Instant Sambar

Instant sambar recipe- quick and easy, truly delicious instant sambar recipe that takes 20 minutes from start to finish.

What is samhar?

Sambar is a lentil-based vegetable stew, cooked with pigeon pea and tamarind broth. It is popular in South Indian and Sri Lankan cuisines. The stew has been adapted into Burmese cuisine as a popular accompaniment to Burmese curries

According to food historian K. T. Achaya, the earliest extant mention of sambar in literature can be dated to the 17th century in Tamilakam.
The word sambar. stems from the Tamil word champāram.

Is sambar good for health?

Tamarind extract, turmeric powder, curry leaves, red pepper and mustard seeds have a number of health benefits, ranging from good digestion, weight loss and high immunity. Due to the presence of water and fibre, sambar is one of the best foods for smooth digestion

A basic sambar recipe will have a mix or one or two types of vegetables along with lentils, tamarind, sambar powder and a few spices.

A good sambar powder always yields a good and tasty sambar. so when you make it, try to have a good aromatic sambar powder.

I usually add a mix of vegetables which i have on the time of cooking. In this sambar recipe, I have added potatoes,tomatoes, peas, pumpkin, carrots, brinjals, french beans.

I recommend to make your sambar recipe with unpolished toor dal for a really good taste and more nutrition.soaked it for 20 to 30 minutes.

Note: You can also cook the lentils in a pan or instant pot. Add water as needed while cooking the lentils.When the dal is pressure cooking – rinse, peel and chop the vegetables. When making sambar, chop the vegetables which get cooked faster in large sizes like pumpkin, brinjals,okra, drumsticks etc.

Ingredients

2tomatoes( big)
Boiled potatoes
1cup toor dal( soaked around 20 minutes)
2 small brinjals
Mix veg(pea, carrot,beans)
Pumpkin
Curry leaves
Mustard seeds
Sambar masala
1 tsp red pepper
1 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp degi chilli
1 tsp crushed red pepper
1 tsp chat masala (optional)

How to cook.

First of all heat oil in a pressure cooker. Once the oil is hot fry 3 teaspoons mustard seeds, Curry leaves, add vegetables one by one except potatoes.Saute for 2 minutes.Now add 1 cup toor dal and saute for 2 minutes,after that add turmeric power, red pepper,salt to taste then add tomatoes and sambar masala ,i prefer Everest sambar masala you can use yours home made masala or bought it from market.Add just enough water to cook.Mix well and close the cooker. pressure cook for 10 minutes or up to 4 whistles.Once the pressure is released Add boiled potatoes,check the consistency of sambar. If it is too thick for your liking add 1/4-1/2 cup water and bring to a boil, at last add 1 teaspoon of crushed red pepper and degi red chilli powder for colour. Finally add coriander leaves and serve sambar of your choice.