Home Made sambar powder

Making homemade sambar powder allows you to customize the flavors to your liking and ensures that you’re using fresh, high-quality ingredients. Here’s a basic recipe to make sambar powder at home:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup coriander seeds
• 1/2 cup dried red chilies (adjust according to your spice preference)
• 1/4 cup split pigeon peas (toor dal)
• 2 tablespoons split chickpeas (chana dal)
• 2 tablespoons cumin seeds
• 2 tablespoons black peppercorns
• 1 tablespoon fenugreek seeds
• 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
• 10-12 curry leaves
• 1 teaspoon asafoetida (hing)

Instructions:

1. Dry Roasting: Start by dry roasting all the ingredients separately. This helps to bring out their individual flavors and ensures even roasting. Use a dry skillet or pan over medium heat.
2. Roasting Process:
   • Dry roast coriander seeds until they become slightly golden brown and fragrant.
   • Roast dried red chilies until they darken slightly and become aromatic. Be careful not to burn them.
   • Roast toor dal and chana dal until they turn golden brown.
   • Roast cumin seeds, black peppercorns, fenugreek seeds, and mustard seeds until they release their aroma.
   • Lastly, roast curry leaves until they become crisp.
3. Cooling: Let all the roasted ingredients cool down completely. This is important to prevent them from becoming moist and losing their flavor.
4. Grinding: Once cooled, transfer all the roasted ingredients along with asafoetida (hing) to a spice grinder or blender. Grind them to a fine powder. You may need to do this in batches depending on the size of your grinder.
5. Storing: Allow the sambar powder to cool completely before storing it in an airtight container. Store it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Properly stored sambar powder can last for several months.

Tips:

• Adjust the amount of red chilies according to your preferred spice level. You can use a combination of mild and hot chilies to control the heat.
• Make sure to use fresh and good quality spices for the best flavor.
• You can also add a small amount of grated dried coconut while grinding for extra flavor.
• Feel free to customize the recipe by adding or omitting any spices according to your taste preferences.

Homemade sambar powder adds a wonderful depth of flavor to your dishes and is a staple in South Indian cuisine. Enjoy experimenting with different spice combinations to create your perfect blend!