Instant Pot Easy Tomato Sambar
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Author:
Recipe type: Main
Cuisine: Indian
Ingredients
For making homemade Sambar Masala-Makes 4 tbsp
  • Chana dal- 2 tbsp
  • Coriander seeds- 1 tbsp
  • Cumin seeds- 1 tsp
  • Whole black peppercorns- 1 tsp
  • Dried red chilies- 3
For making Sambar
  • Toor Dal or Tuvar Dal- 1 cup
  • Water- 1½ cups (to cook toor dal)
  • Turmeric powder- ⅛ tsp
  • Tomatoes, chopped- 3
  • Water- ½ cup
  • Prepared sambar masala- 2 tbsp
  • Tamarind extract- ¼ cup (soak 2 inch slice tamarind in ¼ cup lukewarm water)
  • Asafoetida- 2 pinches
  • Cilantro, chopped- 2 handfuls
For making Tempering
  • Oil- 1 tbsp (coconut oil or vegetable oil)
  • Mustard seeds- 1 tsp
  • Dried red chilies- 2
  • Curry leaves- 1 sprig
Instructions
  1. Firstly, let's make the homemade sambar masala.
  2. Place a pan over medium heat, let turn hot.
  3. Add chana dal first and saute for a minute.
  4. Add coriander seeds, cumin seeds, whole peppercorns and dried red chilies. Roast till aromatic and seeds turn light brown. Don't burn the whole spices.
  5. Keep aside the pan and let the seeds cool down.
  6. Add the roasted spices to a blender jar or spice grinder and grind to a coarse powder.
  7. This masala can be stored in an air tight container for a few months. This recipe will yield 4 tbsp.
Making Sambar
  1. Soak 2 inches fresh tamarind in ¼ cup lukewarm water. Soak for 5 minutes.
  2. After 5 minutes, squeeze the tamarind in water to extract the juice. Strain the juice and discard the skin. Keep it aside.
  3. Rinse the toor dal taken in a strainer.
  4. Turn on the Instant Pot- I used Ultra model IP. If you don't have an IP- cook the toor dal in a pressure cooker till 2 whistles.
  5. Add toor dal and 1½ cups water to the stainless steel pot.
  6. Close with the lid. Select Pressure mode- high pressure, set time to 3 minutes.
  7. After 3 minutes, do a quick pressure release.
  8. It only takes 3 minutes to cook toor dal in the IP.
  9. Cancel pressure cook mode and select saute mode at normal temperature.
  10. Add turmeric powder and chopped tomatoes to the cooked toor dal. Combine well.
  11. Add ½ cup water.
  12. Let cook for a few minutes till tomatoes are cooked.
  13. Add the prepared sambar masala- 2 tbsp, combine well. Cook for a minute.
  14. Add tamarind juice, combine well and cook for a minute.
  15. Add asafoetida, combine well.
  16. Add cilantro, cook for a minute.
  17. Remove the stainless steel pot from the main pot. Keep it aside.
Making tempering
  1. Place a pan over medium heat.
  2. Add oil, let oil turn hot.
  3. Add mustard seeds, let splutter.
  4. Add dried red chilies and curry leaves. Saute for a few seconds.
  5. Pour the tempering over the cooked sambar.
  6. Close the pot with a lid and keep covered for sometime.
  7. This sambar can be served with dosa, idli, rice, chapati etc.
Notes
Instead of tomatoes, you can add mixed veggies like carrots, potatoes, okra, eggplant, drumstick etc- cook along with the toor dal and follow the other steps.

Make the sambar masala ahead of time and store in an air tight container.
Recipe by Cooking with Thas - Wholesome Homemade Recipes at https://thasneen.com/cooking/instant-pot-easy-tomato-sambar/