Drumstick Sambar

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Sambar is a Basic Lentil soup. There are many variations in sambar and sambar powder used. Sambar plays a major role in a south indian meal. Sambar basically gets its taste from the vegetables and sambar powder used. There are many variations in sambar. Drumstick is a common vegetable in south india. Hence decided to share drumstick sambar recipe today. Some other sambar variations in my space are Beetroot Sambar, Radish Sambar, and Yellow Pumpkin Sambar. Drumstick is a healthy and flavourful vegetable. Adding it into sambar makes a flavourful sambar.

Prep time: 10 Min | Cook time : 30 Min | Total time : 40 Min
Recipe type: Side Dish | Cuisine: Indian | Yield / Serves: 4
Taste: Salty and Spicy

Ingredients

To Pressure Cook

Tur Dal / Toor Dal – 1/3 Cup
Turmeric Powder – 1/2 teaspoon
Garlic – 5 pods
Shallots – 7
Tomato – 1
Salt – to taste
Water – 1.5 Cup

For Boiling Drumstick

Drumstick – 1 long chopped
Shallots – 5
Oil – 1 tablespoon
Mustard – 1/2 teaspoon
Fenugreek – 1/2 teaspoon
Tamarind – Amla sized
Water – as required
Salt – to taste

For Tampering

Oil – 1 tablespoon
Cumin Seeds – 1 teaspoon
Dry Red Chillis – 3
Curry Leaves – a spring

Other Ingredients

Sambar Powder – 2 teaspoon

Step by Step Photos on how to make Drumstick Sambar:

Add all ingredients listed under “to pressure cook” into a pressure cooker. Pressure cook for 3 whistles in high flame. Switch off the flame. Allow the pressure cooker to release pressure on its own. Open the pressure cooker. Mash them using a ladle or a hand blender.
Soak tamarind with required water in a bowl for 15 minutes. Squeeze the juice and discard the waste. Chop the drumstick into 2 inch pieces.
Heat oil in a Wok. Add in Mustard and Fenugreek and allow them to splutter. Add shallots and saute them until glossy. Add the chopped drumstick and saute for 2 minutes.
Add in the tamarind juice and salt to taste. Close the wok with a lid. Cook until the drumstick is tender. Stir occasionally. If the water is absorbed add little water.
Add the Veggie mix into the mashed dal mixture. Add in sambar powder and if required salt and start cooking this mixture again. Cook Until the Masalas Blends well. Switch off the flame.
Heat oil in another pan for tampering. Add all the ingredients listed under to tamper and saute them. Add this on top of the sambar.
Flavourful drumstick sambar is now ready to serve.

Notes:

Shallots are to be used for sambar. I did not have shallots so i have used onion.
Curry Leaves can also be replaced with Coriander Leaves.
I like to mash the veggies along with the dal as it is easy to feed kids with these mashed veggies.
Sambar is not too thick or too runny so adjust the water consistency accordingly.
Using Tender Drumstick with more pulp and shallots/Pearl onion makes the sambar more flavourful.