Sambar Recipe
Add a photo
1 of 1 Photo

Sambar

By: NAGARAM 
"Lightly spiced lentils in a tamarind and coconut sauce, tempered with Indian spices. Serve hot with rice. Try it with other vegetables too, such as potato, cauliflower or okra. The ingredients should be available at any Indian market or at specialty stores. The tamarind pulp may be substituted with reconstituted tamarind paste."

This Kitchen Approved Recipe has an average star rating of 4.0 Rate/Review | Read Reviews (4)

What to Drink?

Beer Beer
Prep Time:
30 Min
Cook Time:
15 Min
Ready In:
45 Min

Servings  (Help)

Calculate

 

Original Recipe Yield 4 servings
 

Ingredients

  • 1 cup yellow split peas (tuvar dal)
  • 2 cups water
  • 1/2 cup tamarind pulp
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 green bell pepper, sliced
  • 1 tomato, chopped
  •  
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons coriander seeds
  • 1 teaspoon yellow lentils (chana dal)
  • 1 tablespoon unsweetened flaked coconut
  • 2 dried red chile peppers
  •  
  • 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
  • 1 teaspoon mustard seed
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seed
  • 1/4 teaspoon asafoetida powder

Directions

  1. Place yellow split peas in a saucepan with 2 cups water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, and cook until soft, about 15 minutes. In another saucepan, mix together the tamarind pulp stir in 1/2 cup water to make a watery juice. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the bell pepper and tomato to the tamarind juice, and continue to boil until the vegetables are soft, and the liquid has reduced to almost half.
  2. Meanwhile, grind the coriander seeds, yellow lentils, coconut and chilies to a paste using a mortar and pestle or food processor. Add this paste to the tamarind sauce, then stir in the yellow lentils until everything is well blended. Bring to a boil once again, then remove from the heat and set aside.
  3. Heat oil in a small skillet over medium heat, and add the mustard seed, cumin seed, and asafoetida powder. Once the mustard seeds start to sputter and the mixture is fragrant, remove from heat and stir into sambar. Serve hot.

Nutritional Information open nutritional information

Amount Per Serving  Calories: 306 | Total Fat: 3.9g | Cholesterol: 0mg Powered by ESHA Nutrient Database

ADVERTISEMENT

   

The reviewer gave this recipe 4 stars. This recipe averages a 4.0 star rating.
Reviewed on Oct. 26, 2005 by fusionmealsrock   view full review
I suggest adding 4 large tomatoes instead of 1 and halving the tamarind. If you don't mind the...
The reviewer gave this recipe 4 stars. This recipe averages a 4.0 star rating.
Reviewed on Mar. 28, 2004 by 2INCREDULOUS   view full review
Better pre-soak the peas. They'll never get soft in just 15 minutes cooking (w/o pressure)....
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.0 star rating.
Reviewed on Feb. 5, 2006 by Tripti   view full review
Very nice
The reviewer gave this recipe 3 stars. This recipe averages a 4.0 star rating.
Reviewed on May 10, 2011 by sasmama   view full review
1/2 cup tamarind is too much, must be a typo. Cut the tamarind at least in half depending on...

 

recipe box See something worth saving?
Register now to save all your favorites in your Recipe Box.

Sign up for FREE Now!

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Videos

Cooking with Tofu

Learn how to marinate and cook with tofu.

How to Make Roasted Tomato Sauce

See how to make roasted tomato sauce served with goat cheese and pasta.

Homemade Pizza Sauce

See Chef John’s secret formula for making pizza sauce.

 
Select Your Version:  Argentina  |  Australia & New Zealand  |  Brazil  |  Canada  |  China  |  France  |  Germany  |  India  |  Japan  |  Korea  |  Mexico  |  Netherlands  |  Poland

Quebec  |  Russia  |  SE Asia  |  United Kingdom & Ireland  |  United States