Sambar is a popular lentil stew in South India. South Indian sambar is popular all over the world in the name of “Madras Sambar”. Sambar is a healthy dish made with Vegetables, dal, tamarind powder, and flavorful sambar powder.

The taste of sambar depends upon the vegetables we add and the quality of sambar powder. Okra| Drumstick | Pumpkin sambars are perfect for lunch goes well with rice and stir-fried vegetables. 

Notes

• A Most important tip for making okra sambar is to saute the okras for at least 3-5 minutes or until the sliminess goes off. Otherwise, the okra will become slimy, it will spoil the taste and texture of sambar.   
• The sambar quantity and taste depend on the quality of dal, the taste of tamarind and the sambar powder we add, adjust accordingly while adding the ingredients.
• Add shallots to sambar. Shallot is called “Chinna Vengayam” or “Sambar Vengayam” in the Tamil language, it is customary to add shallots in sambar to get the traditional taste. Shallot is not available in our place, so I added onions.

 Other Varieties  – Tiffin Sambar, Brinjal Sambar, White Pumpkin Sambar, Chowchow Sambar, Sambar Vadai, Mullangi Sambar

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Vendakkai Sambar

Prep Time

20 mins

Cook Time

15 mins

Total Time

35 mins

 

Sambar is a popular lentil stew in South India. South Indian sambar is popular all over the world in the name of “Madras Sambar”. Sambar is a healthy dish made with Vegetables, dal, tamarind powder, and flavorful sambar powder.

Course: lunch

Cuisine: Indian

Keyword: sambar

Author: Sivagami Meganathan

Ingredients

• 150 grams Vendakkai
• 1 Onion
• 1 Tomato
• Few Curry leaves
• Small marble sized Tamarind
• 1/2 cup Toor dal
• 1/2 tsp Mustard seeds
• 1/2 tsp Urad dal
• 1 tsp Sambar powder
• Sal as needed
• 1 tsp Oil
• 1/4 tsp Asafoetida
• 1/4 tsp Turmeric powder

Instructions

1. Preparation

2. Rinse and pressure cook toor dal for 3 whistles.

3. Wash and dry vendakkai and cut them into small pieces.

4. Soak tamarind and squeeze the pulp.

5. Method

6. Heat oil in a pan add mustard seeds and urad dal, allow them to crackle.

7. Add curry leaves.

8. Add chopped onion, saute till the onion becomes translucent. 

9. Add salt, turmeric powder, asafoetida, and sambar powder.

10. Mix everything and cook for a minute.

11. Add vendakkai and saute for 4 - 5 minutes or until the sliminess goes off.

12. Once done, add chopped tomatoes.

13. Cook till the tomatoes become mushy.

14. Add the cooked toor dal and bring it to a boil.

15. Add tamarind pulp, and cook covered for a few minutes.

16. Serve hot with rice.

Method

Step by Step Pictures

1. Heat oil in a pan add mustard seeds and urad dal, allow them to crackle.

2. Add curry leaves.

3. Add chopped onion, saute till the onion becomes translucent.

4. Add salt, turmeric powder, asafoetida, and sambar powder. Mix everything and cook for a minute.

5. Add okra and saute for 4 – 5 minutes.

6. Cook till the sliminess of okra goes off.

7. Add chopped tomatoes. Cook till the tomatoes become mushy.

8. Add the cooked toor dal and bring it to a boil.

9. Add the tamarind pulp. 

10. Cook covered for a few minutes.

11. Serve hot with rice.