InstantPot Sambar Recipe / How To Make South Indian Sambar Using InstantPot / Masoor Dal Sambar Recipe

Another easy and simple south Indian Sambar recipe using Instant pot. For sambar, I used masoor dal today as this suits best for one pot sambar. This recipe can also be done in pressure cooker following the same method n steps. This quick sambar goes well with rice and tiffin also.

Instant Pot Sambar Recipe

Prep time : 15 minutes | Cook Time : 25 Minutes

Recipe Category : Side Dish | Serves 4

Ingredients

1. Masoor dal  1/2 cup(standard cup)
2. Onion   1 med(sliced)
3. Tomato   1 (chopped)
4. Vegetable   1 cup(chopped, I used chayote)
5. Capsicum   1/4 cup(chopped)
6. Shredded coconut   1 Tbsp
7. Turmeric powder    1/4 tsp
8. Red chilli powder    1 and 1/2 tsp
9. Coriander powder   2 tsp
10. Sambar powder   2 tsp
11. Hing  1/4 tsp
12. Salt   to taste
13. Tamarind small gooseberry sized piece soaked in 1/2 cup water n extracted
14. Oil    2 tsp
15. Ghee   1 tsp

For Tadka

1. Oil   2 tsp
2. Mustard seeds   1/2 tsp
3. Jeera/cumin seeds   1/2tsp
4. Methi seeds/vendhayam   1/4 tsp
5. Hing   1/8 tsp
6. Dry red chilli     2
7. Curry leaves   1 sprig
8. Cilantro    1/4 cup finely chopped

Notes:
I used chayote and capsicum for sambar, you can use any vegetables.
I like to add little bit of a capsicum/green pepper in my sambar with any vegetable. It gives nice flavor, just try it.
I like the taste and flavor of shredded coconut in my sambar but it is optional you can skip if you don’t like.
Chayote & coconut itself gives mild sweetness to the sambar, if using other vegetables like drumstick/eggplant/radish/ or any, just add 1 tsp powdered jaggery along with salt in the cooking process. The recipe can be cooked in Pressure cooker too, if using pressure cooker follow the same method and pressure cook for 2 whistles and wait till pressure cools down, open the lid then boil for 5 minutes add tadka. 

Method

• Wash masoor dal and soak with enough water for 10-15 minutes.
• Chop all veggies and keep everything ready.
• Now Turn saute mode on Instant pot for 15 minutes(but it gonna take 8-9 minutes only)
• When its hot add 2 tsp oil, add onion stir fry for a minute then add tomato mix well.
• Let it fry until soft and then add chopped chayote & capsicum stir fry for few seconds.
• Then add turmeric, chilli powder, coriander powder and sambar powder mix everything well until combined.
• After that add soaked masoor dal mix everything well and add 2 cups of water.
• Then add tamarind extract, enough salt, shredded coconut, ghee and mix everything nicely.
• The consistency will be runny, but don’t worry the sambar tends to thick after cooking.
• Now close the lid, cancel saute mode and turn on Pressure Cook mode for 14 minutes.
• Let it cook and wait till pressure cools down.
• Once done, open the lid and turn on saute mode for 5 minutes.
• Let the sambar boils for 5 minutes, cover the pot with lid.
• Meanwhile on a separate stove, heat tadka pan add oil, when its hot add mustard seeds n methi seeds let it sputter. Then add jeera, hing and fry well.
• Lastly add red chilli, curry leaves and some cilantro fry well and add it to the boiling sambar.
• Turn off the saute mode, add some more fresh chopped cilantro. Mix well.
• That’s it simple and super Tasty sambar ready serve hot with plain rice or Idli/Dosa.