A Spicy Affair
Spice up your taste buds
Sambar with homemade Sambar powder !!
In Thanjavur ( Located in Tamil Nadu) there was a ruler called Shahuji in 18th century. He was expecting his cousin as guest.His Cousin Shambaji liked dishes made of kokum. The king ran out of stock of Kokum and experimented A dish made of vegetables and base as tamarind pulp instead of kokum. Shambaji liked what the ruler made and asked for more. Court also liked the dish and named the dish "Sambar" in the name of the guest who visited that day. Today Kerala, Karnataka, Andra Pradesh and Tamil nadu makes Sambar in their own distinct way. My mom is a Tamilian and her Sambar is famous among our friends and relatives. She prepares a Sambar powder herself which she stores for rest of the year , for making Sambar. When ever i use to go home she use to powder the spices and make Sambar powder and give me, so she made my work very easy :) This time i ran out of stock !! The powder she gave me when i went last vacation got over . I called her up and asked the measurements of ingredients for Sambar powder and prepared one, Then made Sambar with it. It was very distinct experience , the Aroma filled the house ... my son came up to me ( it's very difficult for him to get up while he is concentrating on Cartoons ) and asked me what i was making .I'm sharing my Mom's Recipe for making Sambar Powder and a Simple basic Sambar which could be made quickly with it.
Ingredients for Making Sambar Powder

1) Channa Dal - 3/4 Cup
2) Rice - 1/2 Cup
3) Urad Dal - 1/4 Cup
4) Coriander Seeds - 1 Cup
5) Dried Red Chilly - 10 in quantity
6) Jeera - 2 tbsp
7) Fenugreek Seeds - 1tsp
8) Black Peppercones - 1tbsp
9) Curry Leaves - 1/2 Cup
10) Asafoetida powder - 1tbsp
11) Turmeric POwder - 1/2 tbsp

Method for preparing Sambar Powder

Please go through the Slides on right, for knowing how to prepare Sambar powder.



Ingredients for preparing Tomato Sambar

Sambar could be made with different vegetables, you can make Onion Sambar, tomato Sambar, Lady's Finger Sambar, Varutharacha ( we use dry roasted coconut paste )Sambar, Brinjal Sambar, Drumstick sambar and there is an end less list. I'm making a Basic Tomato Sambar.


1) Onions - 1/4 Cup Chopped Onions
2) Tomato - 1/2 Cup Chopped Tomato
3) Lady's Finger - 1 Finely Chopped.
4) Arhar Dal /Toor Dal - 1/2 Cup
5) Tamarind Extract - Take a marble sized tamarind and soak in 1/2 cup of water and extract the juice.
6) Water - 2 Cups
7)Salt - As per taste
8) Mustard Seeds 1/4 tsp, 2-3 Dry red Chilly, 2-3 Curry leaves,
and Coriander leaves for seasoning and for Garnish.
9) Master Ingredient !! Home made Sambar Powder - 2-3 tbsp.
10) Refined Oil - 3-4 tsp.

Method of preparing Tomato Sambar

Please go through the Slides adjacent to know how i make Tomato Sambar.
It's optional to add Lady's finger in Tomato Sambar, because ideally tomato Sambar is made only with tomatoes and Onions. I added them because my son likes lady's finger.

Health Benefits

Sambar is based on Lentil, tamarind and the spice mix.Lentils give you the benefit of protein, tamarind had lots of Vitamin C which boosts your immune and Spice mix has benefits of cleansing your kidney, throat. Good for Digestion.The Spices support our immune system. Vegetables which are added serves as value additives, here we added tomatoes which are rich in antioxidants. It becomes even more healthier when you make it from everything available, and made at home !!


In a Cooking vessel Dry roast Channa Dal, Rice and Urad Dal.
Once they are roasted cool them , by spreading them on a flat surface , i used a Plate.
Sambar powder is prepared. Now store it in an Air tight Container. You can use this powder up to an year ! Free of any chemical preservatives :)
In a Cooking vessel Dry roast Channa Dal, Rice and Urad Dal.
Take Half Cup Toor Dal , Add 3/4 Cup water and Cook in a pressure cooker for 3-4 whistles or until Dal becomes soft.
Add Tamarind extract to the Cooked Dal and keep it Separate for later use.
Garnish with some coriander leaves and serve them hot with Idly/Dosa or rice.
Take Half Cup Toor Dal , Add 3/4 Cup water and Cook in a pressure cooker for 3-4 whistles or until Dal becomes soft.