onion sambar recipe | vengaya sambar | ulli sambar | small onion sambar with detailed photo and video recipe. a simple and easy sambar recipe made with small onions or shallots. the recipe is basically an extension to a typical south indian sambar with a typical sambar powder but without all fancy vegetables in it. the recipe is an ideal side dish to steam rice and can be served for lunch or dinner or even for tiffin boxes.
sambar recipe is frequent dish i make on a daily basis. generally i make it for my noon lunch which can be extended to even dinner as well. because i make it frequently i have to explore different types of sambar, os that it does not get monotonous for our lunch and dinner. because we both hail from udupi, the coconut-based sambar or we call it as ‘koddel’ is the most preferred one. having said that we have opened up for plain toor dal based sambar. and onion sambar is one of our favorite as of now. the main reason i like it is because of it is economical, quick and at the same time tasty. compared to another traditional sambar, the vengaya sambar needs just small onions compared to fancy vegetables.
furthermore some tips, suggestions, variations to make it a perfect and tasty onion sambar recipe. firstly, the recipe tastes better with small onions or shallots. but you do not have to limit it with just that. you can also use big red onions or even white onions for the same purpose. secondly, i have used homemade sambar powder which elevates the taste and flavour of this recipe. having said that you can also use store-bought ones for the same purpose. lastly, if you wish, you can also experiment the recipe by adding choice of vegetables. perhaps you can add vegetables like drumstick, pumpkin, brinjal, carrots and even beans.
finally i request you to check my other detailed sambar recipes collection with this post of onion sambar recipe. it mainly includes vivid type of sambar like ulli theeyal, udupi sambar, drumstick sambar, mini idli sambar, idli sambar, vegetable sambar, sambar, gulla bolu koddel, beans koddel, hotel sambar. further to these i would also like to highlight my other recipes collection like,
onion sambar video recipe:
recipe card for vengaya sambar recipe:
onion sambar recipe | vengaya sambar | ulli sambar | small onion sambar
Ingredients
for sambar powder:
- 1 tsp coconut oil
- ¼ 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
- ¼ tsp hing / asafoetida
for sambar:
- 2 tbsp oil
- 20 small onion
- 3 clove garlic, crushed
- 1 chilli, slit
- ¼ tsp turmeric
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tomato, chopped
- ¾ cup tamarind extract
- 1 cup water
- 1½ cup toor dal, cooked
- 1 tsp jaggery
- 2 tbsp coriander, chopped
for tempering:
- 2 tsp oil
- 1 tsp mustard
- ¼ tsp methi / fenugreek
- few curry leaves
- pinch hing / asafoetida
- 2 dried red chilli, broken
Instructions
sambar powder recipe:
- firstly, in a pan heat 1 tsp coconut oil and roast ¼ tsp methi.
- now keeping the flame on low add ¼ cup coriander seeds, 1 tbsp cumin, 1 tsp urad dal and 1 tsp chana dal.
- roast until the spices turn golden brown.
- further, add 20 dried red chilli, few curry leaves and roast until the chillis turn crisp.
- cool the spices completely and transfer to the blender along with ¼ tsp hing.
- blend to a slightly coarse powder and sambar powder is ready.
onion sambar preparation:
- firstly, heat 2 tbsp oil and saute 20 small onion, 3 clove garlic and 1 chilli for 2 minutes.
- add ¼ tsp turmeric and 1 tsp salt. saute for a minute.
- further add 1 tomato and saute well.
- now add ¾ cup tamarind extract and 1 cup water.
- cover and boil for 10 minutes or until raw flavour are gone.
- add 1½ cup toor dal and mix well adjusting consistency as required.
- further get to a boil for 2 minutes.
- add 3 tsp prepared sambar powder and 1 tsp jaggery.
- mix well and boil for a minute.
- prepare the tempering by heating 2 tsp oil.
- splutter 1 tsp mustard, ¼ tsp methi, few curry leaves, pinch hing and 2 dried red chilli.
- pour the tempering over sambar.
- add 2 tbsp coriander and mix well.
- finally, enjoy onion sambar with hot steamed rice.
how to make onion sambar with step by step photo:
sambar powder recipe:
- firstly, in a pan heat 1 tsp coconut oil and roast ¼ tsp methi.
- now keeping the flame on low add ¼ cup coriander seeds, 1 tbsp cumin, 1 tsp urad dal and 1 tsp chana dal.
- roast until the spices turn golden brown.
- further, add 20 dried red chilli, few curry leaves and roast until the chillis turn crisp.
- cool the spices completely and transfer to the blender along with ¼ tsp hing.
- blend to a slightly coarse powder and sambar powder is ready.
onion sambar preparation:
- firstly, heat 2 tbsp oil and saute 20 small onion, 3 clove garlic and 1 chilli for 2 minutes.
- add ¼ tsp turmeric and 1 tsp salt. saute for a minute.
- further add 1 tomato and saute well.
- now add ¾ cup tamarind extract and 1 cup water.
- cover and boil for 10 minutes or until raw flavour are gone.
- add 1½ cup toor dal and mix well adjusting consistency as required.
- further get to a boil for 2 minutes.
- add 3 tsp prepared sambar powder and 1 tsp jaggery.
- mix well and boil for a minute.
- prepare the tempering by heating 2 tsp oil.
- splutter 1 tsp mustard, ¼ tsp methi, few curry leaves, pinch hing and 2 dried red chilli.
- pour the tempering over sambar and add 2 tbsp coriander. mix well.
- finally, enjoy onion sambar with hot steamed rice.
notes:
- firstly, use small onions for authentic flavour.
- also, along with onion you can also add potato to prepare onion potato sambar.
- additionally, roasting onions initially gives good flavour.
- finally, onion sambar recipe can also be prepared with store brought sambar powder.