drumstick sambar recipe | nuggekai sambar | murungakkai sambar with detailed photo and video recipe. an easy and simple south indian favourite sambar recipe made with toor dal and drumsticks. it is perhaps the most popular sambar recipe which can be served for both rice and also any breakfast recipes. there are many ways to make this sambar recipe, but in this recipe post, i have used drumstick, onions with a blend of spice masala.
as i mentioned earlier, sambar recipes have been a staple and most preferred recipe for many south indians. this is mainly due to rice being a staple food and it needs a spicy and watery side dish to relish with. there are many ways and a variety of sambar but the basic ingredients remain the same. it must contain a vegetable, toor dal for its base and a special blend of spices. out of all the vegetables, drumstick or murungakkai is very commonly used, particularly in tamil and andhra cuisine. in my native of udupi or south canara, the sambar is incomplete without the freshly grounded coconut masala. but in this recipe, i have stuck to the authentic tamil traditional recipe and does not have any coconut masala in it.
anyway, some easy and important tips, suggestions and variations for a perfect drumstick sambar recipe. firstly, in this recipe, i have used frozen drumsticks as i did not access to fresh ones. if you have access to a fresh one, then i would heavily recommend to use it. secondly, in this recipe, i have freshly prepared the sambar masala which is later added while boiling the sambar. if you do not wish to make it from the scratch, you can use any store bought sambar powder. lastly, you can add any choice of vegetables with drumstick while boiling it. but the combination of drumstick and shallots results in an ideal flavoured sambar recipe.
finally, i would like to highlight my other sambar recipes collection with this post of drumstick sambar recipe. it mainly includes recipes like hotel style sambar, idli sambar, gobi sambar, eggplant sambar, okra sambar, mix veg sambar, udupi sambar and onion and potato sambar. in addition, i would like to highlight my other related recipes collection like,
drumstick sambar video recipe:
recipe card for drumstick sambar recipe:
drumstick sambar recipe | nuggekai sambar | murungakkai sambar
Ingredients
for sambar powder:
- 1 tsp coconut oil
- ½ tsp methi / fenugreek
- ¼ cup coriander seeds
- 1 tbsp cumin / jeera
- 1 tsp urad dal
- 1 tsp chana dal
- 20 dried red chilli
- few curry leaves
- pinch hing / asafetida
for sambar:
- 3 tsp oil
- 1 tsp mustard
- 3 dried red chilli
- pinch hing / asafoetida
- few curry leaves
- 7 shallots, halves
- 1 tomato, finely chopped
- ½ tsp turmeric
- 1 tsp salt
- 20 pieces drumstick
- 2 cup water
- 2 cup toor dal
- ½ cup tamarind extract
- 2 tbsp coriander, finely chopped
Instructions
- firstly, in a large kadai heat 3 tsp oil and splutter tempering.
- add 7 shallots and saute for 2 minutes.
- also, add 1 tomato and saute until tomatoes soften.
- further, add ½ tsp turmeric, 2 tbsp sambar powder and 1 tsp salt.
- saute for a minute until spices turn aromatic.
- add in 20 pieces drumstick and cook well.
- now add 2 cup toor dal and 1 cup water.
- adjust the consistency adding water as required. cover and boil for 5 minutes or until flavours are absorbed well.
- additionally, add ½ cup tamarind extract and stir well.
- continue to boil for 5 minutes or until the raw flavour of tamarind is gone.
- finally, add 2 tbsp coriander and enjoy drumstick sambar with hot steamed rice.
how to make nuggekai sambar with step by step photo:
homemade sambar powder:
- firstly, in a tawa heat 1 tsp coconut oil and saute ½ tsp methi.
- add ¼ cup coriander seeds, 1 tbsp cumin, 1 tsp urad dal and 1 tsp chana dal.
- roast on low flame until spices turn aromatic.
- further, add 20 dried red chilli and few curry leaves. saute on low flame until chillis puff up.
- transfer the spices into mixi and add pinch hing.
- blend to smooth powder and sambar powder is ready.
drumstick sambar recipe:
- firstly, in a large kadai heat 3 tsp oil and splutter 1 tsp mustard, 3 dried red chilli, pinch hing and few curry leaves.
- add 7 shallots and saute for 2 minutes.
- also, add 1 tomato and saute until tomatoes soften.
- further, add ½ tsp turmeric, 2 tbsp sambar powder and 1 tsp salt.
- saute for a minute until spices turn aromatic.
- add in 20 pieces drumstick and saute until spices are coated well.
- further add 1 cup water, cover and boil for 10 minutes or until drumstick is almost cooked.
- now add 2 cup toor dal and 1 cup water.
- adjust the consistency adding water as required.
- cover and boil for 5 minutes or until flavours are absorbed well.
- additionally, add ½ cup tamarind extract and stir well.
- continue to boil for 5 minutes or until the raw flavour of tamarind is gone.
- finally, add 2 tbsp coriander and enjoy drumstick sambar with hot steamed rice.
notes:
- firstly, adding shallots in the sambar makes flavourful.
- also, you can use store brought sambar powder if you do not wish to prepare homemade sambar powder.
- additionally, add tamarind once the drumsticks are cooked well, else it will not cook.
- finally, drumstick sambar recipe tastes great when served hot and spicy.