Sambar is a well-liked South Indian lentil soup that’s usually served with rice, dosa, idli, uttapam, or vada. It’s a vegetarian lentil-based stew that’s flavored with tamarind, greens, and a brilliant fragrant spice mix. A wholesome and satisfying lentil soup that’s simple to make!

Bounce to:
Each time I share South Indian recipes like Idli, Uttapam, Quinoa Dosa, or Quinoa Idli, on my social media, I get a whole lot of requests on find out how to make selfmade Sambar. So right here is the recipe I grew up consuming. Though mother made it on the stovetop, I really like my simplified one-pot recipe utilizing the Prompt Pot strain cooker. And since I do know a few of chances are you’ll request this, I’m additionally sharing the standard range prime methodology to make this South Indian delicacy.
After I was engaged on The Important Indian Prompt Pot Cookbook, I received the chance to learn to make Home made Sambar Powder from my good friend Indu’s mother-in-law. When you have adopted me for lengthy sufficient you’ve gotten most likely already tasted a few of her different South Indian recipes that I’ve shared, like Ven Pongal, Vegetable Kurma, Bisi Bele Bhath, and Curd Rice.
The recipe in my cookbook is a simplified model the place I add all of the elements to the Prompt Pot after the preliminary tempering of mustard seeds after which strain prepare dinner. This recipe makes use of a few of the conventional cooking steps like sauteeing the aromatics and including bottle gourd (lauki) which I completely love. Simple to make with the one-pot cooking methodology and take a look at all the suggestions too.

Components
- Spices – mustard seeds, turmeric, and sambar powder are the primary spices used on this recipe. Though store-bought sambar powder can be utilized on this recipe, I extremely advocate making a contemporary batch at dwelling. In case you are utilizing store-bought sambar powder, chances are you’ll wish to begin with simply half a tablespoon and add extra to style as they are usually a lot hotter.
- Aromatics – onion, garlic, and curry leaves
- Greens – I really like including tomato, carrot, bottlegourd (lauki), and drumstick beans. I like to recommend shopping for frozen drumstick beans from Indian grocery shops and including them with out thawing. You may also add greens like eggplant, squash, or okra.
- Lentils – toor dal is historically used however you can too use different break up lentils equivalent to masoor dal, mung dal, or a mix of various yellow lentils.

Find out how to Make Prompt Pot Sambar
- Set the Prompt Pot to Saute(extra) mode and warmth the oil. Add the mustard seeds and prepare dinner till they begin to pop. Add asafoetida, curry leaves, onion, and garlic, and saute for two minutes. Add tomato, carrot, bottle gourd, and drumstick beans, turmeric, salt and, sambar powder(pictures 1 – 4)

- Add toor dal, and water and provides a fast stir. Strain Cook dinner (Excessive) for 8 minutes. Let the strain launch naturally and open the pot. Combine the daal nicely, mashing with the again of the spoon. Stir in tamarind. Add extra water if wanted to carry the sambar to the specified consistency. Word: sambar will proceed to thicken because it cools down. Add extra salt and sambar powder to style. Choose the Saute (Extra) setting and produce it to a full boil. Press Cancel. Garnish with cilantro(pictures 5 – 8)

Serving Concepts
Sambar is a flexible dish that may be served in many alternative methods:
- Over steamed rice. You possibly can place a serving of rice on a plate or bowl and pour the lentil soup on prime. Combine it nicely and luxuriate in.
- Serve together with crispy dosa, coconut chutney, and potato masala. Try my Crispy Quinoa Dosa recipe.
- Serve with steamed Idli or Medu Vada. In case you love the standard South Indian idli, take a look at this Quinoa Idli recipe.
- Take pleasure in as a soup with some chopped cilantro on prime.

Find out how to Retailer Sambar
Let the sambar cool right down to room temperature earlier than storing it in an hermetic container. Retailer any leftovers within the fridge for 3-4 days or freeze for as much as 2-3 months. To thaw, switch it to the fridge in a single day after which reheat it on the range or within the microwave earlier than serving. Add some water if wanted to regulate the consistency.
Suggestions
- Use any greens that you might have within the Sambar. Some widespread decisions are eggplant, okra, pumpkin, and capsicum.
- Modify the spiciness by including roughly sambar powder
- Including a spoonful of ghee to the Sambar whereas serving enhances the flavour.
- You may also add some jaggery to steadiness out the sourness of the tamarind.
Recipe
Sambar
Sambar is a well-liked South Indian dish that’s usually served with rice, dosa, idli, or vada. It’s a gluten-free and vegan lentil-based soup that’s flavored with tamarind, greens, and spices.
Servings: 4
Energy: 177kcal
Directions
Set the Prompt Pot to Saute(extra)mode and warmth the oil. Add the mustard seeds and prepare dinner till they begin to pop. Add hing, curry leaves, onion, and garlic and saute for two minutes.
Add tomato, carrot, bottle gourd, and drumstick beans, turmeric, salt and, sambar powder and blend nicely. Add toor dal, and water and provides a fast stir.
Shut the Prompt Pot with the steam launch deal with to sealing. Strain Cook dinner (Excessive) for 8 minutes. Let the strain launch naturally and open the pot. Combine the daal nicely, mashing with the again of the spoon.
Stir in tamarind. Add extra water if wanted to carry the sambar to the specified consistency. Word: sambar will proceed to thicken because it cools down. Add extra salt and sambar powder to style. Choose the Saute (Extra) setting and produce the sambar to a full boil. Press Cancel. Garnish with cilantro. Serve sizzling.
Notes
- Add rinsed and washed lentils together with 2 cups of water to a strain cooker and prepare dinner till the lentils are delicate and mushy. You may also prepare dinner them on a stovetop pot for about half-hour or so.
- In one other medium-sized pot warmth oil. Add the mustard seeds and prepare dinner till they begin to pop. Add hing, curry leaves, onion, and garlic and saute till the onions flip translucent and frivolously golden, about 5 minutes.
- Add tomato, carrot, bottle gourd, and drumstick beans, turmeric, salt and, sambar powder and blend nicely. Add 2 cups of water and produce to a rolling boil. Cook dinner lined on low to medium warmth till the greens are cooked by way of. About 10 minutes.
- Add cooked dal and provides a fast stir. Stir in tamarind. Add extra water if wanted to carry the sambar to the specified consistency. Modify salt to style and add extra sambar powder if wanted.
Vitamin
Energy: 177kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 5g | Fats: 8g | Saturated Fats: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 1g | Monounsaturated Fats: 5g | Sodium: 1207mg | Potassium: 295mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 2903IU | Vitamin C: 81mg | Calcium: 89mg | Iron: 2mg