South Indian lentil and vegetable stew with tamarind
Prep Time
15 min
Cook Time
30 min
Total Time
45 min
Servings
5
6 cups
Difficulty
Medium
Cost
Budget
$
South Indian lentil and vegetable stew with tamarind
A tangy, spiced lentil stew loaded with seasonal vegetables and flavored with sambar powder and tamarind. The essential accompaniment to idli, dosa, and rice.
15m
Prep Time
30m
Cook Time
45m
Total Time
5
Servings
Medium
Difficulty
Budget $
Cost
(Updated )
Sambar is the soul of South Indian meals—a tangy, vegetable-studded lentil stew that accompanies everything from idli to rice. Tamarind provides the signature sourness while sambar powder delivers layers of warm, earthy spice.
Cook toor dal until soft and mash; boil chopped vegetables separately until just tender.
Combine mashed dal, cooked vegetables, tamarind water, sambar powder, turmeric, and salt in a pot.
Bring to a boil and simmer 10 minutes until flavors meld and consistency is soupy.
Heat oil in a small pan, pop mustard seeds, add curry leaves, dried chilies, and asafoetida.
Pour the tadka into the sambar, stir well, and serve hot with idli, dosa, or steamed rice.
Serve with warm naan bread or basmati rice
Top with fresh cilantro and a squeeze of lime
Pair with a cooling cucumber raita on the side
A basic approximation
Different tangy profiles but both work
Test Kitchen Pick
Soy Sauce
Helpful Pantry Staple
This is doing more than adding salt. The right soy sauce gives the recipe a rounder, more savory base than a thin generic bottle.
This pantry choice affects depth more than most seasonings here.
A better soy sauce is one of the easiest pantry upgrades for Asian cooking.
Shop soy sauce for this recipeUse drumstick (moringa pods) if available—they are the most traditional and flavorful sambar vegetable.
Adjust tamarind to taste; it should be noticeably tangy but not overwhelmingly sour.
Refrigerate for up to 3 days. The flavors improve overnight.
Warm on stovetop with water as sambar thickens considerably when stored.
Per serving (0mg) · 5 servings
A light, low-calorie option · based on a 2,000 cal daily diet
Nutritional values are approximate and may vary based on specific ingredients and preparation methods.
Sarah Chen is a professional recipe developer and food editor with over a decade of experience in test kitchens and food media. She trained at the Culinary Institute of America before spending six years developing and testing recipes for national food publications, where she honed her ability to translate restaurant techniques into approachable home cooking. At RecipePool, Sarah leads recipe development, ensuring every dish is tested at least three times for clarity, accuracy, and genuine deliciousness. When she is not in the kitchen, she is browsing farmers markets and collecting vintage cookbooks.
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