Instant Sambar Masala Powder - How to make Instant Sambar Without Adding Dal

This is an instant premix for making sambar.  All you need to do is just boil the veggies along with this mix.  No soaking or cooking of dal or grinding coconut.  If you do have any  vegetables you can still make this and it will taste good.

It is very convenient to have a ready  mix at home rather than relying on store bought premixes. A well know fact is that a  South Indian meal is never complete unless there is Sambar or Rasam. 

Making a delicious sambar takes time. This instant sambar masala mix is a great boon. All you have to do pick up any vegetables you have or love , mix this instant sambar mix with water and boil it with the vegetables, a delicious sambar is ready to enjoy. It taste just as good as normal sambar , its just that there is no hassle and its absolutely quick to make

Now days I use this only to make sambar at home.   If, sometimes  there is any leftover cooked tur dal, just add that too to this mix, it helps in thickening the sambar faster.

I, have prepared this ready sambar mix and sent to may friends abroad.  Write the method of preparation on paper and stick it to the packet so that they can easily make this Sambar. You can even give it to your son or daughter when they leave for  Universities/Colleges away from home , who, need a taste of good home food. 

The ingredients are for a basic South Indian Sambar, adjust the spiciness to get your taste.
Ingredients

6 Tablespoons Heaped Tur Dal / Yellow Split Pigeon Peas
1 Tablespoon Heaped Chana Dal
6 Dried Byadgi Chillies 

4 - 5 Kashmiri Chillies
½ Teaspoon Asafoetida powder or Crystal
4 Tablespoons Heaped Coriander seeds
½ Teaspoon Black pepper corns
½ Teaspoon Fenugreek seeds

1 Tablespoon Roasted Gram / Putane
1 Big Lemon Size Tamarind
2 Tablespoons Raw Rice
1 Teaspoon Turmeric powder

10 to 12 Curry Leaves

For the Tempering

1 Tablespoon Mustard seeds
2 Tablespoons Oil
1 Sprig Curry Leaves 

3 - 4 Red Chillies

Method
Heat a pan / skillet with a teaspoon of oil and roast each ingredient (including the asafoetida powder / crystals, and the tamarind ( after breaking it up into small bits. ))separately till lightly golden, or till it releases an aroma, do not burn ingredients or else it will give an burnt taste to sambar.  Remove each ingredients on to a kitchen towel and let cool completely.   Keep them aside.

Fry the curry leaves till crisp and add to ingredients while powdering .  

Then grind all the ingredients to a fine powder.

For the Tempering

In a tadka pan heat oil, add the mustard seeds, when they  splutter,  add the red chillies and  curry leaves when they are crisp, take off flame. Pour it on to the prepared mix.

 When the mix has cooled completely store in an airtight container.

How to prepare the sambar 

Take a kadai / pot ,  add a cup or 2 of water depending on quantity of sambar you need.

For instance I took around 400 ml of water and added 3 tablespoons heaped  of the prepared mix. 

Mix the powder well in water, add finely cut vegetables like potatoes, carrots, tomatoes (a must), pumpkin or which ever veggies to enjoy eating . Add salt to taste,  as it is not added in the mix and place it on high flame stirring continuously till it comes to a boil.  Reduce the flame and let the veggies cook, stirring at intervals so that it does not burn at the bottom.

When the vegetables are  cooked perfectly, make adjustments to the sambar , taste for salt and sourness, check the gravy consistency,  which would have reduced or thickened, so add  water accordingly and  bring it to rolling boil.

Although there is no need to add any cooked dal as dal is already added in the mix, if preparing at home and cooked dal is readily available, add the dal to thicken.

This  Sambar can also be thickened by gently mashing potatoes with the ladle.  Garnish with coriander leaves, can give a little more tadka too after the Sambar is ready, this is optional. Enjoy with Idli or rice.

Labels:Instant premixes ,Bachelor Recipe, Instant Sambar Without Dal, South Indian, Vegetarian

Ragi Idli With Drumstick Sambar/Murungakkai Sambar#SundayFunday

Ragi idli are steamed cakes made with Ragi/Finger millets & urad dal. Traditionally idli recipe is made with urad dal and idli rice. Ragi Idli are so soft and spongy, nutritious millet it's also vegan, gluten free and a gut friendly breakfast , meal or snack.

Ragi is also know as Finger Millet which along with other millet varieties are a fine choice for people living with diabetes, as it's higher in fiber, minerals, and amino acids than white rice. Ragi has also the highest plant-based calcium, minerals, protein and dietary fibers.

Ingredients
1 Cup Ragi
1 Cup Idli Rice
¾ Cup Urad dal
¼ Teaspoon Methi/ Fenugreek seeds
1 Teaspoon Oil
Salt as required

Method
Soak Idli rice for 4-5 hours in a bowl.

Soak Urad dal & methi seeds in another bowl for 4-5 hours.
Drain the water.

Grind all the ingredients to very smooth batter by adding as little as water as possible to a paste.

Pour the batter in the large pot/vessel & mix it thoroughly with your hands for about 3 - 4 minutes so that it get fluffy and this also helps in good fermentation of the batter.
Keep this batter overnight for fermentation.
Next day add salt as per taste & mix batter gently. Grease the idli mold & pour a ladle full of batter into each slot. 

Steam the idlis for 12 to 15 minutes. Serve hot.

Drumstick Sambar Recipe / Murungakkai Sambar

A delicious Sambar plays a important roll in South Indian lunch menu. No festival or marriage function meal is complete without it. Each region in South India has its own way of making it. I have posted quite a lot of sambar variation on blog, you can check them out.

This is a different sambar recipe which is made with drumstick and three different dals. So it is really healthy one. The drumstick added in this gives a very unique taste to the sambar and flavors the sambar a lot. I used my homemade sambar powder for this, that too enhanced the taste a lot. So try this out and let me know how it turned out for you.

Serves 5 to 6
Ingredients
¼ Cup Tur Dal
¼ Cup Masoor Dal
¼ Cup Moong Dal
6 to 7 Shallots / Sambar Onion - peeled
3 -4 Drumsticks - cut into pieces
2 Tablespoon Tamarind Pulp
Salt to taste
1 Teaspoon Jaggery
3 to 4 Tablespoons Homemade Sambar Powder
For Tadka / Tempering
1 Tablespoon Oil
1 Teaspoon Mustard Seeds
½ Teaspoon Cumin Seeds
¼ Teaspoon Asafoetida

Method 

Wash all the dals well. Add it to a pot along with shallots. Cover with water. Bring it to boil, cover and simmer until the dal is 80% cooked. Now add in drumstick, salt, jaggery, tamarind pulp, sambar powder and mix well. Bring this to boil and simmer again for 20 mins till everything is cooked.

Now make make the tadka by heating oil and crackling mustard and cumin. Add in asafoetida and mix well.

Pour this over the sambar and mix well.

Enjoy these Ragi Idli's with Drumstick Sambar Recipe / Murungakkai Sambar and Thakkali Chammanthi / Tomato Chutney,

Labels: Sambar, Drumsticks, South Indian, Ragi, Idli, Main course, Breakfast, Snack, Millets, Sunday Funday, Vegan, Gluten free, Healthy

For Sunday Funday we are sharing Millet recipes.

• Buttery Herb Millet by Food Lust People Love
• Puffed Millet Granola by A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Ragi Idli With Drumstick Sambar/Murungakkai Sambar by Sneha's Recipes
• Ragi Rotti by Mayuri’s Jikoni
• Porso Millet Idli by Cook with Renu

Stuffed Potato Masala Idli With Pumpkin Sambar#SundayFunday

Stuffed Potato Masala Idli is so soft and make a perfect filling brunch. These are filled healthy are more healthier than the normal idlis with delicious pumpkin sambar, and, I am sure all idli fans would love to have this. Check here how to grind idli batter.  

Ingredients
3 Medium Potatoes - boiled, peeled and mashed
1 Tablespoon Oil
1 Teaspoon Mustard seeds
1 Teaspoon Split Urad Dal
1 Medium Onion - finely chopped
1 Medium Tomato - finely chopped
2 Green chillies - finely chopped
⅓ Teaspoon Turmeric powder
2 Tablespoons Coriander leaves - finely chopped
Salt To Taste
Homemade Idli Batter - As needed
For The Pumpkin Sambar
½ Cup Tuvar Dal
2 Cups Water
½ Teaspoon Turmeric Powder
For The Pumpkin Sambar
1 Medium Lauki - can use Red Pumpkin - cut into cubes
1 Onion - sliced
2 Green chillies
2 Teaspoons Homemade Sambhar Powder or to taste
Salt to taste
1 Teaspoon Jaggery
2 Teaspoons Tamarind Paste or to taste
Water as needed
2 Tablespoons Oil
1 Teaspoon Mustard Seeds
¼  Teaspoon Asafoetida
A sprig Curry Leaves - a sprig

2 Dried Red Chillies 

Method

For The Potato Masala

Heat a kadai with oil, add the mustard seeds and spilt urad dal, when the dal changes color. Add in the finely chopped onions, green chillies, fry till onion turns transparent.
Add the tomatoes and potatoes fry for a minute in medium flame. Add turmeric and salt to taste. Cover and cook on low flame for 2 -3 minutes. Sprinkle water if its too dry and mash them lightly so that all the flavors blend well. Add coriander leaves. Switch off the flame and let it cool.

Once cooled make small balls and lightly flatten it to fill in the idli, keep aside.
Let's Make The Pumpkin Sambar

Wash and soak the dal for at least an hour.
Take dal, water and turmeric powder in a pressure cooker. Cover and pressure cook for 3 whistles. Turn off the cooker and let the cooker cool completely. Open and mash the dal well add the pumpkin and take one more whistle on high flame. Let the cooker cool completely. 

Heat oil in a pot/kadai. Add in mustard seeds when they crackle add in curry leaves, dried red chillies and asafoetida. Sauté for a minute. Reserve some for pouring on top. Add in onions, Sauté this for a minute or till translucent. Add in the sambar powder and mix well. Add in cooked dal and pumpkin, tamarind pulp and water to make  the sambar. Mix well. Add in salt to taste and jaggery. Mix well, bring this to boil, let it simmer on low flame for 5 to 8 minutes stirring in between. Switch off the flame. Pumpkin Sambar is ready to serve.

To Make The Stuffed Idli

Grease the idli plate and then pour a half ladle of batter and spread evenly. 

Now place the ball of the potato ball in the center and again pour the idly batter to cover it.
Steam the idli for 12 - 15 minutes. 

Cool and with a knife or spoons remove the idli's from the mold. 

Serve hot with Pumpkin Sambar, Enjoy!! 

Labels: Sambar, Sambar powder, Pumpkin, Idli, Stuffed, Potato, Main course, Brunch, Homemade, Vegan, Gluten free, Healthy, South Indian, Sunday Funday

Sunday FunDay - 23 April 2023 - Spring Brunch   

• Baked Garlic Cheese Grits from Palatable Pastime
• Breakfast Tarts from Mayuri's Jikoni
• Lobster Bruschetta from Food Lust People Love
• Strawberry Rhubarb Muffins from Amy's Cooking Adventures
• Stuffed Potato Masala Idli with Pumpkin Sambar from Sneha's Recipe
• Torijas with Honey Orange Syrup from A Day in the Life on the Farm

Sambar Recipe ( Without Coconut)

Sambar is prepared many different ways in Kerala,Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, where it usually has one or two vegetables and the flavors are adjusted a bit according to the vegetable added. In this sambar I add brinjal, potatoes, drumsticks, onions or shallots, gherkins (tendli), red pumpkin, okra,tomato and sometimes capsicum too. This sambar can be served with rice, idli, and dosa and the amount of tamarind is adjusted to accordingly.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup of Tur dal
1 small line size tamarind soaked in a cup of water
1 onion, sliced long
2 gherkins (tendli) sliced into 4
1 potato, cubed
1 tomato chopped into 4
1 drumstick, cut into 4" pieces
1 brinjal cut into 4 pieces
2 okras chopped into 2 pieces
3 red pumpkins chopped in large chunks
1/4 tsp of turmeric powder
2 green chilies, slit
3 tablespoon sambar powder
1 tablespoon coriander leaves, chopped, for garnish

For tempering
1 tbsp oil
1 teaspoon mustard seeds
1/2 teaspoon of hinge/asafoetida
A few curry leaves
4-5 shallots sliced

Method
Cook the tur dal with water in a pressure cooker until it's soft and yet grainy.
Extract the juice from the tamarind and discard pulp and seeds. Cook the vegetables and green chillies in the tamarind water and 2 cups of water until soft. Add the sambar powder and the cooked toor dal. Bring to boil. If the sambar is too thick, add more water and bring to boil until the right consistency.
Heat the oil for tempering in a small pan. Add the mustard seed and when they splutter, add the rest of the ingredients. When the shallots turn golden brown, pour into the prepared sambar. Mix well and garnish with chopped coriander leaves. This can be had with rice, idli, dosa, uttapam etc. 

Labels: Vegetables, Lentils, South Indian, Main course, Vegan

Moong Dal Sambar

This sambar I, have enjoyed, during my stay in Bangalore. I use to have this for breakfast every day with idli, dosa or vadas and filter coffee. I made it for our lunch along with Instant Urad Dal Flour & Rava Medhu Vadas. This was a classic combo which revived memories of my stay in Bangalore.

Serves 4 to 5
Ingredients
9 -10 Sambar Onions/Shallots - peeled
2 Small Tomatoes - chopped finely
A Small Lime size Tamarind - soaked in 1/4 cup warm water
½ Cup Yellow Moong Dal
1 Teaspoon Sambar Powder
¼ Teaspoon Turmeric powder
A Pinch Asafoetida
Salt to taste
1 Tablespoon Oil
A Sprig Curry Leaves
¼ Cup Packed Freshly Grated Coconut
For the Masala  
1 Teaspoon Oil
1 Tablespoon Coriander seeds
1 Teaspoon Chana Dal
4 Whole Dry Red Chillies
¼ Cumin Seeds
10 Grains Fenugreek Seeds
For the Tadka 
1 Teaspoon Mustard Seeds
2 Dry Red Chillies
A Sprig Curry Leaves
1 Tablespoon Oil
A Pinch of Asafoetida  

Method 

Fry all the ingredients under Masala in a teaspoon of oil separately, till fragrant and they start to turn brown. Grind the roasted ingredients well. I used half of the dry powdered masala ( keep the remaining in a airtight container with a label and used it the next time to make  sambar) and again ground it along with the freshly grated coconut and a little water to a thick fine smooth masala paste.

Wash and soak the dal for 30 minutes. Then pressure cook the dal for 3 whistles on high flame by adding  1½ cup water and a pinch of turmeric powder to it.

In a pan, heat a tablespoon of oil and fry the sambar onions for a minute, add the tomatoes and cook till tomatoes become mushy, 

add the tamarind extract(soak very little tamarind in hot water and extract juice), sambar powder, turmeric powder, curry leaves and salt, stir well. Now add the cooked moong dal and the ground paste. Add 2 cups of water or as per your desired consistency. 

Bring this to a rolling boil and then reduce to flame to low, let it simmer for 8 -10 minutes, keep stirring after every two minutes so that the dal does not settle to the bottom of the pan and get burnt. Taste for salt and seasonings add if needed according to your taste. Switch off the flame.

Now let's make the Tadka

Heat oil in a tadka pan add the mustard seeds, when they splutter add the red chillies, asafoetida and curry leaves. Stir this with a spoon and pour it over the dal. Cover and let it sit for 10 minutes. Serve hot garnished with coriander leaves.

Enjoy with Instant Urad Dal Flour & Rava Medhu Vadas
 or ildi, dosa or even steamed rice.
Labels : South Indian,Moong Dal, Sambar, Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten free, Main course, Breakfast, Healthy

Pressure Cooker Carrot And Drumstick Sambar#MultiCookerMonday

This is quick one pot pressure cooker sambar, so quick an easy to prepare. Just add all the ingredients and take 2 whistles on high flame and your sambar is ready.  

Thanks to Multi Cooker Monday where we can cook and post in all our small appliances, where other wise are hardly used. 

Ingredients
½  Cup Tur Dal
1 Large  Carrot - cut int sticks 
1 Tomato –  cut into four pieces
4 Drumsticks - cleaned and cut into long pieces 
1 Green Chilly
2 Teaspoons  Instant Sambar Masala Powder- Homemade
1 Teaspoon Red Chilly Powder
1 Teaspoon Heaped Coriander Powder
½ Teaspoon Turmeric Powder
1 Small Lemon Size Ball Tamarind
Salt to taste
1 Teaspoon Jaggery
A Sprig Curry Leaves 
For the Tadka
2 Tablespoons Oil
1 Teaspoon Mustard Seeds
1 Teaspoon Urad dal
1 Teaspoon Cumin Seeds ¼ Teaspoon  Asafoetida
A Sprig Curry Leaves

Method

Wash and soak the tur dal for atleast an hour.
Soak the tamarind in ½ cup warm water.

In a pressure  pan , add tur dal,  drumsticks, carrot, tomatoes whole green chilly,  all the given spices, jaggery, salt to taste . Add water  to the level of the veggies , give it a good mix .  Place this on high flame bring the water to a boil, when it come to boil cover with the lid and pressure cook for 2 whistles on high flame. Turn off the heat and let the steam settle  by itself. Open the cooker and set aside.

Add the tamarind juice and enough water, to make a gravy consistency and bring this to a boil.  Let this simmer for at least 5  to 7 minutes on low.

In a small takda pan,  heat oil, add mustard, urad dal, cumin seeds , curry leaves and asafoetida and let them sizzle. Add  this tadak to the dal and mix well.

Serve with rice or idli.  

Enjoy!! 
Lables:  Sambar, Pressure Cooker, South Indian, Dal, Carrot, Drumstick, Instant Sambar Masala Powder, Vegetables, Vegetarian, Multicooker Monday,  Vegan, Gluten free,  No Onion No Garlic
Multicooker Monday - March 2020 Recipes
Recipes for Instant Pots, Slow Cookers, Sous Vide and More! 

Pressure Cooker & Instant Pot Recipes:
Instant Pot Carolina-Style Pulled Pork from Karen's Kitchen Stories
Instant Pot Orange Chicken from Making Miracles
Pressure Cooker Carrot And Drumstick Sambar from Sneha's Recipe
Thai Green Curry Mussels (Instant Pot) from Palatable Pastime

Slow Cooker Recipes:
Maple & Honey Butter Crockpot Sweet Potatoes from Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice
Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas from A Day in the Life on the Farm

Sous Vide Recipes:
Sous Vide Bone-in Leg of Lamb from Food Lust People Love
Sous Vide Chicken from Sid's Sea Palm Cooking

Tell your friends about #MulticookerMonday! We post each month on the third Monday with trusted recipes for your favorite small appliances!