Description
Sambar powder | the best homemade sambar masala, is a vital component of South Indian cuisine, particularly in Tamil Nadu. This blend of spices is known for its aromatic and rich flavor, which elevates the taste of a range of dishes, including the traditional lentil-based stew, sambar.
Ingredients
Whole dry red chilli - 100gm
Coriander Seeds - 1 1/3 cup
Toor Dal / Split pigeon pea - 1/3 cup
Chana Dal - 4 tsp
Rice - 4 tsp
Black peppercorn - 1 tsp
Urad dal - 2 tsp
Cumin seeds / Jeera - 4 tsp
Fenugreek / methi - 2 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1 tsp
Asafoetida / Hing - 1.5 tsp
Curry leaves - 1 handful
Instructions
- On a wok or kadai, add coriander seeds, toor dal, chana dal, rice, and cumin seeds and dry roast them separately one after another on medium flame.
- Remove the roasted coriander seeds and the other ingredients from the kadai and transfer them to a plate to cool off.
- Roast the fenugreek seeds on a slow flame taking care to not change the color. Remove from kadai and allow to cool on the same plate as the other roasted ingredients.
- Add curry leaves and roast them till they become dry and allow them to cool on a plate.
- Add half a teaspoon of oil to the kadai and roast the dry red chilies by constantly stirring on a slow flame.
- When the chilies are almost roasted, turn off the flame and add the turmeric and asafoetida. The turmeric and hing get roasted in the mild heat from the kadai and the hot red chilies.
- Transfer the red chillies, asafetida, and turmeric to the plate containing the other roasted spices.
- Once cooled, blend the red chillies in a blender jar to a fine powder. After grinding the red chillies, transfer all the roasted spices and other remaining ingredients to the mixie jar and grind until combines into a smooth spice blend.
Notes
Do not roast on high flame. Roasting on a high flame will burn the ingredients and the sambar masala might turn bitter.
Roast each of the ingredients separately as each of the ingredients roast at a different rate.
Grind the whole dry red chilli first in the blender jar and then add the other roasted ingredients for grinding.