Traditional Kerala Style Sambar

Ingredients required for Kerala Style Sambar Recipe :

Vegetables required for sambar

Tuvar Dal/Split pigeon pea/Thuvara Parippu – 2/3 cup
Baby Brinjal – 4-5
Lady Finger/Okra – 5-6
Drumstick – 2
Yellow cucumber/Vellarikka – 1/2 cup (diced)
Ash Gourd/Petha/Kumbalanga – 1/2 (diced)
Broad beans – 3 -4
Onion – 1 big
Tomato – 3 (medium sized)
Green chillies – 2
Turmeric powder – 1/2 tsp
Sambar powder – 2 tsp
Salt- As per taste
Coconut Oil – 1 tsp (optional)

For the temepering

Ingredients for tempering

Onions/Shallots – 1 (small) (chopped finely)
Mustard seeds – 1/2 tsp
Tamarind/Puli – 1 tbsp
Curry leaves – 2 tbsp
Whole dry red chillies – 2-3
Asofoetida/Heeng/Kayam – 1/2 tsp
Red chilli powder – 1 tsp
Kashmiri lal mirch – 1/2 tsp
Coriander powder – 1 tsp
Oil – 1 tbsp

How to make Authentic Kerala Sambar :

1. Soak 1 tbsp of tamarind in 3/4 cup of warm water. Squeeze the pulp and filter the extract. Keep it aside.
   
2. Cut all the required vegetables. Transfer the diced brinjals in water for about 10 minutes to prevent any discolouration.
   
3. In a pressure cooker, heat 1 tsp of oil. Add the chopped onions and saute for 1-2 minutes.
   
4. Add all the vegetables including the brinjals and saute.
   
5. Add turmeric powder, coconut oil and salt.
   
6. Pour 3 cups of water and pressure cook for about 5- 6 minutes. Avoid over-cooking the vegetables.
   
7. In another pressure cooker, cook the tuvar dal until it turns slightly mushy.
   
8. When the vegetables have been cooked, transfer the cooked dal into it. Mix evenly.
   
9. Now for the tempering, heat oil in a separate pan.
   
10. Crackle the mustard seeds.
    
11. Add the whole red chillies and curry leaves and saute for few seconds.
    
12. Add the finely chopped onions. Saute till it turns slightly pink.
    
13. Now add asafoetida and all the spice powders mentioned under the section for tempering.
    
14. Add the tamarind extract.
    
15. Let it come to a rolling boil.
    
16. Add the tempering to the dal mixture. Stir well.
    
17. Add 2 tsp of sambar powder. Adjust salt. (Add more water if required).
    
18. Let the sambar come to a rolling boil. Simmer for further 5 minutes.
    
19. Your Kerala style vegetable sambar is ready. Serve hot with rice, idli, dosa or vada.
    

Related Recipes:

Kerala Red Coconut Chutney Recipe French Beans Thoran (Kerala-Style Payar Thoran) Kerala Style Karela Fry (Pavakka Mezhukkupuratti) Recipe Instant Rava Dosa – Sooji Dosa Recipe Beetroot Thoran (Kerala Style) Masala Idli Kerala style Cheera Thoran – Red Spinach (Laal Bhaji) Thoran Soft Idli – How to make Idli and its batter