SOUTH INDIAN KITCHEN BASICS #4 - MIxed Vegetable Sambhar- Learn how to make Sambhar with Homemade Sambhar powder

Pleasing to the person and to his palate, I am glad to add one more recipe to my South Indian Kitchen basics repertoire- Podi Potta Sambhar @ Sambhar with Homemade Sambhar powder. Sambhar powder is a South Indian counterpart to the North Indian Garam Masala ....So, a South Indian home without this basic and mundane recipe is unimaginable. 

Looking for Homemade Sambhar powder  ??  Click here... and then return here as we need it for the recipe given below.


 I have already discussed making fragrant Lentil soup in my previous post on "Araichuvitta Sambhar". Do check out the recipe here. The steps are almost similar to Araichuvitta Sambhar but the only difference is that we would use a ready-to-add spice mix instead of freshly roasted and ground spices. 

Preparation Time : 20 min             
Cooking Time : 20 min          
Cooking Level : Medium  
Cuisine: South Indian                       
Spice Level :  Medium                 
Recipe Source : MIL  
Serves: 4 
Nutrition Facts
Servings 10.0
Amount Per Serving
calories 52
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 4 g6 %
Saturated Fat 1 g5 %
Monounsaturated Fat 1 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0 g
Trans Fat 0 g
Cholesterol 0 mg0 %
Sodium 182 mg8 %
Potassium 118 mg3 %
Total Carbohydrate 16 g5 %
Dietary Fiber 2 g9 %
Sugars 2 g
Protein 5 g11 %
Vitamin A45 %
Vitamin C8 %
Calcium3 %
Iron3 %
* The Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet, so your values may change depending on your calorie needs. The values here may not be 100% accurate because the recipes have not been professionally evaluated nor have they been evaluated by the U.S. FDA.
                       
 INGREDIENTS
  • 2 carrot peeled and cubed
  • 3 Egg plants diced
  • 4-5 Ivy gourd, slit into two
  • 1/2 cup of water (to cook the vegetables)
TO PRESSURE COOK
  • 1 cup Toor Dhal
  • 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
  • A few drops of Castor Oil
  • 2 -2.5 cups of water 
CONCENTRATE AND SPICE POWDER
  • 2 cups of Tamarind extract (taken from gooseberry sized tamarind ball
  • 2 tsp+ 1/2 tsp Homemade Sambar powder
OTHER INGREDIENTS
  • 1 tbsp oil
  • a pinch of turmeric powder
  • 1/2 tsp Mustard seeds
  • Crystal Salt to taste
  • 1 tsp Sugar
  • 2 sprigs of curry leaves 
  • Freshly chopped Coriander leaves for garnish

METHOD
  • Soak Tamarind in 2 cups of water for 10-15 mins and gently extract the pulp. We require something with medium tartness. So, do not squeeze. Set this aside.
  • Wash the Dhal twice in running water. Add 2 to 2.5 cups of water,1/2 tsp of Turmeric powder and few drops of castor oil to the dhal + water before you start cooking. 
  • Pressure cook in medium flame to three whistles or until done. Churn with a whisk until blended yet.
  • Simultaneously, heat a thick bottomed vessel and cook the vegetables leaving eggplants with 1/2 cup of water and 2-3 crystals of salt and close with a lid. Keep the flame simmered. 
  • Now go back to the vessel in which the vegetables are being cooked. Once they are half done, add eggplants and continue to cook until done yet firm.
  • Drain excess water ( just  say half the quantity). Add a pinch of turmeric powder and salt along with the Tamarind extract and cook for 5 minutes. 
  • Once it begins to boil, add half of the sambar masala powder and continue to simmer for a few minutes. Mix the remaining sambhar powder with a little water to make a paste. 
  • Now add sugar ,the dhal + water mixture and the remaining sambhar masala paste and bring to a rolling boil. The mixture should have thickened by now to a thick soup.
  • Heat 1 tbsp of ghee. Add mustard seeds. When they pop, add two sprigs of fresh curry leaves and add this to the Sambhar. 
  • Finally, add freshly chopped coriander leaves. Turn off the heat.
  • Serve with hot rice, a drop of ghee and your favourite accompaniment. 
  • For more tips, check out the notes section in my Araichuvitta Sambhar post.

Comments

  1. thank you for sharing this...but cannot see the method steps...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Amrita. Thank you. I just checked. I am able to see the picture. You mean you are unable to see the step wise photos?

      Delete
  2. Hey Sowmya, I made this last weekend using your recipe. It wa sso differenmt than the regular Sambhar I make. Sunil loved it :) :D

    I shall post the recipe soon using your reference.

    ReplyDelete

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Happy Cooking
Sowmya

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