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    Home » Recipe Index » Sambar

    Plain Sambar

    Posted on Mar 16, 2016 · Last Updated on Jan 28, 2022 by Sharmila Kingsly

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    Plain Sambar is one staple dish of south India. Say it is Breakfast, Lunch, or Dinner it is so common in most South Indian households.

    Sambar Recipe | How to make Plain Sambar

    Sambar Recipe | How to make Plain Sambar step by step picture. Sambar is one staple dish of south India .Say it is Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner we can have it. It is so common in most of the South Indian households. We can happily pair it of Idli , dosa ,Pongal or Rice and hence it goes both for Breakfast and Lunch with makes the job simple.

    I call it Bachelor sambar due to the simplicity of the dish but taste wise it’s not less than a regular sambar.

    Sambar Recipe | How to make Plain Sambar

    How to prepare Plain Sambar

    Cook Dal and Vegetables

    Wash toor dal and add them to a pressure cooker along with water.

    Wash toor dal and add to pressure cooker along with water.

    Along with the dal add chopped onions, chopped tomato, green chili , garlic and curry leaves.

    Along with the dal add chopped onions, chopped tomato, green chili , garlic and curry leaves.

    Close and pressure cook for 4- 5 whistles or until the Toor dal is cooked. Wait until the pressure subsides and open cooker. Mash the dal .

    Close and pressure cook for 4- 5 whistles

    Add Sambar Powder and Tamarind

    In a bowl add sambar powder along with salt, turmeric powder and chili powder.

    In a bowl add sambar powder along with salt, turmeric powder and chili powder

    Add little water and make a paste without any lumps.

    Add little water and make a paste without any lumps.

    Add the sambar powder mixture to pressure cooker along with dal.

    Add the sambar powder mixture to pressure cooker along with dal.

    Also add tamarind water.

    Also add tamarind water.

    Cook Sambar

    Now switch on the stove and cook in a medium flame until the sambar boil and raw smell leaves.

    cook until the sambar boil and raw smell leaves.

    Prepare Tadka

    Heat a tadka pan with oil. Once its hot add mustard let it splutter. And then add Hing , Cumin, fenugreek seeds and chopped small onions. Saute for few secs and finally add dry red chili and curry leaves.

    prepare tadka for sambar

    Switch off and add the prepared tadka to the cooked sambar.

    add the prepared tadka to the cooked sambar.

    Garnish and Serve:

    Combine everything and finally add finely chopped coriander leaves to sambar. Sambar is now ready to serve.

    How to make Plain Sambar

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    📖 Recipe

    Sambar
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    5 from 1 vote

    Plain Sambar

    Sambar is one staple dish of south India .Say it is Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner we can have it. It is so common in most of the South Indian households.
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time30 minutes mins
    Total Time40 minutes mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Indian
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 158kcal
    Author: Sharmila Kingsly
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Standard 1 cup measures 240 ml

    Ingredients

    • ½ cup Toor dal
    • ¼ tsp Turmeric powder
    • 2 tbsp Sambar powder
    • ½ tsp Chilli powder
    • 1 Tomato
    • 1 Onion
    • 2 tbsp Grated Coconut
    • Salt as needed
    • Tamarind - Gooseberry sized

    To Temper:

    • 2 tsp Oil/Ghee
    • ½ tsp Mustard Seeds
    • ¼ tsp Fenugreek seeds
    • ½ tsp Cumin /Jeers
    • ¼ tsp Hing
    • 1 sprig Curry Leaves
    • 4 Shallots
    • 4 Dry Red Chilli

    Instructions 

    Cook Dal and Vegetables

    • Wash toor dal and add them to a pressure cooker along with water.
    • Along with the dal add chopped onions, chopped tomato, green chili , garlic and curry leaves.
    • Close and pressure cook for 4- 5 whistles or until the Toor dal is cooked. Wait until the pressure subsides and open cooker. Mash the dal .

    Add Sambar Powder and Tamarind

    • In a bowl add sambar powder along with salt, turmeric powder and chili powder.
    • Add little water and make a paste without any lumps.
    • Add the sambar powder mixture to pressure cooker along with dal.
    • Also add tamarind water.

    Cook Sambar

    • Now switch on the stove and cook in a medium flame until the sambar boil and raw smell leaves.

    Prepare Tadka

    • Heat a tadka pan with oil. Once its hot add mustard let it splutter. And then add Hing , Cumin, fenugreek seeds and chopped small onions. Saute for few secs and finally add dry red chili and curry leaves.
    • Switch off and add the prepared tadka to the cooked sambar.

    Garnish and Serve:

    • Combine everything and finally add finely chopped coriander leaves to sambar. Sambar is now ready to serve.

    Notes

    • Always soak the toor dal in water for about 15- 30 mins. This will help the dal to cook faster.
    • Cooking for more time removes the nutrients from the dal.
    • Serve hot with rice and ghee.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 158kcal | Carbohydrates: 17.4g | Protein: 5.5g | Fat: 7.8g | Saturated Fat: 2.1g | Sodium: 49mg | Potassium: 110mg | Fiber: 4.1g | Sugar: 3.3g | Calcium: 52mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @happietrio or tag #happietrio
    Subscribe to my Channelclick for more videos

    Disclaimer: I am not a nutritionist, the nutrition value provided here is an estimate. It will vary based on the quantity and brands of the products used.

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    Sharmila Kingsly

    Hi, I'm Joshie!

    Food Blogger, Biryani Lover , Software Engineer .. In no particular order.I love to cook and that is why I am here!! Welcome to my space!!. 

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