Varutharacha Sambar Recipe with Coconut | Startup Cooking

 VARUTHARACHA SAMBAR RECIPE WITH COCONUT

Varutharacha Sambar is a delicious Kerala Style sambar recipe that is made from roasted coconut homemade sambar powder that adds to the authenticity and flavor of the sambar. The aromas from the ground spices when combined along with tamarind water and cooked lentils, make this sambar very delicious and festive. An Onam sadya is incomplete without the freshly prepared spicy Varutharacha Sambar. I used variety of vegetables like drumstick, radish, carrot, beans and radish. Do you know? Drumstick pods helps to build strong bones, it is very good for pregnant women. Drumsticks also known as mooring in local language is rich in calcium, iron and vitamins. They are also have properties such purifying the blood, improves digestion and protects against infection. 

Serve Varutharacha Sambar along with carrot beans thoran, potato stir fry, vadam or with steamed rice. Follow my step by step photo recipe to prepare Varutharacha Sambar. If you like this recipe share it, tweet it and pin it. Please do try and post your comments.

RECIPE FOR VARUTHARACHA SAMBAR

Coarse : Sambar - Sidedish for Breakfast/Lunch

Cuisine : South Indian

Author : Jayashree Karthik

Prep Time : 15 min

Cook Time : 20 min

Total Time : 35 min

INGREDIENTS

TO ROAST AND GRIND

• 1 tsp oil

• 5 red chilli

• 2 tsp coriander seeds

• 1/4 tsp methi seeds

• 1 tsp urad dal

• 1/4 cup grated coconut

• 1/4 tsp hing

TO TEMPER

• 2 tsp oil

• 1/4 tsp mustard seeds

• 1/2 tsp urad dal

• 1/2 tsp cumin seeds

• 1/8 tsp methi seeds

• 2 red chilli

• 1 spring curry leaves

TO MAKE SAMBAR

• 1/2 cup toor dal

• 1/2 tablespoon tamarind

• 1.5 cup vegetables - I used drumstick, radish, carrot, beans, brinjals

• 1 cup shallots

• 1 tomato - chopped

• 2 green chilli

• 1/2 tsp red chilli powder

• 1/4 tsp turmeric powder

• 1 spring coriander leaves

• 1 tsp jaggery

• salt - to taste

METHOD

• Roast the coconut and spices - heat a small pan over medium heat. add the coriander seeds, methi seeds, urad dal, red chillies. roast until fragrant and then add the grated coconut and roast until golden brown

• let the roasted mixture cool. then, grind it into a fine powder using a blender or food processor and set aside

• pressure cook the toor dal and 4 garlic with 2 cups of water until it's soft and mushy

• heat oil in a pan over medium heat and temper with mustards seeds, urad dal, methi seeds, cumin seeds, red chillies, hing and curry leaves

• now add shallots and saute until they're translucent, add chopped tomato and choice of vegetables (I used drumstick, radish, carrot, beans and brinjal) and saute for 2-3 minutes

• add tamarind water, turmeric powder, ground roasted mixture, red chilli powder and mix well

• add 1 cup water and bring the mixture to boil and finally add cooked toor dal and mix well

• simmer the sambar for 10-15 minutes or until the flavors have melded together and the vegetables are cooked

• garnish with fresh coriander leaves and serve with rice, idli, dosa or pongal

• Enjoy your delicious Varutharacha Sambar!

NOTES

1. adjust spice level according to your taste
2. when grinding the roasted coconut mixture, traditionally a stone grinder is used, the taste is improved

VARUTHARACHA SAMBAR WITH 

STEP BY STEP PHOTO RECIPE

soak toor dal in a bowl for 20 minutes

soak tamarind in warm water and extract juice

pressure cook toor dal 

toor dal cooked well and it turns mushy

in a pan, add a tsp of oil and add urad dal, methi seeds, coriander seeds, hing and red chilli

dry roast in low flame until you get a nice aroma

add grated coconut

roast the grated coconut in low flame till it changes brown color

transfer in to the mixer grinder

grind into a smooth powder

heat a tbsp of oil in a pot and temper with mustard seeds, urad dal, methi seeds, cumin seeds, hing, red chilli and curry leaves

add shallots

saute for few seconds or until it turns transparent

add tomato, brinjal, drumstick, beans, carrot and radish

cook the vegetables for 5-7 minutes

add tamarind juice, turmeric powder, red chilli powder, freshly ground sambar powder and salt

mix well and add 1 cup of water

bring this mixture to boil for a minute

add cooked toor dal

mix well and bring the sambar to boil for a minute

continue to boil for 2-3 minutes or until you see a nice froth on top of the sambar

add chopped coriander leaves

mix well and turn off the flame

Varutharacha Sambar is ready to serve