The Secret to Making Authentic South Indian Sambar - with Beyond Sambar Powder

Sambar is a very popular South Indian soup made with red lentil and vegetables. This recipe uses our Sambar Mix. Most Sambar powders available online or at Indian groceries, do not include all the ingredients to make authentic Sambar. You will have to add certain ingredients at the time of cooking like lentils, tamarind, jaggery, curry leaf and mustard.

Our Sambar Mix is the only complete instant Beyond Sambar Powder that already comes with all the ingredients. All you need to add is vegetables and water.

Inner Flame Kitchen Beyond Sambar Powder Ingredients: Split Red Lentil*, Bengal Gram*, Black Gram*, Dried Coconut*, Rock Salt, Coriander*, Brown Mustard Seed*, Turmeric*, Rice Flour*, Jaggery*, Tamarind*, Cumin*, Dried Curry Leaf*, Dried Red Chili*, Fenugreek Seed*, Black Peppercorn*, Asafoetida*, Sesame Seed* *ORGANIC

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup red onion, small dice
• 1/4 cup tomato, small dice
• 3/4 cup favorite vegetables, chopped small (i.e. carrot, eggplant, green bean, okra, peppers, etc.)
• 3 tablespoons Beyond Sambar Powder
• 2 teaspoons oil
• 2 cups boiling water (more if needed during cooking)
• 2 tablespoons cilantro, coarsely chopped for garnish

Step 1: Prepare the red onion, tomato and vegetables of your choice. Sambar is really great with a variety of vegetables that are seasonally available…and easily available in your kitchen. For oil choices, we prefer to use sunflower, safflower, coconut oil or ghee (clarified butter).

Step 2: Once all ingredients are prepped, heat oil in a small saucepan. When oil is hot, add the red onion and cook for a minute.

Step 3: Add remaining vegetables, mix and cook for 2 minutes

Step 4: Add tomatoes and cook for 1 minute

Step 5: Add 3 tablespoons of Beyond Sambar Powder and quickly mix to coat all of the vegetables. Then add 1 3/4 cups of boiling water. It is very important the water is boiling, otherwise the mix and lentils will clump. Stir well and reduce heat to low. Simmer for about 15 minutes, stirring frequently. If soup is getting too thick during cooking, add more water if needed.

Step 5: Once all the vegetables are cooked, add cilantro. If you don’t like cilantro, just skip this step. Sambar is a delicious soup on its own, or pairs well with our Kitchari and Coconut Chutney, basmati rice, quinoa, millet or grain of choice. If you are up for the challenge, Sambar tastes great with dosa, idli or vada.
Serve hot and enjoy!