How to make Sambar - A South Indian Recipe

[SuperLifelearner]

nice one...wil try ....i watch ur recipes...lyk it....and u both hav good chemistry.....good presentation...thanks :)

[vanitajai]

Shivratri rote

[shethaparna]

Tried your recipe and it came out great - the only difference was I put onion, green beans and small eggplant (din't have other veggies at home). It was yummy...thank you.

[mrskatmur]

I made it for my husband who comes from south India. He said I became a real Indian women :) I come from Poland :)

[ShowMeTheCurry]

@mrskatmur : What a wonderful compliment :) So proud of you :)

[jsenthil]

They not at all used Salt. Without Salt how should we use it to eat. Next time make the video with carefull.

[ShowMeTheCurry]

@jsenthil : Salt is used at 2:37 AND sambar powder does have a bit of Salt.... :)

[ShowMeTheCurry]

@jsenthil : Salt is used at 2:37 AND sambar powder does have a bit of Salt.... :)

[snadar1]

Hack Sambhar recipe!

No self respecting South Indian would make his/her sambhar without onions, whole red chillies and grated coconuts! Also, when you add spices into hot oil it kills the spicy taste. The tadka is only for garnish at the top and adding some oil!

[ShowMeTheCurry]

@snadar1 : We are not sure if you are aware that there are different types if Sambar - there are some recipes that do have coconut and some don't - this one does not :)

Cheers!

[snadar1]

@ShowMeTheCurry Fair enough, but I'd recommend adding some grated coconuts to the tamarind infused sambhar. It really heightens the taste and adds more body to the sambhar. Almost all South Indian dishes have coconuts (Chicken curry, Chutneys etc) in them given the ready availability of Coconuts in the South.

Also, a few whole red chillies in the tadka do wonders for the taste and presentation...

[ShowMeTheCurry]

@snadar1 : We intend to do a separate video on that one with grated coconut and fresh ground spices :) Y-U-M :)

[nishant86]

wow..that looks so nice :)Thanks for the recipe..

[janraval]

Thanks Anuja & Hetal.....it's really fantastic recipe....:)

[ragipala]

u r recepie in making of sambar is quick and simple .....definitely i will try it........thank you

[kavita1212thakur]

Great n totally different from other sambhar recipes. Lots of luv to anuja n hetal.

[22sebs]

wow... beautiful... am totally inspired to make one... cookin is an art!! :) thnk u so much..

[dhruv18100]

Thank you ShowmetheCurry, because of you from today I will have tasty sambar from today. You guys are doing great job!!! Keep it up.

[nhlalwenhlezondo]

I dont know why you do not get white women to do this recipe, you are so racist, lawls!

[swatiagarwal143]

No ginger, garlic or onlions???

[ShowMeTheCurry]

@swatiagarwal143 : You can use onions but ginger and garlic are not put in Sambar. It is a fantastic recipe, give it a shot :)

[swatiagarwal143]

@ShowMeTheCurry thank you:)



[swatiagarwal143]

@ShowMeTheCurry

thank you :)

[seahag1967]

I like the way you ladies put the words into your video. I watched all the way through the first time but when I went to prepare it, i didn't have to watch the entire video over again!

[amithbn]

The tadka was really a good idea. Thanks

[KUTTANtv]

thanks for teaching the recipie plz show me how to make the indian reciepe rajma masala !!!

[ShowMeTheCurry]

@KUTTANtv

Please see our video for Rajma on our youtube channel or website ShowMeTheCurry (dot) com.

[Lowsidr]

@KUTTANtv Thanks for the hint for the Tamarind....using fresh pulp pulled from the pod I would not have known to separate the fiber and seed, you saved me!

[shwetarajasekar]

I am a south indian, and we do not make sambar like this. The tamarind has to first be cooked very well with the vegetables and then the toor dal is added in the end.

[trappedinamadworld]

k..i dnt have a pressure cooker..how can i cook the dals and the veggies without the pressure cooker? thank u =)

[MrBillu1954]

I love you both ?

Good cooking knowldge

I want merry to you both

Balvir.bhachu@live.co.uk

[chefzul]

hi Hetal, greeting from Kuwait, am the exec chef in one of the 5 ***** hotel's and i served my set breakfast idli's and sambar. (exactly your recipes) all my in house guest appreciate...I name it "Mumbai Dream" ..thanks to both of you...luv it

[ShowMeTheCurry]

@chefzul

Thanks so much for the feedback...glad you're enjoying our show and recipes.

[SuperRinchen]

Absolute vegan diet.Love it

[niharika238]

I like your both and the show very much ! I come to you guys for reference time and again. Anuja, I feel you are simple and I like your simplicity a lot ! :)

thank you both.

[sighland]

Half the ingredients mentioned here are never used in traditional (read Kerala / Tamilnadu) kitchens. Carrot? winter melon? beans? staple dish 'all over' south India? This is almost as comical as Bengladeshis selling 'authentic Indian food' in London. Ladies, you might as well put in chunks of tuna and sliced sausages. Cheers. 'When in doubt, refer': Dr Johnson.

[crazyappu1]

@sighland very rude...this is an inspiration and plus they said that there is no fixed way of making sambhar.its nt comical at all and indians shud help each other rather than making them look like a fool..not cool at all

[ItsMsMargie]

Thanks, this looks very good.

[Rubyajay]

hiiiiiii mam I want a favour from both of u ..I m going to marry next month.. can i learn all recepies from u....... please give me some tips.......please I m so worried about this.becoz I m doing a job and I have so much time for this

[barbierocks5]

I tried this recipe..It was an excellent...Many people in india have different ways of preparing sambhar..This one is a lot easy and tastier. Only change i did was, First i cooked dhal and later added vegetables in same cooker along with sambhar powder. i avoided sugar. i feel sugar tastes gud on rasam.Thanks once again for this recipe

[brndmk]

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE GREAT RECIPE. I AM COOKING THE SAMBAR IN 5 MINUTES. YOU GUYS ROCK!!!!

[tamilprince2008]

i love u both. very beautiful

[catchahmed]

Thank you very much. Awesome sambhar!

[sreelekha1984]

after adding seasoning how many minutes should we cook.

[ShowMeTheCurry]

@sreelekha1984

After adding the seasoning, allow the sambar to come to a boil (2-3 minutes should be enough). You can get the detailed recipe (written) on our website: ShowMeTheCurry(dot)com.

[hitler1824]

@ShowMeTheCurry

[hitler1824]

@ShowMeTheCurry 

[280ji]

You guys have wonderful recipes. I learned so much from your videos. It would be nice if all Indians would be polite to one another and not disrespect each other regardless of which part of India we belong to. That being said I am from south India and I think these two wonderful Indian women are doing a fantastic job on teaching us different cuisines of India . Thanks Anuja and Hetal. Way to go!!

[ShowMeTheCurry]

@280ji

Thank you so much for your support!

[rameshrajak8686]

nice one i liked it...thx

[rameshrajak8686]

nice one...thx

[nelumvila]

excellent recipe. did not use pressure cooker. but the tips provided were a great help. nice simple but absolutely delicious with thosa. i used different veggies - what i had in the house. i made the coconut chutney per your recipe and did it exactly - it was stellar. amazing.

[garland0130]

I love sambar, ate it once with co-workers while in Denver, and have been addicted since!

[divzpoul]

I LOVED ur sambar, I loved it ...Im frm Kerala, where you know sambar is one of the inevitable curry, but I have no idea how to prepare a tasty sambar, tried several times, but bad luck, Im married now and made my fist sambar googlin a lot and ended at ur site and wow...the sambar was mind blowing ,,,,thnx gals..

[TooLooseLeTrek]

Very nice, a quite different than how I learned sambar (recipe books.) I like this because it is much quicker, and I don't roast-grind spices (though that is VERY nice when I have more time.)

You inspired me and it's cooking right now. Do you know if the Hawkins pressure cooker gets the same 'one whistle'?

You already know I'm a big fan of your videos.

[M4037331]

do we have to use these veges or we can use any thing we want??

[thunderdudesurya]

Nice..

[ShowMeTheCurry]

@nathapushpa

A very sincere thanks from us.... :)

[michaeljackson256950]

How long tdo you need to cook the sambar if you don't have the pressure cooker? Can i know the timing it takes to make the seasoning and after mixing the seasoning with the sambar, how long do u need to cook it before you r done?

[ShowMeTheCurry]

We have made sambar any other way than in the pressure cooker. We suggest that you half cook the daal first (to test: press one and it should squish but not too easily - will pressure) and then add the vegetables. The seasoning goes in last and one more boil and it's ready to serve.

[kallube]

I think you guys should add sambar powder much earlier, adding powder in the last minute will make vegetables tasteless as they require more time to absorb the flavors.

[svprovidence]

What a delight. You two ladies make wonderful, educational and delightful videos. I live aboard a small sailboat and my neighbors at the dock - thanks to you two (and the VahChef) - are often dran to the boat by the aroma of Indain spices to see what is for dinner. I have learned much from you.

Thank You,

>Ray

[sexydayal]

hai viewers do not try this method.. its going to be yuck... they dint use jeera, dry red chillies for tadka and coriander leaves which gives the original flavour for sambhar.. if u eat this i am sure u will vomit this. and hey u anuja and hetal do not spoil south india recipes

[ShowMeTheCurry]

How boring it would be if all of our recipes were exactly the same. Btw...we did use coriander leaves.

[aceanusha]

Yes, everyone run for your lives! :| These women are here to kill you!

I'm a south indian, i find nothing wrong with this recipe!

[navs2323]

Thanks for such detailed and easy to follow direction. Good one :-)

[myhomelandSA]

love all your recipes

[SiopaoPau]

This is sooooooooooo good. One of my friends made some of this with tofu for our student christmas get together, it was so lovely served with some mildly flavoured rice...so good in winter too!

[tightKnit]

Thank you ladies! I have been trying my hand at sambar for a while, but couldn't quite get the "authentic" taste I wanted. I think I was missing a step, but this video clarifies everything.

[ashokethapay]

Hi Just wanted to Thank You...for all the recipes...It has helped me to maintain my indian taste eventhough far from INDIA...you rock!!!!!!!!!

[ShowMeTheCurry]

You are very welcome!

[SANGSful]

pls teach how to make sambar powder/ rasam powder.

[aprilcalldispatch]

Well, anyway, the recipe is delicious!!! (isn't that what we're supposed to comment on here?) My girlfriend is indian, and I just like to cook (but have no experience cooking indian dishes) and she's been patient enough to let me try out many of your recipes on her. This one she particularly liked. We ate at a restaurant the other day and had a dish called Daal Tarka. Is that similar to any of the recipes you lovely ladies may have a video how-to of?

[ShowMeTheCurry]

Thanks! Please check our website for a detailed recipe for "Tadka Daal Fry". It may be similar to the one you mentioned.

[rekkhabusy]

hello ...yaychella / michelleandmemo and tasha122277, who cares, how many boyfriend you have. if you dont stop this word war, then i have to find a new recipe from this utube, "how to make testicle briyani. watch out. crazy b i t c _ , get lost

[babanachiket]

are there no garlic and ginger?

[dhrj010878]

The formula to make Sambhar is not patented. So lets get out of this Busniess.

Like the dish then make it otherwise ...forget it and keep cooking what u like at home. Think you have a better one ...pls share ...

[tasha122277]

you seem like a very unhappy person, why not keep your toxic know-it-all opinions with people who give a crap about it?

[desichicdeeps]

My sambhar recipe is totally different from yours but anyway thanks for sharing :D

[codenamenikky]

good thing is u people talk cooking language evryone understands

[userss00]

thanks!!! i tried this and everyone complimented!!

[userss00]

so much hatred - u r making gandhiji proud

[sundarece]

what is saambur? some variety of deer?

[kanch75]

Hi Hetal & Anuja

I am from the UK and I love what you do, you have some fab recipes on your website and you have made my husband very happy. Please can you tell me what winter melon is?

[ShowMeTheCurry]

Winter melon is sometimes called white gourd or ash gourd. It is pale green in color and is usually sold in smaller cut pieces in Indian stores.

[LorenzVasanth]

Thanks for the video.I made my first sambar in Frankfurt today.Tastes superb.If not for your video, i guess it would have tasted very different.

[shinivik]

ideally in the sambar masala, hing is already added. so u dont need any of the turmeric/ red chili/ coriander. in the masala powder all thats already there. this is really wrong ! sorry !! i am a tamil brahmin, so i know.

[ShowMeTheCurry]

This was a recipe given to us by a Tamil Brahmin friend. Every family has their own way of making this fab dish. This was a version that we really enjoyed, so we shared with our viewers.

Enjoy:)

[shinivik]

U r right, everybody does make it differently. But u guys rock, i really loved ur gobi manchurian and sooji halwa recipes. Rock on !

[babanachiket]

interesting recipe, but still a little weird, never added hing directly before, can we do that ?

i suppose hing is to be tampered.

[ShowMeTheCurry]

The hing is cooked and it's just a pinch.

There are recipes that have hing and it is not cooked at all.

If you are uncomfortable about it, just add the hing in the tempering.

[babanachiket]

thanks a lot :-) appreciate it :-)

[swaradaz]

Its a wonderful receipe, thanks a lot.

[userss00]

i like it when hetal tries to make full use of food/products (tamarind in this case) - she says "no need to waste". reminded me of my mom bcoz she was very much against wasting. i hv seen ppl who dnt care thinking its okay-but then when it comes to donating for charity they have nothing to spare.

[munni519]

thanks for the reply..

[munni519]

looks really good...i use tamarind paste (concentrate)..so could u just tell mehw much shud i use dat?

[ShowMeTheCurry]

Since different brands of tamarind concentrate yield different levels of tartness, start with about 1/2 tsp and then go from there after you taste it.

[medreamy09]

This recipe is so easy and works so well... Thanks a lot Hetal and Anuja!!!!

[ana190582]

Hi, Thanks for the recipe..

From where do u guys get curry leaves in the US..

[ShowMeTheCurry]

We have a plant at home, but you can find curry leaves at most Indian grocery stores.

[kapkone]

what is sambar powder?, does it have another name?. I have everything else for this dish

[ShowMeTheCurry]

Sambar powder is a combination of different spices and ingredients. You can find it at any Indian grocery store. It is a convenient and time saving way to make sambar.

[monindy]

thanks very cleary demonstrated, im sure it tastes good !

[aka4512]

sambar and puris are SO dilisious together

[Furley293]

This looks like a great recipe. I'd love to see making a quick but tasty sambar masala.

Thank heaven you don't use onions or garlic!!... or dead animals!

[desiabhay]

nice nice!

[lalrang2002]

Well, it may be normal for you to get all things, but i dont know...where to get this stuff. Not all indians are living in India!

[desiabhay]

i know it my friend. even i am an indian student studying in Chicago. Surprisingly i have found the rarest of the rare spices that the vah chef uses, right here at the indian grocery store in chicago..

[lalrang2002]

Has anyone other than the cooks in the vid tried this!

It looks good, only thing is i have a problem with getting the materials...

[desiabhay]

getting what materials? they havent used anything special.. jus normal everyday spices..

[TooLooseLeTrek]

I have a Fagor spring type pressure cooker. Do you know how "one whistle" translates into time for my style pressure cooker?

Thanks.

[ShowMeTheCurry]

If your pressure cooker makes a continuous whistling sound, you can keep it going for about 1 minute per whistle needed before you turn the stove off. This is an approximation as all pressure cookers are different.

[sunconfer]

We can call it the North indian style of Sambhar ,,, looks neat though ,, will definetly try it out , Thanks :)

[kirk7524875248]

You two are Definitely destined for your own TV show! Good job!

[johnmair]

you babies need to use more MEAT in your recipes!!!

[yaychella]

with all due respect, meat is more of a westernized diet concept that has no real place or say in world gastronomy...

there are a multitude of reasons why certain ethnic cuisines don't use meat, and two of the most prominent ones in india are:

[yaychella]

1) india is obviously a developing country with a lot of poverty, and so unless you have animals of your own to slaughter, one's diet will mostly consist of veggies, which are nutritious and from my travels, have seen to be freshly abundant at both the markets and just off of trees...

2) historically, and even contemporarily, the majority of indians are hindus, and thus it is against their religion to consume meat, which is reflected in their very ancient cuisine.

[yaychella]

obviously one use indian food as an accompaniment to meat for taste and texture purposes, but as for nutritional value, its very balanced (after all, even rice+beans = complete protein) and thus unecc. (and bad kama, hehe) to do so.

namaste!

[tasha122277]

ok you don't know much about india or hinduism and want to brag all about your travels.  perfectly useless.

[yaychella]

excuse me, but despite the fact that i have been to india, i don't recall "bragging" about it....

and even before my trip, i was quite aquainted with the culture, as i had an indian boyfriend for nearly five years and practically lived at his home because i loved his family and their friends so much and they'd pretty much do everything in their power to make me, what they joked, was an 'honorary indian', from food to the religion, to the language.

[yaychella]

i also have taken several university courses pertaining to indian society, politix, art, cultural practice, and religion... as well teach a world art history class thru our local centre for the arts... so despite the fact that there is much i do not know, i certainly have some merit to my commentary.... and a right to my own opinion with out being disrepected by seemingly jealous, trite remarks from strangers.

[tasha122277]

Many Hindus eat meat. if you had a "boyfriend" in India and his family was OK with this it is unlikjely you got much exposure to what a normal Indian family is like because they rarely tolerate this. you seem to be appointing yourself some kind of spokespoerson of india and it just looks ridiculous when non-indians do this.

[yaychella]

you just assumed my bf was in india. we were actually college sweethearts and his fam moved to the US when he was a kid. when i began traveling to india it was after our relationship & with a prog. my alma mater created with his holiness the dalai lama's temple to work with tibetan refugees in n. india, thus making my experience -as is everyoneelse's, includ. your own- subjective/different.

i never claimed to be a 'spokesperson', i was simply participating in convo.

excuse me for breathing!

[tasha122277]

I see, you are going on about anything now, at least speaking based on your own experience this time and not as if you are wikipedia. namaste.

[michelleandmemo]

hahaha! i know what that's like!

i've had a mexican bf for almost the same amount of time and it's amazing what kind of 'a crazy authentic' cultural experience you can get just being around a person and their family long enough.... sometimes i feel more mexican than my very "americanized" bf (he jokingly rolls his eyes whenever i bust out the queso fresco or make like 8 diff salsas for a party).... if we ever get married i just know it's going to be "my big fat mexican wedding"! haha

[michelleandmemo]

oh, please! why is it that whenever someone wants to speak from experience or just talk about having been fortunate enough to travel to an interesting, far away place people accuse them of "bragging" or being irrelevant? seems to me the onle one who is "useless" is the one jealous enough to make snarky comments abt a person who hasn't said anything wrong and actually seems informed for a refreshing change... tsk!

*cough*cough*hater!*cough*

[tasha122277]

Hi, I am happily married to an Indian and have lived in India. Being a girlfriend for a few years means nothing to understanding an Indian culture, nor a Mexican's culture. Quit clinging on to other peoples' cultures and bragging about it and find your own identity. Salsa doesn't make you mexican honey. Tu tienes celos.

[johnmair]

"meat is a westernized diet concept" hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha­hahahahahahahahahahah

riiight.

[userss00]

johnmair-i am sure u never realized ppl will get so worked up with ur comment :). but i understd u meant ur advice in a good way-but as someone else said-india is a developing nation and meat/poultry is kinda expensive for many so they rely on veggies which are easier to afford. and ppl do that primarily for finance purposes not for karma and all that. if that be so then corruption, lying, cheating, deceiving wldnt have been there.

[ShowMeTheCurry]

Wow...we just wanted our viewers to enjoy this really easy and delicious sambar recipe. Please everyone...let's try to chill and put an end to this war of words. If you like the recipe, please try it, otherwise, we're sure there are plenty of other recipes out there that are more suitable to your tastes.

[himallu]

Hi thanks for Nice recipe.....I am south Indian but living in US. i am making it different way but my sambar takes 1.30 hrs for two people:)) looks like this recipe is less time for preparation and 1 visil idea is very good.... i used to boil vegetables and dal seperately.....Now am going to try this recipe.thanks again ...bye.....

[dhrj010878]

They have already mentioned that there are a thosand ways to make it ...If you have a better receipe then share it ......don't just bark around ....

[hariharanjayaraman]

yep , no cilantro in Sambhar! its always curry leaves(not bay leaves!). Sambhar is not common in Kerala or Andhra. Most commonly found in Chennai or Karnataka. We make sambhar at home and it can be mainly two ways. The one shown here is closer to the one that uses Sambhar Powder. The "arachu vita" sambhar is the one that Vahreh chef shows. Where fresh ingridients are mixed. Not matter what they say, even Tamil homes use only powder for day to day use. It will turn out well!

[gnpradeep]

good recipe tried it... cud succed nearly to making sambar... great.. keep it going...

[gckasi]

Hey Guys,

I followed your recipe step by step and the sambar came out wonderfully! Thanks!

[sidhu0985]

hi dear may i know that may i use curry powder instead of curry leaf and plz post the recipe besan ki burfi

[ShowMeTheCurry]

Curry powder is not made from Curry leaves. There is no substitute for Curry Leaves so I suggest you skip it. The Sambar will still taste good.

[abholasing]

@sidhu0985

You should find out what your Curry powder consist of.



[nickthecomedian]

Im not Indian but this stuff looks really good.

[sidhu0985]

may i know is curry leaf is also called bay leaf

[ShowMeTheCurry]

No, they are not the same thing. Curry leaf is also known as 'kadi patta' in Hindi and Bay leaf is 'tej patta'.

[rechu83]

It doesnt look very different from kerala style. If we are doing sambar without coconut and using ready made sambar powder..its almost same way only. We also use red chilly for seasoning.

[purespirit9]

Yum! I want to make this one winter days. My stomach is growling after watching this. I must go crunch on a carrot.5/5

[indianmaluji]

way different than kerala people

[sendevz]

tht sure must be yummy!!!... if it is for idli/dosa, try adding a bit of jaggery to the sambar towards the end...

[choco33333333]

awesome!

[ShowMeTheCurry]

Winter Melon has a host of other names:

Hindi - petha, pethakaddu

[leenasalhotra]

I can almost smell the sambhar ....hmmm delicious and as always excellent recipe.

BTW what is winter lemon called in hindi?

[Gerene37]

you said, using concentrated tamarind is ok, it this used in the same measurements?

[ShowMeTheCurry]

Concentrates vary a lot. Even the brand we buy, same brand, tend to be a little different as far as levels of tartness.

We would suggest that you add a little at a time and stop when you need to.

[aarti4628]

What is the alternative if we doont get winter melon ?>

[ShowMeTheCurry]

Skip it. Winter Melons give a wonderful lightness and flavoru to the Sambar but it tastes great without it as well. They are available in Indian and Oriental grocery stores.