Sambar Powder

This delightfully aromatic spice powder is the basic ingredient used in making “Sambar” a popular vegetable and/or lentil based gravy. Sambar powder, like many other spice powders can be prepared in advance and stored in an tight container…comes in handy when required! Recipe Contributor Smt. Lalithamma Ramamurthy’s take: Prepare the required quantity fresh when needed!!

Dish type: Spice Powder

Time required: 30 min

Yield: 1500 gms (approx.)

Ingredients

Bengal gram dhal       250 gms

Coriander                  1000 gms

Methi seeds                1 tsp

Red chillies                 200 gms (use both varieties – Byadagi and Guntur in equal measure)

Cinnamon                   4 pieces (each piece – one finger length)

Turmeric                     2 tsps

Curry leaves               1 bunch

Directions

Dry fry each of the ingredients separately in a thick iron  kadai on low flame till they change colour.  Ensure they are not over roasted since they should not turn black in colour.  

Transfer each of them to a plate after dry frying. Allow them to cool well.

Grind them to a fine powder. For better shelf life store it in a completely dry air tight container.

Tete a Tete

Red chillies alone can be fried using just a drop of oil.

To make 1 litre of sambar, approx. 2 tbsps of sambar powder is required.

For longer shelf life of any spice powder it is advisable not to include dry coconut while making powder. Instead it is better to grind dry fried dry grated coconut with just the required quantity of spice powder used while preparing the dish.

Alternatively raw grated coconut can be used for grinding with this powder while making sambar.

1 fistful of red chillies = approx. 20 nos. = approx. 50 gms

Other recipes contributed by Smt. Lalithamma Ramamurthy:

Menthyada Hittu (Fenugreek Powder)
Rasam Powder
Vangibath Powder
Greens Chutney (Pulgura)
Citron Lime Sauce (Heralekayi Gojju)
Hasi Majjige Huli (Sambar variety using yogurt)

Also view in this blog:
Pepper Rasam Powder
Menthyada Hittu (Spice Powder for Idli/Dosa)

Recipes viewed here are a part of  "Mangala's Potluck" section in this blog