Pottukadalai Sambar | Roasted Gram Sambar | Instant Sambar

Pottukadalai sambar is a very traditional, easy to make, instant South Indian sambar variety. In this sambar we don't add cooked toor dal instead we make a slurry(paste) of powdered pottukadalai (roasted gram/ fried gram dal )and add it to the sambar, the rest of the procedure is same as our regular sambar. It tastes very delicious and comes handy for busy mornings or when you have to whip up something quick for unexpected guests. This sambar is best suited for tiffin varieties like idli, dosa, pongal, upma etc but can be taken along with rice too. Check out how to make this pottukadalai sambar recipe below.

Ingredients

Pottukadalai (fried gram dal ) -2 tbsps
Small onions -10-15 nos
Tomato -1 big chopped
Garlic -6 cloves crushed
Sambar powder -2 tsps
Turmeric powder -1/4 tsp
Tamarind extract from small lemon sized tamarind
Mustard seeds-1/4 tsp
Cumin seeds-1 tsp
Red chillies -2 nos broken
Curry leaves and coriander leaves few chopped
Salt to taste
Oil -2 tsps

Method

👉Powder the pottukadalai (fried gram dal) in mixie. Mix 1/2 cup water to it and make a thin paste or slurry without any lumps. Set aside.

👉Heat oil in kadai add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, red chillies, curry leaves and allow it to splutter. Add garlic, onions and sauté well. Add tomatoes cook until mushy.

👉Add turmeric powder and sambar powder sauté for few seconds.

👉Add tamarind extract and required water, salt and bring to a boil.

👉Add the fried gram paste (slurry) and stir well.
Boil the sambar for 5 mins until it thickens to desired consistency.

👉Garnish and serve hot with idli, dosa, pongal,upma etc

Preparation Time -15 mins
Serves- 4-6

Note -

✍️You can add veggies of your choice too.
✍️This sambar will thicken quickly after adding the fried gram slurry so be cautious, add required water to adjust the consistency.
✍️Instead of adding tamarind extract you can use lemon juice.