Sambar
I would like to just start out this blog post by disclosing that this is not the authentic sambar recipe from a South Indian mom's kitchen. This is a gujju-fied, cheater's version that comes together super quick and is really flavorful and tasty in its own right.
Ingredients
Dal mixture
- 2 cups tuvar dal
- 4 cups water
- 2 tsp salt
Veggies/Tempered Spices
- 1/3 cup neutral oil
- 3 dried chilies
- 2 tsp cumin seeds jeera
- 2 tsp mustard seeds rai
- 1 tsp turmeric avej
- 3 tsp Lal mirch
- 4 tsp sambar masala
- 1 tbsp ginger paste
- 1 medium onion diced
- 1-2 carrots diced
- 2 tomatoes diced
- 1 bell pepper diced
- 1 medium russet potato diced
- 3/4 cups peas
- 10 curry leaves chopped
- 1 tbsp salt
- 4 cups water
- Juice of 1/2 lime
- 1 cup sweet tamarind chutney
Instructions
- Wash tuvar dal a few times until the water runs clear. Pressure cook the tuvar dal for 10 minutes on medium heat. Do not drain the dal, instead, blend the water and dal together to form a mixture.
- In a separate vessel, preferably a large pot, heat oil on medium flame. Add all mustard seeds, cumin seeds, and dried chilies, let them splutter, and toast for 30 seconds. Add all veggies, ginger paste, garlic paste, curry leaves, dry spices, and salt. Continuously stir until veggies are slightly soft.
- Add dal mixture to the veggies and stir. Add tamarind chutney and lemon juice. Adjust any salt or spice to your taste and serve with warm idlis or dosa!