This is one of my favorite sambars. This is Kerala Varutharacha Sambar. Usually, this is a must on any special occasion. This sambar is had along with cooked rice but I love to have with idli or dosa.

Varutharacha Sambar
This is a Kerala style sambar with roasted coconut. The sambar has nice roasted coconut aroma with loads of vegetables. We roast all the spices as a whole and grind with coconut, then adding to the sambar unlike we add the spice powders in another curry.

How to make Kerala-style Sambar
Cook the toor dal in a pressure cooker till mushy. For ¼ cup dal, add 1 cup water. Roast all the ingredients to roast and grind till the coconut becomes golden. Grind it to smooth. Add vegetables and turmeric powder to the dal and cook until the vegetables are cooked. Add the tamarind extract. Once it starts to boil add the ground coconut mixture and ¾ cup water. Add the required salt. Once it boils, remove it from the flame. Temper mustard seeds and curry leaves in coconut oil and pour over the sambar. Mix and serve.

A short video to make Kerala-style sambar
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Can I make it in Instant pot?
Yes, you can make this in your Instant Pot. Cook toor dal in your Instant Pot for 12 minutes. For ¼ cup dal, add 1 cup water. Then follow other steps.

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Recipe to make Varutharacha Sambar
Ingredients
Toor dal – 1/2 cup
Drumstick – 1 cut into small pieces
Potato – 1 cut into small cubes
Onion – 1/2 cup chopped
Tomato – 1 medium-sized chopped
Curry leaves – few
Turmeric powder – 1/2 tsp
Tamarind – a small lemon sized soaked in 1/2 cup water
Salt – as required
Coconut Oil – 2 tsp
Mustard seeds – 1/2 tsp
To roast and grind
Channa dal – 2 tbsp
Urad dal – 1 tbsp
Dry red chili – 1 or 2
Coriander seeds – 2 tbsp
Jeera seeds – 1 tsp
Methi seeds – few
Asafoetida – a generous pinch
Shallots – 1 or 2
Garlic pods – 2
Curry leaves – few
Coconut – 1/2 cup grated
Method
- Pressure cook toor dal till mushy.
- Roast all the ingredients under ‘ to roast and grind’ in 1 tsp of oil till the coconut turns golden brown.
- Grind it to a smooth paste and keep it aside.
- Add chopped veggies to the cooked dal along with the required water and turmeric powder.
- Cook till the veggies are done and add tamarind extract.
- When the raw smell of tamarind goes add the ground coconut paste and required salt.
- This curry gets thick when cools down, so add water accordingly.
- When it boils thoroughly remove from flame.
- Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds.
- When it crackles add curry leaves and add it to the sambar.
- Serve with rice, idli, or dosa.


Notes
- You can add veggies of your choice.
- Adjust spice according to your taste.
- You can add any oil, but coconut oil is preferred.
Varutharacha sambar
Ingredients
- 1/2 Cup Toor dal
- 1 Drumstick cut into small pieces
- 1 Potato cut into small cubes
- 1/2 Cup Onion chopped
- 1 Tomato chopped
- Curry leaves few
- 1/2 Tsp Turmeric powder
- Tamarind a small lemon sized soaked in 1/2 cup water
- Salt as required
- 2 Tsp Coconut Oil
- 1/2 Tsp Mustard seeds
To roast and grind
- 2 Tbsp Channa dal
- 1 Tbsp Urad dal
- 2 Dry red chili
- 2 tbsp Coriander seeds
- 1 Tsp Jeera seeds
- Methi seeds few
- Asafoetida a generous pinch
- 1 Shallots
- 2 Garlic pods
- Curry leaves few
- 1/2 Cup Coconut grated
Instructions
- Pressure cook toor dal till mushy.
- Roast all the ingredients under ‘ to roast and grind’ in 1 tsp of oil till the coconut turns golden brown.
- Grind it to a smooth paste and keep aside.
- Add chopped veggies to cooked dal along with required water and turmeric powder.
- Cook till the veggies are done and add tamarind extract.
- When the raw smell of tamarind goes add the ground coconut paste and required salt.
- This curry gets thick when cools down, so add water accordingly.
- When it boils thoroughly remove from flame.
- Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds.
- When it crackle add curry leaves and add it to the sambar.
- Serve with rice, idli or dosa.
Video
Notes
- You can add veggies of your choice.
- Adjust spice according to your taste.
- You can add any oil, but coconut oil is preferred.
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i can feel the aroma of the sambar as i read thru the recipe! such a classic recipe isn’t!! we will never get tried of this yumm sambar even, if we eat this everyday!! Seeing your post, i want to make some today!!!
Thank you
This looks like a comfort food for me. The addition of coconut gives a good taste to it, shall try it sometime.
Thank you
Such a flavorful sambhar and it is a routine in my weekend cooking. Pearl onions and drumsticks are such a classic vegetable to use in this recipe.
Thank you
My favourite way to make sambar, arachuvitta sambar!! I can feel the aroma of spices going into the sambar…Looks super delicious!!
Thank you
This kera style sambar sounds so delicious and love your video recipe. Must try some day.
Thank you
Love this recipe with the roasted coconut, Lathi! I am a huge coconut fan so was attracted to this recipe right away. Will try it soon.
Thank you dear