Sambar Masala

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Preparation info
  • Makes

    a

    small pot
    • Difficulty

      Easy

    • Ready in

      15 min

Appears in
Chilli & Mint: Indian Home Cooking from A British Kitchen

By Torie True

Published 2021

  • About

Sambar masala is an integral component of the ubiquitous lentil soup eaten in South India and Sri Lanka, known as sambar. You can buy a store-bought powder but making your own is easy and so satisfying. It takes minutes to prepare, although you do need a spice grinder.

Ingredients

  • tbsp chana dal
  • tbsp white urid dal
  • 1 tbsp

Method

  1. Put a frying pan over a low heat and when hot, add the chana, urid and toor dal. Move them around the pan for 3-4 minutes until bronzed, then pour into a bowl to cool.
  2. Using the same pan, toast the coriander, cumin, peppercorns, black mustard seeds and fenugreek. Move them around the pan so they do not burn but their aromas are released. This will take 1 minute