Sambar Stew Recipe

Serves: 4
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25–30 minutes
Skill Level: Easy

Sambar is a staple dish in South Indian cooking — a warm, tangy lentil stew enriched with vegetables and aromatic spices. Using our Sambar Stew Spice Mix, this recipe creates an authentic Kerala-style sambar that’s naturally gluten free, nut free and full of flavour. Perfect with idli, dosa or rice.

Shopping List

600-700 gm veg made of
1 potato
1 small onion or 5-6 shallots
A Small piece of cucumber
A Small piece of courgette
A Small piece of aubergine
1 large tomato cut into cubes
Coriander leaves to garnish
Half a lime or a small ball of tamarind (half the size of a lime)
100 gm red lentil

For tempering
1 tsp Mustard seeds
3 Dry red chilli
2 tbsp sunflower oil

Sambar Stew Spice Mix – 2 tbsp

Cooking Method

Cook the dal
Wash the red lentils thoroughly.
Pressure cook or boil with the Smabr Stew Spice Mix until soft.
Mash lightly once cooked.
Prepare the vegetables
Chop the vegetables into even-sized pieces.
Add them to a pan with enough water to cover and cook until tender.
Add tomatoes and spice mix
Add the chopped tomato and 2 tbsp Sambar Stew Spice Mix.
Stir gently and allow the flavours to blend.
Combine dal and vegetables
Add the cooked lentils to the pan of vegetables.
Mix well and simmer for 5–7 minutes.
Add tamarind
Add tamarind water (or tamarind paste mixed with warm water) and salt.
Adjust the level of tanginess to your taste.
Prepare the tempering (tadka)
Heat oil in a small pan.
Add mustard seeds; allow them to crackle.
Add curry leaves and sauté for a few seconds.
Pour this tempering over the sambar and mix well.
Finish and serve
Garnish with fresh coriander leaves.
Serve hot with rice, idli or dosa.

Recipe Notes

Gluten free and nut free
Adjust thickness by adding more or less water
Add extra tamarind for a sharper tang, or reduce for a milder flavour
Works with fresh, frozen or mixed vegetables