I contemplated a while before posting this recipe.I mean,Sambhar is something people make on a daily basis isn't it,what is new about it?So many blogs have recipes in detail about sambhar made from scratch and being in South India,I am sure every one of us grew up eating sambhar and we just need to put some known ingredients together and a delicious sambhar will be ready in minutes.
But like most of the bloggers I know,every new recipe is looked upon as a prospective blog post:)
At home,amma makes many different varieties of sambhar.It all depends on which vegetable is in stock at a given time.Sambhar made with ash gourd and pumpkin was/is my all time favorite.I love the tangy and sweet taste of it and when paired with dosa,it makes for a great combination making you forget how many dosas you eat.
It wasn't different this time when we were home.When I saw dosa for breakfast,I tried smelling the sambhar to make out the ingredients used.She kept me guessing till I got a taste of it.I loved the ulli sambhar+vellarikkya combo so much that it has become my new favorite.It tastes awesome with dosa and makes for a great side-dish with rice too!
Vellarikkya Ulli Sambhar
Ingredients
Vellarikkya/Lemon Cucumber/Dosakkaya - 1 medium sized,chopped into cubes
Ulli/Pearl onions - 1/2 cup,peeled
Toor dal - 1/2 cup
Tomato - 1 medium,chopped
Coriander leaves - 2-3 tbsp,chopped
Eastern Sambhar Powder - 2 1/2 tsp
Salt to taste
For the seasoning
Oil - 1 tbsp
Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
Hing/asafoetida - 1/4 tsp
Method
Cook together vellarikkya,ulli and toor dal in a pressure cooker for 3-4 whistles(after the first whistle,simmer and cook for 3 more whistles).
Soak the sambhar powder in 1/4 cup warm water,reserve.
Open the cooker and add tomatoes,coriander leaves,sambhar powder and salt to taste and let it boil.
Simmer for 5-7 minutes.
Prepare tadka in a pan using oil,splutter mustard seeds and add hing.Add the seasoning to the sambhar.
Garnish with some more coriander leaves while serving.
Notes
It wasn't different this time when we were home.When I saw dosa for breakfast,I tried smelling the sambhar to make out the ingredients used.She kept me guessing till I got a taste of it.I loved the ulli sambhar+vellarikkya combo so much that it has become my new favorite.It tastes awesome with dosa and makes for a great side-dish with rice too!
Ingredients
Vellarikkya/Lemon Cucumber/Dosakkaya - 1 medium sized,chopped into cubes
Ulli/Pearl onions - 1/2 cup,peeled
Toor dal - 1/2 cup
Tomato - 1 medium,chopped
Coriander leaves - 2-3 tbsp,chopped
Eastern Sambhar Powder - 2 1/2 tsp
Salt to taste
For the seasoning
Oil - 1 tbsp
Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
Hing/asafoetida - 1/4 tsp
Method
Soak the sambhar powder in 1/4 cup warm water,reserve.
Simmer for 5-7 minutes.
Prepare tadka in a pan using oil,splutter mustard seeds and add hing.Add the seasoning to the sambhar.
Garnish with some more coriander leaves while serving.
- The amount of vegetables to add in the sambhar depends on ones taste and preference.While amma added more of vellarikkya,I added more onions.
- I have used Eastern sambhar powder here,you can use your favorite brand.
Check out Konkani style Sambhar/Kolmbho,Ulli Sambhar and Varutharacha Sambhar too!
I too love sambar a lot. This is so easy to make too.
ReplyDeleteMy recent post was sambar too..I love the yellow cucumber sambar especially wid idli/dosa
ReplyDeleteSambhar looks super comforting..
ReplyDeleteHi Dear. I also keep looking for new combinations to try in Sambhar and yours sounds interesting as I've never cooked this cucumber and shallots I just love.
ReplyDeleteI realise even you like trying new combinations, do try the Ooty broadbean and shallots combination, if you have still not tried it and you can check the pic in my blog for confirming which bean I'm talking about.
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Still to try lemon cucumber,sambhar looks delicious,..:)
ReplyDeleteDelicious sambar and lovely clicks...
ReplyDeleteSounds and looks like a nice variation...flavourful sambar
ReplyDeleteHey Divya.. Sambhar looks yummy. I wanted to know what is Eastern Sambhar powder. Do popular brands like MTR/Everest have this powder?
ReplyDeleteNP,Eastern is a brand of Sambhar powder we like to use.Yes,you can use any brand-I would recommend Sakthi,Bhrahmins and MTR.Everest Sambhar powder has a hint of Garam masala.
DeleteLove this sambar...Thanks for sharing...
ReplyDeleteI just started getting the lemon cucumber. I love it with dal. Sambar may be common, but each one has their own way of making it. So let that not stop you from posting such recipes. It is a comfort food.
ReplyDeleteNever knew we can make sambhar using this type of vellari. Sounds amazing,should try it out when i find one...
ReplyDeletethe best thing bout sambar is there are a hundred ways to cook them, always keeps it versatile... looks delecious
ReplyDeleteHey Divya, this is the first time i'm leaving a comment here and i just wanted to say, love your space! and the sambhar looks truly delish. a bowl of steaming hot rice and sambhar and pappadam. yum!
ReplyDelete