Alright, let me tell ya’ll how to make this sambar stuff, real quick and easy, like. No fancy business, just good eatin’. My way ain’t the prettiest, but it fills the belly, ya know?
First off, we gotta get our veggies. I ain’t got no time for measurin’ spoons and such. Just grab yourself an onion, a carrot, maybe one o’ them bell peppers, the green ones, ya know? And if you got some potatoes or them plantains, them thick bananas, throw ’em in too. Keeps the sambar from gettin’ all watery like dishwater.
Now, for the spices, this is where the flavor comes from, mind you. We need some red chilies, them little dried up ones. Not too many, unless you like it hot, like fire in your mouth. I usually just grab a handful. And some curry leaves, them little green things. They smell real nice when you fry ’em up. And mustard seeds, the tiny black ones. They pop and jump around in the pan, kinda like fleas, ha!
For the masala, the stuff that makes it taste like sambar and not just some veggie soup, we need coconut. I like the grated kind, saves me the trouble of breakin’ open a whole coconut. And more red chilies, a few of them. And some gram dal, them little yellow split peas. That’s what the recipe calls for, but honestly, sometimes I just use whatever lentils I got on hand. Don’t tell nobody, though!
- Veggies: Onion, carrot, bell pepper, potatoes, plantains (if ya got ’em).
- Spices: Red chilies, curry leaves, mustard seeds.
- Masala: Grated coconut, red chilies, gram dal (or any lentils, really).
Okay, now let’s get to cookin’. First, we gotta make that masala. Just throw all them masala ingredients in a pan – the chilies, the dal, the coconut, all of it. Fry it up a little, till it smells good and toasty. Don’t burn it, though! Then you gotta grind it up. I got this old stone thing, grinds it up real nice. You can use a blender, I guess, if you’re fancy like that.
Then, chop up all your veggies. Not too small, not too big, just bite-sized pieces. You ain’t gotta be perfect. I ain’t never been perfect, and my sambar always tastes just fine. Heat up some oil in a pot – any oil will do, I use whatever’s cheapest. Throw in the mustard seeds, let ’em pop. Then throw in the curry leaves and chilies, fry ’em up for a bit. Then add the onions and the rest of the veggies, cook ’em till they’re a little soft.
Now, here’s the secret. You gotta add some lentils. You can use toor dal, that’s what they usually use. But like I said, I ain’t picky. Sometimes I use moong dal, sometimes masoor dal, whatever I got. Just throw in a cup or two, along with some water. And that masala we made, throw that in too. And some salt, don’t forget the salt!
Now, you gotta let it simmer. Low and slow, that’s the key. Let it cook for a good 20-30 minutes, or until the lentils are cooked through and the veggies are nice and tender. If it gets too thick, add some more water. If it’s too thin, well, you shoulda added more potatoes, I told ya! But you can always mash up a few pieces of the veggies to thicken it up a bit.
And that’s it! Your quick and easy sambar is ready. Serve it hot with some rice, or some dosa, or whatever you like. It ain’t fancy, but it’s good, honest food. Fills ya up and warms ya from the inside out. Just like my grandma used to make, God rest her soul. She didn’t have no fancy recipes either, just good sense and a good heart.
This sambar, it’s kinda like a dal, but thicker, you know? More like a stew than a soup. And you can add whatever veggies you like. Sometimes I add some drumsticks, them long green things. Sometimes I add some okra. It’s all up to you. That’s the beauty of it. No rules, just good eatin’.
And don’t be afraid to taste it as you go. Add more salt, more chilies, more whatever you think it needs. Cooking ain’t rocket science, it’s about feelin’ your way through it. And most importantly, it’s about makin’ food with love. That’s what makes it taste good, ya know?
So go on, try it out. And don’t worry if it ain’t perfect. The best food is always made with a little bit of imperfection, a little bit of heart, and a whole lotta love.
Tags: [sambar, quick sambar, easy sambar, south indian food, lentil stew, vegetable stew, indian recipe, vegetarian recipe, vegan recipe, simple recipe, home cooking, comfort food]