This Sambar recipe will show you how to make sambar and get a wonderful soup to go with your Indian meals. This is an authentic sambar recipe for an Andhra Sambar--one that has been handed down for generations.
What Makes This Sambar Recipe So Good
This sambar recipe has a few more steps than my typical recipes, but I can guarantee that you will find it well worth it--because this makes some of the best homemade sambars I've ever had in my life!
- Fast. Done in about half an hour.
- Low Carb. Only 9 net carbs per serving.
- Authentic. Tastes just like Shubha's recipe, but made simple in your Instant Pot.
- Delicious. Packed with flavor and a perfect comfort meal.
I can say this without any false pride--because this is Shubha Iyengar's recipe that I tweaked to make just a few changes. But it's not just Shubha's sambar recipe--it's a recipe that has been in her family for generations--minus the Instant Pot of course! Let's let Shubha tell us a bit about this.
What Is The Origin Of Sambar?
A sambar is a South Indian lentil and vegetable stew made with lentils, tamarind, and a special sambar spice mix. There are as many sambar spice mixes as there are households. There are also many different variations of sambar. But a basic sambar recipe will have a mix of a few different vegetables, tamarind extract, lentils, sambar powder, and a few other spices.
Shubha's Story Behind This Andhra Sambhar Recipe
My maternal grandfather was a priest at the Ranganathaswamy temple in a small village called Thondapadu in Ananthapur district of Andhra Pradesh. Being a priest, it was very important that sumptuous Prasadam was offered to the Lord which would then get distributed to the bhaktadis / visitors to the temple
It was imperative the food be made with extreme love--and it had to be very delicious. My grandmother was in control of the kitchen. How she made such delicious prasadam was out of the world to me, which then was translated to her daughters and through my mother to me.
Though we have adapted to the new-gen taste these days, the recipes that have been signature to the way it was made has never changed in our households.
Whenever we make such recipes at home, it brings alive all those eternal lovely memories of our childhood, playing on the temple streets, cleansing near the main gate with my grandmother and her daughters drawing the Rangoli in wee hours of the morning, prasadam distribution and eating that lovely meal.
Now thanks to Shubha, we too can enjoy this sambar recipe at home.
Is Sambar Spicy?
In most Indian homes, the family makes their own spice blend (as I have done with this recipe). It can be adjusted to suit the preferred heat level of the family. My particular spice blend is very family-friendly and not too spicy.
If the heat level proves to be too spicy for your tastes, simply reduce the amount of cayenne you add to the mix.
How To Make Instant Pot Sambar
There are a few steps to follow in making this Instant Pot Sambar recipe:
- Make a sambar spice blend. If you don't want to do this, you can buy a ready-made sambar powder blend as well.
- Cook the toor dal with spices, tomatoes, and aromatics first.
- Use an immersion blender to blend this dal. This step is not typical, and Shubha says she's not aware of other families doing this either. But I tried it, and it really does make the sambar a lot smoother and more homogenous, and I found I preferred the second batch of sambar I made by following this method.
- Quick cook some vegetables into it. This is also when we add the tamarind concentrate. We add this later since tamarind can retard the dal from cooking.
- Do a tadka using a tadka ladle or a small heat-proof pan. I debated this last step since I don't typically like to dirty that many dishes. But I will say it makes a difference, so don't skimp on it.
- While it is possible to make this stovetop, I think this Sambhar recipe is perfect in Instant Pot or another electric pressure cooker. Pressure cookers just make really quick work of cooking lentils.
Can You Freeze Sambhar?
As with many soups, this Instant Pot Sambar recipe can be frozen and reheated later. My suggestion is to freeze in single-serving sizes to reheat in a pinch. I love to use my Souper Cubes for this, as they make perfect portion sizes.
What Can Be Eaten With Sambar?
- Coconut Rice
- Naan
- Chapatis
- Chicken Tikka Bites
- Instant Pot Rice
Tips And Tricks For Making Sambar
- You can use ready-made sambhar masala for this recipe if you prefer.
- You can use other vegetables such as diced pumpkin, chopped eggplant, or whole okra as well.
Looking For More Great Recipes To Make With These Ingredients?
I know I'm asking you to get a few specialty ingredients for this Instant Pot Sambar such as toor dal, sambhar powder, curry leaves, etc. So here are some recipes you can make with some of your leftover ingredients!
- You can use the toor dal to make Pressure Cooker Rice and Dal.
- You can use the sambhar powder in this super simple Spicy Cauliflower Soup.
- Also, you can use the curry leaves in this Dry Sesame Garlic Chutney.
See? I never ask you to buy something for one recipe only!
So whether you're looking for an opening course for an Indian meal or you're just looking for a delicious and filling soup, you're sure to love this Sambar recipe! Make sure to share this recipe with your friends on Pinterest and Facebook so that they can enjoy it as well!
Equipment
Ingredients
First Cooking Cycle For Sambar
- 1/2 cup Toor Dal
- 2.5 cups Water
- 1 cup Canned Tomatoes
- 1 Onion, roughly chopped
- 1.5 tablespoons Sugar Or Other Sweetener Equivalent, or jaggery
- 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 1 teaspoon Turmeric
- .5-1 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
- 1 batch Sambhar powder
Second Cooking Cycle For Sambar
- 1 tablespoon Tamarind Concentrate
- 2 cups Water
- ½ cup Frozen Pearl Onions
- ½ cup green beans, cut 2 inches long
For Tadka
- 2 teaspoon Ghee, or oil for vegan option
- 1 teaspoon Black Mustard Seeds
- 2 whole Dried Red Chilis
- 4-5 curry leaves
Garnish
- 2 tablespoons Cilantro, finely chopped
Instructions
First Cooking Cycle
- Make sure you have your Sambar Masala blend made up. You can either make the sambar spice blend at home using this recipe or you can use a ready-made sambar powder blend. If you're using the homemade blend, use the whole batch for this recipe. For store-bought masala, use 1 tablespoon if you like it moderately spicy or adjust downward as needed.
- Add dal, water, tomatoes, chopped onion, sugar, salt, turmeric, cayenne and sambhar spice blend to the inner liner of your Instant Pot.
- Cook for 10 minutes at high pressure. Allow the pot to sit undisturbed for 10 minutes, and then release all remaining pressure.
- Using an immersion blender, blend together the dal and vegetables. You are doing this to create a flavorful mix and to keep the dal from settling to the bottom in what will be a relatively thin broth.
Second Cooking Cycle:
- To the blended dal mixture, add 2 cups water, the tamarind concentrate, and the frozen vegetables.
- Cook for 2 minutes at high pressure and then immediately release all remaining pressure.
- On the stovetop in a small pan (preferably a tadka ladle), heat 1 tablespoon of ghee. When it is hot, add mustard seeds, the whole red chilies, and the curry leaves. Stand back and allow the mustard seeds to splutter about 30 seconds.
- Pour this hot, flavored ghee onto the sambhar, garnish with chopped cilantro and serve.
- You can use ready-made sambhar masala for this recipe if you prefer
- You can use other vegetables such as diced pumpkin, chopped eggplant, or whole okra as well
Get support & connect with our community on Facebook!
Nutrition
Originally published March 4, 2018
Want More Instant Pot Recipes?
- Instant Pot Butter Chicken is an easy 30-minute dinner and you can make rice on top of it, as the video shows.
- Pressure Cooker Rice and Dal is a great vegetarian rice dinner.
- This Lebanese Lentil and Rice dish is another great Vegetarian Instant Pot recipe.
- Instant Pot Indian Khichadi is comfort food in a bowl!
- Instant Pot Risotto with Shrimp is another one-pot comfort meal.
- Buffalo chicken casserole for the days you want low carb recipes
- You might also like low carb Chicken Biryani that uses riced cauliflower.
- Chicken and Mushrooms are a great combo.
- My kids love Instant Pot Pork Chops with Rice and Vegetables
- Zucchini Lasagna- You won't even miss the pasta.
- Haluski Recipe - A wonderful cabbage and noodles recipe.
Don't forget to check out my other Best-selling Instant Pot Cookbooks!
Indian Instant Pot, Keto Instant Pot, Instant Pot Fast and Easy, Healthy Instant Pot & Vegetarian Instant Pot.
Raj S.
This is very authentic. I have made sambar before but something was missing. This recipe nails it. I added asparagus and a chopped potato.
URVASHI PITRE
I love this sambar too. I need to make this with idlis
Jsp
Hi. I have my mom's sambar powder. In that case how much quantity should I use?
URVASHI PITRE
Hmm I don’t really know as it will depend on the powder. But try 1 tablespoon and see? You can always add more
Sn
I made sambhar for the first time using this recipe and it turned out delicious. I added a little more tomato and salt at the end for taste but what a great recipe!
Tina
In the picture, I noticed some Gol Gappas - My Childhood favorite . If you know the recipe, can you please post that soon.
URVASHI PITRE
I don’t have a good pani recipe from scratch. I use swad pani puri chutney an Everest masala ????