Instant Pot Vegetable Sambar (South Indian Lentils)
User Reviews
4.9
420 reviews
Excellent
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Prep Time
5 mins
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Cook Time
5 mins
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Total Time
30 mins
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Servings
4
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Calories
305 kcal
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Course
Main Course, Breakfast
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Cuisine
Indian
Instant Pot Vegetable Sambar (South Indian Lentils)
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Sambar, a flavorful South Indian Lentil Stew made with lentils, vegetables, tamarind, curry leaves and spices prepared in the instant pot (pressure cooker).
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Ingredients
- 1 cup Split Pigeon Pea (Toor dal) washed
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1/2 onion medium size, about 1 cup, chopped
- 2 tomato medium size, chopped
- 4 teaspoon Sambar masala
- 2 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon Tamarind (Imli) paste
- 4 cup water
- cilantro leaves finely chopped, to garnish
Tempering
- 1 teaspoon mustard seeds (Rai)
- 6 leaves Curry Leaves (Kadi Patta)
- 1 pinch asafoetida (hing) optional, skip for gluten-free
- 1 green chili pepper optional
Vegetables
- 1 cup pumpkin about 120 gms, cut in medium sized pieces
- 1 carrot cut into small pieces
- 3 baby eggplant cut into 4 pieces each
- 6 pieces drumsticks 2-inch pieces*
Instructions
- Start the instant pot in sauté mode and heat oil in it. Add all the tempering ingredients.
- When the mustard seeds start to splutter, add the chopped onions and sauté for 2 minutes.
- Add the chopped tomatoes, sambar powder and salt. Sauté for another 2 minutes.
- Add all the vegetables, toor dal and water to the instant pot. Change the instant pot setting to manual or pressure cook mode for 8 minutes at high pressure with vent in sealing position. (Note: you can also follow the pot-in-pot method mentioned in notes)
- When the instant pot beeps, let the pressure release naturally. Stir in the tamarind paste. Stir the sambar so it is mixed well.
- Garnish with cilantro and sambar is ready to be served.
Stovetop Pressure Cooker Method
- Follow the same steps as above in a stovetop pressure cooker. Cook on medium-high heat for 3 whistles, then turn off the flame and let the pressure release naturally.
- Stir in the tamarind paste with the sambar so it is mixed well. Garnish with cilantro and serve.
Equipments used:
Notes
- Drumsticks: This might be new to many. Drumsticks are the fruits of the moringa tree. I found this article that gives more details. I usually cannot find it fresh at the Indian grocery store, so I buy it frozen. Feel free to skip if you are unable to find them.
- Tamarind paste: If you don't have tamarind paste, you can soak seedless tamarind in 1/4 cup water and microwave for 30 seconds. It will become soft enough to use.
- Sambar powder: If you don't have sambar powder, grind all these spices - 2 whole red chilies, 1 tsp coriander seeds, 1/2 tsp fenugreek seeds, 1 tsp cumin seeds, 1/2 tsp whole black peppers, 1/2 tsp turmeric powder.
- Jaggery or Sugar: I did not add any jaggery or sugar in this recipe. However you can add some to your taste after pressure cooking. Start with 1-2 teaspoon of grated jaggery, and increase to taste.
- Pot-in-pot veggies for sambar: With the method above of cooking vegetables along with the dal, the vegetables get well cooked and mix together with the lentils. However if you like your veggies cooked, but not completely mushed with the lentils, use pot-in-pot method to cook the vegetables.
- Add the ingredients for sambar, except the veggies in the instant pot steel insert. Then in a steamer basket, add veggies. Close lid and pressure cook the sambar. After the pressure is released, take the steamer basket out carefully. Now you can whisk the lentils if needed to make the sambar completely smooth. Then add the steamed veggies.
Nutrition Information
Show Details
Calories
305kcal
(15%)
Carbohydrates
51g
(17%)
Protein
16g
(32%)
Fat
5g
(8%)
Saturated Fat
1g
(5%)
Cholesterol
1mg
(0%)
Sodium
1237mg
(52%)
Potassium
1185mg
(34%)
Fiber
23g
(92%)
Sugar
13g
(26%)
Vitamin A
5700IU
(114%)
Vitamin C
80mg
(89%)
Calcium
85mg
(9%)
Iron
5mg
(28%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 305 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 305kcal | 15% |
| Carbohydrates | 51g | 17% |
| Protein | 16g | 32% |
| Fat | 5g | 8% |
| Saturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Cholesterol | 1mg | 0% |
| Sodium | 1237mg | 52% |
| Potassium | 1185mg | 25% |
| Fiber | 23g | 92% |
| Sugar | 13g | 26% |
| Vitamin A | 5700IU | 114% |
| Vitamin C | 80mg | 89% |
| Calcium | 85mg | 9% |
| Iron | 5mg | 28% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Genuine Reviews
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.9
420 reviews
Excellent
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