Sambar - Traditional Keral style Vegetable Curry

Sambar is one of the popular South Indian vegetable curry. Specialty of this curry is that its made with verity of vegetables. You can add any veggies while preparing this dish. Common veggies that I uses are potatoes, tomatoes, big onions, green chillies, ladies finger, egg plant and drumstick. You can add ivy gourd,  beans, beetroot, cucumber [Vellarikka/ Kheera], snake gourd, yam etc. 

Tuvar dal/ split pigeon peas are another main ingredient of this recipe. This lentil is rich in protein and adds thickness and flavor to the sambar. 

Sometimes I used to add tamarind juice if the sambar is lacking enough pleasant sour taste. You can prepare it by  socking tamarind in little bit of water for sometime and extract the juice by squeezing it. Add this juice once the veggies are cooked well.

See below ingredients and step by step instructions with pictures

Ingredients 

1. Split pigeon peas/ Tuvar dal - 1 cup
2. Onion - 4 medium sized
3. Potato - 2 large
4. ladies finger - 6
5. Green chilli - 6
6. tomato - 5 small sized
7. Egg plant- 3 medium sized
8. Curry leaves 
9. Salt to taste

   Spice powders

1. Red chilli powder - 1 small tablespoon
2. Coriander powder - 2 tablespoon
3. Fenugreek powder - 1/2 small tablespoon
4. Asafoetida - 1/2  small tablespoon

   For tampering

1. Mustard seed - 1/2 tablespoon
2. Onion - 1 small (cut into rounds)
3. Dried red chilli - 1

Instructions

• Wash lentils until the water is clean. Drain it and put it in a pressure cook

• Cut green chillies and ladies finger lengthwise and rest all veggies as cubes. Add the chopped veggies into the pressure cooker.

• Add salt and turmeric powder to the vessel.

• Add water to the cooker till the level of vegetables. Close the lid and pressure cook until the veggies are cooked well. Waite for 2-3 whistle. Turn off the flame and let all the pressure release from cooker.

• Open the lid and add redchilli powder, coriander powder, fenugreek powder, asafoetida and curry leaves to the cooker. Mix well and cook it for 3-4 minutes. Stir occasionally.

• Tasty sambar is ready. Enjoy it with hot rice/ dosa.😊

Hope you like this recipe. Please leave your feedback.

Happy eating ;)