Sambar (Spicy Lentil and Vegetable Stew)

Sambar is a spicy South Indian vegetable stew featuring lentils, pumpkin, and okra flavored with chiles, tamarind, sambar powder, and curry leaves.

• Preparation Time: 25 mins
• Cooking Time: 60 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 25 mins
• Calories: 211 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• salt to taste
• 6 cloves garlic, sliced
• 1 tomato, chopped
• 1 cup chopped okra
• ½ cup peas
• 6 cups water, or more as needed
• 1 tablespoon mustard seeds
• 4 dried red chile peppers
• ½ cup tamarind pulp
• 1 pinch red chile powder, or to taste
• 2 cups toor dal (pigeon peas)
• 1 cup peeled, chopped pumpkin
• ½ cup sliced red radishes
• 2 tablespoons dried curry leaves
• 1 tablespoon sambar powder

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Combine water, toor dal, onion, tomato, pumpkin, okra, peas, and radishes in a pot. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and cook until dal, pumpkin, and radishes start to soften, 30 to 40 minutes.

Step 2

Heat oil in a small pan over medium heat and add mustard seeds. Stir in garlic, red peppers, curry leaves, and sambar powder. Cook until fragrant, about 5 minutes.

Step 3

Stir seasoned oil mixture into the stew and cook until flavors combine, 25 to 30 minutes more. Stir in tamarind, salt, and red chile powder.