Sambar Powder

Sambar powder is an essential spice blend used in South Indian cooking, imparting flavour, aroma, and colour to the dishes, especially sambar, a famous lentil-based vegetable stew.

Cleaning: Begin by thoroughly cleaning all the spices to remove any stones, dirt, or other impurities.

Ingredients to Sun-Dry

  • 1 kg round Red Chilli
    Sun-dry until the chillies become crisp. It usually takes 1-2 days of strong sunlight.
  • 200 gms Curry Turmeric
    Cut into smaller pieces if it’s in large chunks and sun-dry.
  • 200 gms peppercorns
    Sun-dry these as well alongside the regular red chillies.
  • 2 kg Coriander Seeds
    Spread out the coriander seeds in a thin layer for even drying.
  • 100gms Channa dal
    Spread out for even drying in the sun.

Ingredients to Roast

  • 200 seeds Methi Seeds (Fenugreek Seeds):
    Lightly roast in a pan as these seeds burn quickly.
  • 100 gms Dry Ginger
    Dry roast to make it easier to powder.
  • 250 gms Jeera (Cumin Seeds)
    Lightly roast to enhance the flavour.
  • 4 to 5 inches solid piece Asafoetida (Hing):
    Roast on an open flame until it swells, and then grind it.
  • 50 gms Toor Dal
    Same as Bengal Gram, ensure it is spread out evenly.

Instructions

Sun-Drying

Lay out the sun-drying ingredients in separate trays or cloths.
Ensure they are in a thin layer for even drying.
Leave them under strong sunlight for 1-2 days or until thoroughly dried and crisp.
You can bring them in at night to avoid moisture from dew.

Roasting

Roast fenugreek seeds,channa dal, toor dal till ingredients become hot. Only these 3 ingredients must be roasted. All the other ingredients are sun dried.

Grinding

Proceed with grinding all the ingredients (both sun-dried and roasted) to a fine powder.

Storing

Store the prepared sambar powder in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. It remains fresh for up to 6 months. Use a clean, dry spoon to take out the sambar powder each time.

Using the Sambar Powder

Use the sambar powder while preparing sambar or other South Indian dishes to add flavour, aroma, and colour.

Typically, 2-3 tablespoons of sambar powder are used for a standard recipe, but you can adjust according to your taste.
Homemade sambar powder is ready to be used in your delicious South Indian recipes. Enjoy the enhanced flavours and aromas in your cooking!