Ingredients (Serves 6 – 8)
1. Toor dal – 1/2 cup
2. Turmeric powder – 1/4 + 1/4 tsp
Green chilies – 2, slit
Pearl onions – 12 – 15, slit or 1/2 medium-sized onion, diced
Potato – 2 small, cut into large cubes
Drumstick – 1, cut into 2 ” pieces
Winter melon / kumbalanga – 2 cups, cut into medium cubes
Carrot – 2 small, cubed
Tomato – 1 medium, cubed
3. Okra / vendakka – 5 – 6, cut into 1.5 ββ pieces
4. Tamarind – Small lime-sized or to taste ( Soak the tamarind in 1/4 cup warm water and extract its juice)
5. Curry leaves – 1 sprig
6. Salt – To taste
7. Cilantro – To garnish
To roast and grind
8. Coconut oil – 1 tsp
9. Uluva / fenugreek seeds – 1/4 tsp
Split urad dal / uzhunnu parippu – 1 tsp
Chana dal / kadala parippu – 1 tsp
Hing / asafoetida – 1/4 tsp
10. Coriander seeds – 3 – 4 tsp
Dry red chillies – 4 – 5
Pearl onions – 2 , slit
Curry leaves – A few
Grated coconut – 1/2 cup
For seasoning
11. Coconut oil - 2 – 3 tsp
12. Mustard seeds – 1/2 tsp
Dry red chilies – 2 – 3
Curry leaves – 1 sprig
Method
1. Heat 1 tsp oil in a skillet. Add 1/4 tsp uluva / fenugreek seeds. Saute until lightly browned and add 1 tsp split urad dal and 1 tsp chana dal. Saute until they turn golden. Add 1/4 tsp hing. Transfer them to a bowl. Now add 3 – 4 tsp coriander seeds and dry red chilies. Saute until they give out a nice aroma (mookkunna vare). Add 2 slit pearl onions, few curry leaves and 1/2 cup grated coconut. Saute until the coconut turns brown (take care not to burn them). Set aside to cool. Grind to a powder in a mixie. Then add a little water and grind to a fine paste.
2. Cook the toor dal / thuvaraparippu in a pressure cooker, adding enough water, for 1 whistle. When the pressure releases, open the cooker and add the veggies – potato, pearl onion/ onion, winter melon, carrot and tomato, turmeric powder – 1/4 tsp, enough water and salt. Pressure cook for 1 whistle. Meanwhile saute the okra pieces in little oil until their slime is gone. Open the cooker and add tamarind extract. Add the sauteed okra pieces and a few curry leaves. Bring to a boil. Mix well. Add the ground coconut paste, 1/4 tsp turmeric powder and salt, if needed. Adjust the gravy according to your desired consistency. Cook for 5 – 6 minutes at low heat.
3. Heat coconut oil in a small pan. Splutter mustard seeds and fry dry red chilies and some curry leaves. Pour over the prepared sambar. Garnish with cilantro. Close with a lid for at least 20 minutes before serving. Serve this delicious varutharacha sambar with rice / idli / dosa.
Recipe Coutesy – Preetha Jayesh
We are really excited to be one of the winners of Treat to Eyes – Series 2 which was hosted by Rumana of Spice Ur Senses. Thanks a lot, Rumana.
Hereβs the pic that got selected..
congrats for winning treat to the eyes…thats a really lovely pic…
and varutharacha sambar…. I simply love it… I once had neighbours who were from Calicut and they used to make it like this… I used to just drink it like soup!!!
Looks so authentic & delicious!!
Prathima Rao
Prats Corner
That Charu style is new to me, but it looks super tempting.
Hey, I was wondering if you saw about “MAITRI – A Friendship Chain” event. If not, please do take a look and try to participate, it will be fun π
http://mharorajasthanrecipes.blogspot.com/2011/03/maitri-friendship-chain.html
Send me an email @ [email protected]
Oh i love it..i started trying this only recently and i m in love…
congrats on ur win too gals!!
Congrtas on your win dear- great job!
Sambhar looks delicious- nicely presented too π
US Masala
this im bookmarking ketto…i am so bored of my usual sambar
Congrats on winning…
Perfect lovely sambar.. love it..
Sambar looks so different and delicious. Excellent clicks.
Deepa
Hamaree Rasoi
Superb sambar….Nalla photo…
Congrats on the win….
congrats on winning. This varuthaaracha sambar looks delicious.
Congrats on winning…Sambhar looks so authentic and delicious!
Congrats on tht win !! Sambhar in the cute kadai looks so delicious and authentic.
Congrats on the win! Sambar looks delicious!
http://www.appetitetreats.com
Congratulations!!! Nice and delicous sambar, love to have sambar with fresh ground spices
Congrat on the win,u truly deserves it.. Sambar looks delicious and tempting..
congrats maya!!….sambar looks so delicious and flavorful…loved it…sambarinde manam evide vare ethiyathu poole thonnunnu..:)
Congrats dear !! Sambar is one of my fav !! This looks so delicious and yummy !!
Congrats on your win.Your pictures are always awesome.Sambar look so delicious.
look superb and so tempting, amazing.Congrats dear!!!
Love varuthu arachaa sambar soooooooooooooo much ..ur pictures are amazing.
have always wanted to try sambar w/ coconut! this looks yummy! Do u live in Issaquah?
Hey congrats….u deserve for that click
And the smabar looks very flavourful n yummy
Congrats on winning dear,that’s wonderful picture
Adipoli sambar,will surely try this..delicious.
adipoli sambar…bookmarking this…
This is one signature dish at Manu’s home. His mom is an expert in making this sambar..Yours looks truly tempting da, i think she also have a very similar recipe, i have it in my diary, but as i am not a big fan of varutharacha curries, i never bothered to even cook it once π
Tried this recipe today. Turned out good π
Thanks for trying it out Rusheeda π Glad that it came out good..
Tried it..loved it..Thank you..:)
Hello, superb recipe and very authentic..
Being a novice in cooming, could you pleae answer this question :
You have listed green shillies in the ingredients but where is it used ? I couldnt find “green chillies” anywhere in the detailed method. Please clarify !!!
@ MullankolliVelu,
You can add the green chillies along with the veggies (step 2). Hope you will enjoy this recipe..
Hello Maya,
I have amde this sambar many times in the last few months – its a brilliant recipe. Thanks for that.
Its sucha flexible recipe and I have also realised that this recipe can NEVER FAIL.. not even with the ingredients going out of proportion.
Thanks for that… π
Very well written recipes without letting go the authencity of the dish.
Truely impressive continue to share authentic kerala food recipes. I simply love it!!!!!
In the method you have not mentioned when to add tamarind juice
Add it once the vegetables are done..I have mentioned it in the method..
You made me hungry. Thrissur style sambar is my favorite and I prefer sadya wherever I go. I don’t think any other food can replace its taste and quality.