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.
Toor Dal
Water
Canned Tomatoes
Onion
Sugar
Salt
Turmeric
Cayenne Pepper
Sambhar Powder
Tamarind Concentrate
Frozen Pearl Onions
Green Beans
Ghee
Black Mustard Seeds
Dried Red Chilis
Curry Leaves
Cilantro
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.
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.
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.