Udupi Sambar
An authentic vegetarian recipe from Karnataka, India
Cook Time
35 mins
Servings
4 servings
Difficulty
MediumCategory
VegetarianIngredients
For 4 servings
200g Toor dal (split pigeon peas)
200g Drumstick (moringa), cut into 5 cm pieces
150g Small brinjal (eggplant), quartered
100g Shallots (sambar onions)
150g Tomatoes, chopped
20g Tamarind paste
10g Jaggery
20g Udupi sambar powder
3g Turmeric powder
8g Salt
30ml Coconut oil
5g Mustard seeds
3piece Dried red chillies
15piece Curry leaves
1g Asafoetida (hing)
15g Fresh coriander leaves
16 ingredients needed
💡 Pro Tip: Gather all ingredients before you start cooking for a smooth preparation process.
Cooking Instructions
Follow these step-by-step instructions to prepare this authentic dish
Wash the toor dal and pressure cook with turmeric and 500 ml water for 3–4 whistles until very soft. Mash the cooked dal until smooth.
Click to mark as complete
In a pot, combine the mashed dal with 400 ml water. Add tamarind paste, jaggery, and salt. Bring to a simmer.
Click to mark as complete
Add drumstick pieces and brinjal to the simmering dal. Cook for 8–10 minutes until the vegetables are tender.
Click to mark as complete
Add shallots and chopped tomatoes. Cook for 5 more minutes.
Click to mark as complete
Add Udupi sambar powder and stir well. Simmer for 5 minutes to allow the spices to bloom in the dal.
Click to mark as complete
Taste and adjust salt, tamarind, and jaggery — Udupi sambar has a distinctive sweet-sour-spicy balance.
Click to mark as complete
For the tempering: heat coconut oil in a small pan over medium-high heat. Add mustard seeds and let them splutter.
Click to mark as complete
Add dried red chillies and curry leaves — they will crackle. Add asafoetida and stir for 5 seconds.
Click to mark as complete
Pour the tempering immediately into the sambar. Stir to combine.
Click to mark as complete
Garnish with fresh coriander leaves. Serve hot with idli, dosa, or steamed rice.
Click to mark as complete
Chef's Tips
Udupi sambar is distinctly different from other regional sambars — it uses a specific sambar powder with coconut and is slightly sweeter due to jaggery; do not substitute with generic sambar powder.
The sweet-sour-spicy balance is the hallmark of Udupi cuisine; taste and adjust jaggery and tamarind until the balance feels right.
Drumstick (moringa) is the most traditional vegetable for Udupi sambar — its slightly bitter, earthy flavour is essential to the dish's character.
Coconut oil is the only fat used in authentic Udupi cooking; it gives the tempering a distinctive coastal Karnataka flavour.
About This Dish
Udupi Sambar is a traditional vegetarian dish from Karnataka, India. This authentic recipe provides exact measurements for cooking 4 servings.
- Udupi sambar is distinctly different from other regional sambars — it uses a specific sambar powder with coconut and is slightly sweeter due to jaggery; do not substitute with generic sambar powder. - The sweet-sour-spicy balance is the hallmark of Udupi cuisine; taste and adjust jaggery and tamarind until the balance feels right. - Drumstick (moringa) is the most traditional vegetable for Udupi sambar — its slightly bitter, earthy flavour is essential to the dish's character. - Coconut oil is the only fat used in authentic Udupi cooking; it gives the tempering a distinctive coastal Karnataka flavour.
Category
Vegetarian
Cook Time
35 mins
Servings
4 servings
Difficulty
Medium