Arachuvitta Sambar Recipe - Sambar With Fresh Ground Spices

You must try this delicious Arachuvitta Sambar made with freshly ground spices and coconut. Serve it along with hot steamed rice Steamed Rice, Keerai Thoran and Elai Vadam with a dollop of ghee.

Archana Doshi
23189 ratings.

Arachuvitta Sambar Recipe is a traditional South Indian Sambar that is made from freshly roasted spices and coconut which adds a special touch to this authentic sambar recipe. The sambar tastes best with seasonal vegetables like Radish, Pumpkin, Drumstick and small baby onions are a must in this sambar to give its fresh flavors and taste. 

Did you know ? Drumstick pods helps to build strong bones, it is very good for pregnant women also. Drumstick pods which are known as moringa 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 the Arachuvitta Sambar along with Steamed Rice, topped with ghee and a vegetable like Andhra Style Pavakkai Curry, Avarakkai Poriyal or Masala Roasted Baby Potatoes for a lunch or dinner. You can also combine it along with rice and make it into a One Pot Meal - like Sambar Sadam (Rice) and serve it with Tomato Onion Cucumber Raita.

If you like South Indian Sambar & Kuzhambu (Dals & Curries) then you must try these favorites and serve it along with Thoran or Poriyal for lunch or dinner.

  1. Veppam Poo Rasam,
  2. Chettinad Style Mulaikattiya Pasi Payaru Kuzhambu,
  3. Hyderabadi Khatti Dal
  4. Vendakkai Puli Kuzhambu

Prep in

20 M

Cooks in

40 M

Total in

60 M

Makes:

4 Servings

Ingredients

    Main Ingredients
  • 1 cup Arhar dal (Split Toor Dal)
  • 1-1/2 cups Tamarind Water
  • 1/2 cup Pearl onions (Sambar Onions) , quartered
  • 1 Mooli/ Mullangi (Radish) , diced
  • 2 Carrot (Gajjar) , diced
  • 1 Tomato , diced
  • 1 Drumstick , cut into 1 inch pieces
  • 1 teaspoon Turmeric powder (Haldi)
  • Salt , to taste
  • Ingredients to be roasted & ground
  • 2 tablespoons Coriander (Dhania) Seeds
  • 1 tablespoon Chana dal (Bengal Gram Dal)
  • 1 tablespoon White Urad Dal (Split)
  • 4 Dry Red Chillies
  • 1 teaspoon Methi Seeds (Fenugreek Seeds)
  • 1/4 cup Fresh coconut , grated
  • Ingredients for Seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon Sesame (Gingelly) Oil , or regular oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon Mustard seeds (Rai/ Kadugu)
  • 1/4 teaspoon Asafoetida (hing)
  • 2 sprig Curry leaves
  • 6 sprig Coriander (Dhania) Leaves , finely chopped

How to make Arachuvitta Sambar Recipe - Sambar With Fresh Ground Spices

  1. To begin making the Arachuvitta Sambar Recipe, cook the toor dal in a pressure cooker adding 2 cups of water until you hear couple of whistles. After a couple of whistles, turn the heat to low and simmer for 3 to 4 minutes. Once done, turn off the heat and allow the pressure to release naturally. 

  2. Once the pressure is released open the cooker and whisk the dal until smooth. Keep this aside.

  3. Prepare the tamarind water according to the recipe and keep it aside. Cut the vegetables and keep aside.

  4. Next we will roast the spices for the Arachuvitta sambar recipe.

  5. In a small skillet, bengal gram dal and the urad dal; roast them on a medium heat until the dal is well roasted and has turned browned. It's important to roast on low to medium heat to it does not brown too fast.

  6. Once it's roasted, add the coriander seeds, methi seeds and red chilies and roast for about a minute until you smell the aroma.

  7. Finally, add the grated coconut and roast until the aroma comes through and turn off the heat.

  8. Allow the roasted sambar spice mixture to cool a bit. Once cooled, grind the mixture in a mixer grinder to make a powder. Keep this aside.

  9. The next step is to cook the vegetables. Into a pressure cooker, add the prepared tamarind water, the cut carrots, radish, drumstick, onions, turmeric powder, salt and the ground sambar powder. Pressure cook for a couple of whistles and turn off the heat.

  10. Once the pressure is released, add the cooked dal into the tamarind water. Stir well to combine.

  11. Check the salt and adjust to suit your taste. Give the Arachuvitta Sambar a brisk boil for a couple of minutes. Adjust the consistency of the Sambar by adding water and then simmering for a few more minutes.

  12. Once done, turn off the heat and stir in the chopped coriander leaves and transfer the Arachuvitta Sambar a serving bowl.

  13. The final step is the tadka for the sambar. In a small Tadka Pan, add the sesame oil  and allow it to heat up a little. Once the oil is hot, add the mustard seeds, curry leaves and allow it to crackle. Finally add the asafoetida powder to oil and stir. Turn off the heat.

  14. Add this tadka to the Arachuvitta Sambar, stir and serve hot.

  15. Serve the Arachuvitta Sambar along with Steamed Rice, topped with ghee and a vegetable like Andhra Style Pavakkai CurryAvarakkai Poriyal or Masala Roasted Baby Potatoes for a lunch or dinner. You can also combine it along with rice and make it into a One Pot Meal - like Sambar Sadam (Rice) and serve it with Tomato Onion Cucumber Raita.