sambar: Let the sambar simmer for 5-10 minutes after adding the cooked dal. This will help to blend the flavors and thicken the sambar.

By following these tips, you can make a perfect Vegetable Sambar that is flavorful, nutritious, and packed with the goodness of lentils and vegetables.

Next👉: How to Cook Onion Sambar