Drumstick Sambar
Also known as Homestyle Sambar · Veg · Curries & Gravies, Kuzhambu, Sambar & Rasam
Cook along
2 steps, each one filmed
A short video for every step, so your hands never have to leave the pan.
Drumstick sambar from Tamil Nadu: toor dal simmered with drumstick, shallots, tamarind and sambar powder. Medium-spicy, serves 4, 40 minutes, with video.
Low calorie
Ingredients
15 itemsWater3.5 cup
Turmeric Powder1 tsp
Sunflower Oil2 tsp
Salt1 1/2 tsp
Small Onion (Shallots)200 grams
Tomato, Diced40 grams
Sambar Powder2 tbsp
Asafoetida1 1/2 tsp
Ghee1 tbsp
Mustard Seeds1/2 tsp
Curry leaves2 sprigs
Coriander Leaves1 tbsp
Drumstick, Diced2
Toor Dal1/2 cup
Tamarind15 grams
Contains: milk, wheat.
Nutrition
One serving, and the whole batch of 4. Worked out from the ingredients, so treat it as a close guide.
| Nutrient | Per serving | All 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | 222kcal | 888kcal |
| Protein | 8.4g | 34g |
| Carbohydrate | 32g | 128g |
| Fat | 7.6g | 30g |
| Fibre | 7.9g | 32g |
| Sugar | 6.8g | 27g |
Cookd masalas for drumstick
Method
- 1
In a pressure cooker, pour water and add turmeric powder and toor dal. Pressure Cook it for 5 whistles on a moderate flame (around 7-8 minutes) Mash the dal until completely smooth and set aside. In a kadhai or mud pot, pour oil and add drumsticks, salt and water, cook the drumsticks for 2-3 minutes on a high flame (this will make sure the salt is absorbed by the drumstick) Add the shallots and tomato, saute for 30 seconds and add asafoetida and sambar powder. Cook on a low medium flame for 1-2 minutes or until the raw flavour disappears. Pour tamarind water along with regular water, cover and cook for 5-6 minutes on a moderate flame or until the drumsticks and shallots are cooked thoroughly.
WaterTurmeric PowderSunflower OilSaltSmall Onion (Shallots)TomatoSambar PowderAsafoetidaWaterDrumstickToor DalTamarind
- 2
Add the mashed dal to the sambar and cook for another 2-3 minutes on a high flame or until the sambar is cohesive. For the tempering, add ghee and mustard seeds, once they crackle add curry leaves and let them splutter. Add the tempering to the sambar and serve hot.
GheeMustard SeedsCurry leavesCoriander Leaves
Before you start
- How long does Drumstick Sambar take?
- 40 minutes from start to finish. That is 20 minutes of preparation and 20 minutes of cooking.
- How many people does Drumstick Sambar serve?
- 4. The ingredient quantities on this page rescale if you are cooking for a different number.
- Is Drumstick Sambar vegetarian?
- Yes. No meat, no fish and no egg.
- Is Drumstick Sambar spicy?
- It is medium: 2 on our scale of 3. Chilli scales gently when you change the servings, so doubling the recipe does not double the heat.
- What do I need to make Drumstick Sambar?
- 2 Drumstick, 2 tbsp Sambar Powder, 1/2 cup Toor Dal, 15 grams Tamarind, 200 grams Small Onion (Shallots), 40 grams Tomato, and a few more listed on this page.
- Do I need a pressure cooker for Drumstick Sambar?
- No, it is cooked in an open pot.
- How many calories are in Drumstick Sambar?
- About 222 a serving. The full nutrition table is on this page, per serving and for the whole batch.
Tips from other cooks
2 notes- K
Karthi KathirvelSeptember 2025
grams kanakul solama 1 23 nu sona nalla iruku apro kushka potato poriyal receipe venu receipes all are exacellent thanks for cookd
- M
Moni ShaaSeptember 2024
Yummy sambar ready!😋
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