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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Being a north indian, haven’t given much hand to sambhar recipes but yes, this bowl looks incredibly delicious and inviting.
Thank you
I love making variety of sambhar as south Indian cuisine is my favourite. I live coconut so gonna try this for sure.
Thank you
Roasted fresh coconut always adds such an aromatic and wonderful taste to any dish. Love the addition of drumstick and potatoes to this sambhar.
Thank you
I love Sambhar but I knew only one way of making it. Never tried making it with coconut, will follow your recipe next time I make it.
Thank you.
I am not much of a foodie. But, love the sambar prepared by my wife with the help of sambar powders bought some time back from Sringeri.
Oh…try this one..you will love it.. the flavours are best when using freshly ground sambar masala?
This recipe sounds most excellent. Thank you. ?
Thank you so much?
Very nice 🙂
Thank you divya?
When I was in India sambar was one of my favorite things I tried. I haven’t ever seen a recipe for it- so thank you a bunch for posting. I just found an Indian grocery store near my home too- so hopefully I’ll be able to find all these ingredients 🙂 I am so excited!!!
Oh really… do try and let me know… I have another sambar without coconut…do check that also..? thank you so much?
I prepare it rarely because of the coconut roasting. It is very yummy!!
Ya…me too… but at least once in a month I make it…? Thank you Anu?
Nice 🙂
Thank you Steve?
Yumm! Looks delicious 🙂
Thank you dear?
looks amazing….
Thank you?
my pleasure…..
Sambhar…love the flavour most..?
Thank you?
I am a great fan of varutharacha masala. Loved this recipe. Thanks for this share Lathiya.
Mine too… Thank you…my pleasure?
We prepare it same way sans garlic. love this flavorful sambar.
Oh… I love garlic flavour..?