Sambhar is a South Indian gravy made with Lentils and Vegetables. It's a side dish which goes well with dishes like Dosa, Medu Vada, Idli, etc.
Lentil Vegetable Stew is a delicious Vegan and Gluten Free Recipe. This recipe is generally made in South Indian part of India but loved in every part of our country. The Sambhar Powder used in this dish is totally optional.
Lentil Vegetable Stew is an open end recipe and you can make however you like. The consistency of gravy can be thick or thin.
Lentils
Tuvar dal (toor dal) also known as split pigeon peas is used in Sambhar but you can also make it by mixing moong and masoor dal as it's easy to digest.
Vegetables
Tamarind
Soak Tamarind in 1/2 cup of warm water for atleast 15 minutes. Filter the tamarind extract with hand or spoon and keep it aside.
Homemade Sambhar Masala
Well, I have not used any Sambhar powder in my recipe, but if you want to add Sambhar Powder in your gravy to add more flavor and taste, you can either buy Sambhar Masala Packet from the Store or you can make Sambhar Powder at home.
Vegan and Gluten Free
If you are interested in checking out more delicious and hearty recipes check out my other recipes like
Rava Dosa
Sambhar Without Sambhar Powder | Lentil Vegetable Stew | Gluten Free Sambhar
Ingredients
For Cooking Sambhar
1 cup tuar dal (toor dal) split pigeon peas
5-6 cups water
1/2 tbsp turmeric powder
1 tbsp salt or as per needed
2-3 green chillies, chopped
1 tbsp tamarind paste soaked in warm water for 15 mins (filter the tamarind extract)
2 cups of chopped Vegetables of your choice, I added -
1/2 size lauki (bottle guard)
1 carrots
1 brinjal
1/2 cauliflower florets
1/2 green beans
1/2 size petha (white pumpkin)
For Tempering
2-3 tbsp Oil
2 dried red chillies
1 tbsp cumin seeds
2 tbsp mustard seeds
1 spring curry leaves
5-6 garlic cloves, chopped
2 onions, chopped
2 tomatoes, chopped
1/2 tsp red chilli powder
1 tpsp coriander powder
1 tsp salt or as per needed
1 tbsp sambhar masala (optional)
1/2 tbsp mango powder (optional)
1/2 tsp garam masala
For Garnishing
handful of coriander leaves, chopped
Method
1. Rinse the toor dal thoroughly until the water runs clear.
2. Meanwhile make a tamarind extract - Soak Tamarind in 1/2 cup of warm water for atleast 15 minutes. Filter the tamarind extract with hand or spoon and keep it aside.
3. To a pressure cooker, add the rinsed toor dal, chopped vegetables, tamarind extract with turmeric powder, salt, green chillies, and water in a pressure cooker.
4. Cook for 2-3 whistles on a medium flame. Switch off the flame and keep it aside.
5. Once the pressure is released, open the lid, mash the dal and vegetables lightly with the potato masher. Keep aside.
6. Meanwhile, heat oil in a pan, add mustard seeds, let it splutter. Add cumin seeds and saute for a minute.
7. Add dried Kashmiri lal mirch, curry leaves for 2-3 minutes. Saute till you get a rich aroma.
8. Add ginger, garlic cloves and fry for a minute.
9. Add onions and fry it for 3-4 minutes on low flame.
10. Than add tomatoes and green chillies and saute it for 4-5 minutes.
11. Add red chilli powder, coriander powder, salt. Mix it well.
12. Transfer the masala into the pressure cooker and cook it for 15 minutes on low-medium flame.
13. Add garam masala and coriander leaves in the Sambhar and mix it well. Turn off the heat and remove it.
14. Serve hot with any South Indian Dish like Dosa, Idli, Medu Vada, Rice or Roti.
Notes
1. Adding Sambhar powder is totally optional. You can make Homemade Sambhar Masala too. (I haven't added any Sambhar Masala in my recipe)
2. You can cook vegetables in the pan and than make the following recipe or add them in cooker along with the dal.
3. Tuvar dal is used in Sambhar but you can also make it by mixing moong and masoor dal.
4. Adding Tamarind Paste and Mango Powder in the Vegetable Lentils Stew is totally optional.
5. You can skip Hing or Asofoetida to make it Gluten-Free and Vegan.
6. Adding dried Kashmiri Dal Mirch is totally optional.
7. Add vegetables of your choice in the Sambhar.
8. If you want to have a thick consistency of your Sambhar, add less water and lightly mash the vegetables or if you want to have a thin consistency you can add more water in the Sambhar.