Sambar Rice

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Sambar Rice is a complete meal packed with protein, fiber, and essential nutrients. It’s rich, flavorful, and easy to digest, making it suitable for all ages. This recipe is perfect for using leftover rice and vegetables, and it comes together in one pot—ideal for busy weekdays. Naturally vegetarian and easily made vegan and gluten-free, it’s versatile, customizable, and comforting with every bite.

Ingredients

(Tip: You’ll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)

• Cooked rice (soft and slightly mushy preferred)
• Toor dal (pigeon peas)
• Tamarind pulp
• Mixed vegetables (carrot, drumstick, beans, pumpkin, brinjal, etc.)
• Onion (optional)
• Tomato (chopped)
• Sambar powder
• Turmeric powder
• Mustard seeds
• Cumin seeds
• Dried red chilies
• Curry leaves
• Hing (asafoetida)
• Oil or ghee
• Salt
• Water
• Coriander leaves (for garnish)

Directions

1. Pressure cook toor dal with turmeric until soft and mash it well.
2. In a pot, cook chopped vegetables with salt, turmeric, and water until tender.
3. Add tamarind pulp, chopped tomatoes, and sambar powder. Simmer until raw tamarind smell fades.
4. Add mashed dal and cooked rice to the pot and mix well. Adjust consistency with more water if needed.
5. In a small pan, heat oil or ghee. Add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, dried red chilies, curry leaves, and a pinch of hing.
6. Pour the tempering into the rice mixture and mix gently.
7. Simmer for a few more minutes. Adjust salt and garnish with fresh coriander leaves.
8. Serve hot with appalam, pickle, or curd.

Servings and timing

This recipe serves 4 people and takes approximately 40 minutes to prepare, including cooking the dal and rice.

Variations

• Make it vegan: Use oil instead of ghee.
• Add different lentils: Use a mix of toor dal and moong dal for a softer texture.
• Spicy version: Add more red chilies or green chilies to the tempering.
• No onion/garlic: Skip onion for a sattvic or fasting version.
• Add coconut: Stir in a bit of fresh grated coconut or coconut paste for a Kerala-style variation.

Storage/Reheating

Store Sambar Rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
To reheat, add a splash of water to loosen the consistency and warm it gently on the stovetop or in a microwave until heated through. Stir well before serving.

FAQs

What type of rice works best for Sambar Rice?

Short- or medium-grain rice like sona masoori is preferred for its soft texture, but any cooked rice can be used.

Can I use store-bought sambar powder?

Yes, store-bought sambar powder works well and saves time. You can also use homemade if available.

Can I make Sambar Rice with leftover rice?

Absolutely. Leftover rice works perfectly and saves prep time.

Is this dish spicy?

Sambar Rice is moderately spiced, but you can easily adjust the heat by increasing or reducing the sambar powder or chilies.

Can I skip tamarind?

Tamarind gives the dish its signature tang. If unavailable, you can use tomatoes or a small amount of lemon juice.

Can I pressure cook everything together?

Yes, for a quicker version, you can pressure cook dal, vegetables, and rice together with spices and then add tempering at the end.

What can I serve with Sambar Rice?

It pairs well with appalam (papadam), pickles, curd, or a simple vegetable stir-fry.

Can I use other lentils?

Toor dal is traditional, but you can mix in moong dal or masoor dal for variation in texture.

How do I prevent the rice from turning too thick?

Add enough water while mixing and reheat with extra water if it thickens after cooling.

Is Sambar Rice good for digestion?

Yes, it’s light, full of fiber, and easy on the stomach—especially when made with minimal oil and fresh vegetables.

Conclusion

Sambar Rice is a soulful, satisfying dish that captures the essence of South Indian home cooking. With its harmonious blend of lentils, rice, vegetables, and spices, it offers comfort in every bite. Whether served hot on a rainy day or packed in a lunchbox, this nourishing one-pot meal is sure to become a regular favorite in your kitchen.

Sambar Rice

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Sambar Rice is a comforting South Indian one-pot meal made with cooked rice, lentils, vegetables, tamarind, and aromatic spices. It’s hearty, tangy, and perfect for lunchboxes, everyday meals, or festive feasts.

• Author: Laura
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 4 servings
• Category: Main Dish
• Method: Stovetop
• Cuisine: Indian
• Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

• 2 cups cooked rice (soft and slightly mushy)
• 1/2 cup toor dal (pigeon peas)
• 1.5 tablespoons tamarind pulp
• 1.5 cups mixed vegetables (carrot, beans, drumstick, pumpkin, brinjal, etc.)
• 1 onion (optional, sliced)
• 1 tomato, chopped
• 2 teaspoons sambar powder
• 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
• Salt to taste
• 3 cups water (adjust as needed)
• 1 tablespoon oil or ghee
• 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 2 dried red chilies
• 8–10 curry leaves
• 1 pinch asafoetida (hing)
• 2 tablespoons chopped coriander leaves (for garnish)

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Instructions

1. Rinse and pressure cook toor dal with 1.5 cups water and turmeric powder until soft (3–4 whistles). Mash and set aside.
2. In a pot, cook chopped vegetables (and onion if using) with 1 cup water, salt, and turmeric until tender.
3. Add tamarind pulp, chopped tomato, and sambar powder. Simmer for 5–7 minutes until the raw smell of tamarind fades.
4. Add the mashed dal and cooked rice to the pot. Mix well. Adjust consistency by adding more water if needed.
5. In a small pan, heat oil or ghee. Add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, dried red chilies, curry leaves, and hing. Let them splutter.
6. Pour the tempering over the sambar rice mixture and stir gently to combine.
7. Simmer for another 2–3 minutes. Adjust salt and garnish with chopped coriander leaves.
8. Serve hot with appalam, curd, or pickle.

Notes

• Use soft-cooked rice for authentic texture—sona masoori works best.
• Adjust tamarind and sambar powder based on preferred tang and spice levels.
• Use oil instead of ghee for a vegan version.
• Sambar rice thickens on sitting—add hot water before reheating.
• Add a spoon of ghee while serving for extra flavor.

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1.5 cups
• Calories: 320
• Sugar: 4g
• Sodium: 350mg
• Fat: 8g
• Saturated Fat: 2g
• Unsaturated Fat: 5g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 48g
• Fiber: 5g
• Protein: 9g
• Cholesterol: 5mg