Sambar is a very healthy lentil and vegetable-based dish that is served with Dosa and Idlis. It is a very popular South Indian dish, and now it is popular all over India and loved by everyone. In this authentic South Indian Sambar Recipe, I’ll share the recipe video and step-by-step instructions with photos on how to make the perfect Sambar. Sambar is made with lentils such as pigeon peas(Arhar ki dal), veggies such as carrot, bottle gourd, onions, and tomatoes, and spices such as Sambar powder, curry leaves, tamarind, chilli, turmeric, and others that you will see in this recipe for making Sambar. In this recipe to make Sambar, I’ll show you how to make Sambar in the Pressure cooker, which makes it so flavourful. Vegetable Sambar is very healthy as it is rich in protein and nutrients. It is a very healthy side dish, and the taste of idlis and dosas gets so much better with this sambar dal.
Sambar is a very healthy dal that is made with very healthy ingredients like dal, vegetables, and spices. It is the perfect side dish for Idli, Medu vada, and Pesarattu Dosa. It is very famous in India, and a perfect South Indian meal cannot be complete without the authentic Vegetable Sambar dal, and the tasty Chutney for Dosa. Also, check out the popular and healthy South Indian breakfasts like Rava Appam.
Look at our other recipes such as Chilli Paneer, Pav Bhaji, and Kachalu Recipe. Also, check out my other dal recipes like Masala Khichdi Recipe, Dal Fry, and Dal Makhani Recipe.
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Sambar Recipe Video
Sambar Recipe Ingredients
- 1 and 1/4 cup Arhar Dal (Pigeon peas)
- 2 cups of Lauki
- 1 Carrot
- 2-3 Tomatoes
- 2-3 Green chillies
- Salt to taste
- 1 tsp Haldi powder
- 6 cups of water
- 2 tbsp Oil
- 2 tbsp Ghee
- 1/2 tsp Toor Dal
- 1/2 tsp Chana Dal
- 1 tsp Sarson seeds
- 2 pinches of Hing
- Curry leaves
- 1 cup Onion
- 1 tbsp grated Ginger
- 1 tbsp grated Garlic
- 8-10 drumsticks
- 1 tsp Kashmiri Red chilli powder
- 3 tsp Sambar Masala
- 4-5 tsp of Imli Water
- Chopped coriander leaves
How to Make the Authentic South Indian Sambar
1. To make the authentic South Indian Sambar at home, the Dal used is very important, so take 1 and 1/4 cup Arhar Dal(Pigeon peas) in a pressure cooker. Before adding it to the cooker, soak the Dal, strain, and wash it properly.
2. Add the following chopped veggies to the cooker: 2 cups of Lauki, 1 Carrot, 2-3 Tomatoes, and 2-3 Green chillies. You can also add other chopped veggies, such as Beans, as per your preferences.
3. Add salt to taste, 1 tsp Haldi powder, and 4-5 cups of water. Let it cook for 3-4 whistles, then set it aside.
4. Heat a Kadai on medium flame. Add 2 tbsp Oil and 2 tbsp Ghee. As soon as the oil and ghee get heated, add 1/2 tsp Toor Dal and 1/2 tsp Chana Dal. Fry them for a few seconds.
5. Add 1 tsp Sarson seeds, 2 pinches of Hing, fry them for a few seconds, and then add a few Curry leaves, fry them too, and then add 2 Red Chilli and fry them too.
6. Add 1 cup of Onion and cook it on a medium flame.
7. Add 1 tbsp grated Ginger and 1 tbsp grated Garlic. Mix well, and fry them too.
8. Add 8-10 drumsticks to the Kadai. Mix and fry it too.
9. Add 1 tsp Kashmiri Red chilli powder and 1 tsp Sambar Masala. Mix well.
10. Add the cooked Dal Mixture to the Kadai. Mix well. Also, add 2 cups of water and mix well. You can add water as per your preference for the consistency of Sambar. If you like a thinner consistency, then add more water.
11. Add 2 tsp of Sambar Masala to the Kadai. Mix and then add 4-5 tsp of Imli Water. Mix everything well. (For making Imli water, soak properly washed Imli in water for half an hour. Squeeze and strain the Soaked imli to get the water.)
12. Add chopped coriander leaves. Cover the lid, and cooking the Sambar will take 10 minutes now.
13. After 8-10 minutes, the Sambar will come to a boil. It is ready to serve now.
14. Add chopped coriander leaves and serve with Dosa, Idli, and whatever you like it with.
Enjoy the delicious Sambar.
Recipe Card
Sambar Recipe | How To Make Sambar
Ingredients
- 1 and 1/4 cup Arhar Dal (Pigeon peas)
- 2 cup Lauki
- 1 Carrot
- 2-3 Tomatoes
- 2-3 Green chillies
- Salt to taste
- 1 tsp Haldi powder
- 6 cup Water
- 2 tbsp Oil
- 2 tbsp Ghee
- 1/2 tsp Toor Dal
- 1/2 tsp Chana Dal
- 1 tsp Sarson seeds
- 2 pinch Hing
- Curry leaves
- 1 cup Onion
- 1 tbsp Grated Ginger
- 1 tbsp Grated Garlic
- 8-10 Drumsticks
- 1 tsp Kashmiri Red chilli powder
- 3 tsp Sambar Masala
- 4-5 tsp Imli Water
- Chopped coriander leaves
Instructions
- To make the authentic South Indian Sambar at home, the Dal used is very important, so take 1 and 1/4 cup Arhar Dal(Pigeon peas) in a pressure cooker. Before adding it to the cooker, soak the Dal, strain, and wash it properly.
- Add the following chopped veggies to the cooker: 2 cups of Lauki, 1 Carrot, 2-3 Tomatoes, and 2-3 Green chillies. You can also add other chopped veggies, such as Beans, as per your preferences.
- Add salt to taste, 1 tsp Haldi powder, and 4-5 cups of water. Let it cook for 3-4 whistles, then set it aside.
- Heat a Kadai on medium flame. Add 2 tbsp Oil and 2 tbsp Ghee. As soon as the oil and ghee get heated, add 1/2 tsp Toor Dal and 1/2 tsp Chana Dal. Fry them for a few seconds.
- Add 1 tsp Sarson seeds, 2 pinches of Hing, fry them for a few seconds, and then add a few Curry leaves, fry them too, and then add 2 Red Chilli and fry them too.
- Add 1 cup of Onion and cook it on a medium flame.
- Add 1 tbsp grated Ginger and 1 tbsp grated Garlic. Mix well, and fry them too.
- Add 8-10 drumsticks to the Kadai. Mix and fry it too.
- Add 1 tsp Kashmiri Red chilli powder and 1 tsp Sambar Masala. Mix well.
- Add the cooked Dal Mixture to the Kadai. Mix well. Also, add 2 cups of water and mix well. You can add water as per your preference for the consistency of Sambar. If you like a thinner consistency, then add more water.
- Add 2 tsp of Sambar Masala to the Kadai. Mix and then add 4-5 tsp of Imli Water. Mix everything well. (For making Imli water, soak properly washed Imli in water for half an hour. Squeeze and strain the Soaked imli to get the water.)
- Add chopped coriander leaves. Cover the lid, and cook for 10 minutes.
- After 8-10 minutes, the Sambar will come to a boil. It is ready to serve now.
- Add chopped coriander leaves and serve with Dosa, Idli, and whatever you like it with. Enjoy the delicious Sambar.
