Chits Kitchen

Sambar or Vegetable Sambar is a traditional South Indian dish which is prepared by cooking different types of vegetables together. The vegetables are cooked together along with Arhar (Toor) Dal and various Spices. We need to soak the Arhar Dal before using. Along with Vegetables, Arhar Dal and Spices, we also use Tamarind Water to give tangy taste to the Sambar. We add Tamarind Water at the end after cooking of vegetables. Sambar is an everyday meal in South Indian homes. It has different name in different states. However the basic idea of preparation is same.

We can prepare Sambar in different ways. Here we have prepared it by pressure cooking all the ingredients together. Some people like to pressure cook the Dal and vegetables separately. I have cooked both the ingredients together so that it takes less time to prepare. Using either of the process will not affect the taste of Sambhar. Cooking the dal and vegetables in cooker reduces the time of cooking and takes less time to prepare.

You can prepare Vegetable Sambar with vegetables such as Drumsticks, Radish, Capsicum, Okra, French Beans, Cauliflower, Brinjal, Potato, Carrot, Bottle gourd, Pumpkin, lady finger etc. There are number of options for vegetables. You can choose as per your choice. Use only 4-5 vegetables so that Sambhar doesn’t get thick and the taste also does not change. Different vegetables give different taste. Here in this recipe, we cook vegetables with Toor Dal (Arhar Dal).

Here I have prepared the Vegetable Sambar with French Beans, Brinjal, Pumpkin and Carrot. Apart from this you can add other vegetables. But remember not to add lot more vegetables. Sambar Masala is the most important ingredient in Sambar. It can be either Homemade or Readymade one purchased from the market. Here we will use Homemade Sambhar Masala to prepare the recipe. You can visit Homemade Sambhar Masala to prepare this masala at home. Adjust the quantity of masala as per your liking. If you love a little spicy sambar, you can add more masala. For spicy taste, you can add more Red chilli powder.

To prepare Vegetable Sambar, first fry all the vegetables in oil. Fry till they change their colour to light golden. Next add the spices such as Turmeric Powder, Chilli Powder and Sambar Masala. Cook the vegetables along with the spices for few minutes. Now add water to the vegetables and then pressure cook it. After cooking the vegetables, mash it with a spoon or spatula to attain the desired consistency. At last, add Tamarind water as per requirement and stir it. Tamarind Water add tangy taste to Sambhar. Tasty and delicious Vegetable Sambhar is ready to serve.

Serve it with South Indian dishes such as Dosa, Idli, Uttapam, Vada or Kara Pongal. Serve Idli with Coconut Chutney or Peanut Chutney.

Let’s start preparing tasty and delicious Vegetable Sambhar…

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Vegetable Sambhar / Sambhar Recipe

Sambar or Vegetable Sambar is prepared by frying all the vegetables along with the Toor (Arhar) Dal. Then the spices are added to it and then cooked. The vegetables are then mashed to get the required consistency. At last the tamarind water is added to it.

Course Breakfast, Main Course

Cuisine Indian, South Indian

Keyword Sambar, Sambhar, Vegetable Sambar, Vegetable Sambhar

Preparation Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 35 minutes minutes

Passive Time 0 minutes minutes

Total Time 50 minutes minutes

Servings 4 servings

Calories

Author Recipe by Chits

Equipments:

• Pressure Cooker
• Strainer

Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon Mustard Seeds
• 1/4 teaspoon Fenugreek Seeds (Methi)
• 2 piece Dried Red Chilli
• 8-10 leaves Curry Leaves
• A pinch Hing (Asafoetida)
• 1 medium Chopped Onion
• 1 medium Chopped Tomatoes
• 1/2 cup Chopped French Beans
• 1 cup Chopped Brinjal (Small Baigan or Baby Eggplant)
• 1 cup Chopped Pumpkin
• 1/2 cup Chopped Carrot
• 1/2 cup Arhar Dal (Toor or Tuvar Dal) (Soaked in Water)
• 2 tablespoon Sāmbhar Powder
• 1/2 teaspoon Red Chilli Powder
• 1/2 teaspoon Turmeric Powder
• 2 tablespoon Seedless Tamarind (Soaked in Water)
• 2 tablespoon Oil
• Salt (As required)
• Water to cook

Instructions:

• First of all prepare the Tamarind Water. Soak the seedless tamarind in water for 15-20. You can use hot water also.
• Mash the tamarind with a spoon. Strain it and remove the solid part. Keep it aside.
• Now heat 2 tablespoon Oil in a cooker over medium flame.
• Add Mustard Seeds and Fenugreek Seeds.
• When they start to splutter, add Dry Red Chilli, Curry Leaves and Asafoetida (Hing). Saute it for 10-15 seconds.
• Add Chopped Onion and cook until the onion becomes translucent and light golden brown.
• Now add Chopped Tomatoes and Salt. Cook till the tomatoes become soft and tender.
• Now add all the vegetables such as Pumpkin, French Beans, Brinjal (Baby Eggplant) and Carrot. Also add Soaked Arhar Dal along with vegetables.
• Mix them well and cook for 7-8 minutes.
• After cooking the vegetables for 7-8 minutes, add Turmeric Powder, Red Chilli Powder and Sambhar Masala to it.
• Mix the spices with the vegetables and cook for another 4-5 minutes. If required you can add water.
• When the spices are cooked properly, add required amount of water.
• Close the lid of the cooker. Cook it for 3 to 4 whistle. If required you can cook for some more time.
• Switch off the stove and allow the pressure of the cooker to come down by itself.
• Open the lid of the cooker and mash the vegetables and Dal. Mix it properly.
  
• Cook the Sambhar in open cooker again for 3-4 minutes. If required, add more water to it.
  
• Add the Tamarind Water and Chopped Coriander Leaves. Mix it. Switch off the stove and serve it hot.
  
• Vegetable Sambhar Masala is ready. Serve it with your favourite South Indian recipe like Idli, Dosa or Uttapam
  

Notes:

1. Vegetables can be added as per one’s choice. Vegetables such as Bottle gourd, Lady’s Finger (Okra), Drumstick, Cauliflower, Potato, Pumpkin, Capsicum, Radish, etc. can be used if you want to add.
2. There are number of vegetables to add but you should add not more than 4-5 vegetables. If you add more vegetables, the sambhar can be thick and the taste will change.
3. In the above recipe, I have added only Pumpkin, Brinjal, French Beans and Carrot. You can replace these vegetables with other ingredients.
4. The thickness of Sambhar can be varied by addition of required amount of water. If you want proper thickness, add less water and if you want thin sambhar, add more water.
5. Here I have used Homemade Sambhar Masala to prepare the recipe. If you want, you can use Readymade Sambhar Masala purchased from the market. However Homemade Masala is a better option.
6. I have prepared the sambhar recipe in cooker so it has taken less time. Preparing the recipe by separately boiling the vegetables and then later on tempering it takes more time.