A simple, flavorful South Indian-style scrambled egg dish. Made with onions, green chilies, and a classic tempering, it's a quick and protein-packed side that pairs perfectly with rice or roti.
A comforting one-pot meal from South India where rice and lentils are cooked with vegetables and aromatic spices. This wholesome dish, also known as Sambar Sadam, is a perfect blend of tangy, spicy, and savory flavors.
Crispy, golden-brown potato cubes tossed with simple South Indian spices. A perfect and quick side dish that pairs wonderfully with rice, sambar, or rasam, ready in just 30 minutes.
3 tbsp Coriander Leaves (Freshly chopped, for garnish.)
Instructions
1
Cook Rice and Dal
Rinse the rice and toor dal together under running water until the water runs clear. Soak them in water for at least 20-30 minutes.
Drain the soaked rice and dal and transfer them to a 3-liter or larger pressure cooker.
Add 4 cups of water, 1/4 tsp of turmeric powder, and a few drops of oil to prevent frothing.
Pressure cook on medium heat for 4-5 whistles, or for about 15 minutes, until the rice and dal are completely cooked and mushy.
Allow the pressure to release naturally. Open the cooker and use the back of a ladle or a potato masher to mash the mixture into a creamy, porridge-like consistency. Set aside.
2
Prepare Sambar Vegetables
While the rice and dal are cooking, soak the tamarind in 1/2 cup of warm water for 15-20 minutes. Squeeze the pulp to extract the juice, then strain and discard the solids. Set the tamarind extract aside.
In a large, heavy-bottomed pot or kadai, add the mixed vegetables, sambar onions, and chopped tomatoes.
Add the sambar powder, the remaining 1/4 tsp of turmeric powder, and salt.
Pour in 2 cups of water. Stir well, bring to a boil, then cover and simmer for 10-12 minutes until the vegetables are tender but not mushy.
500 g Potatoes (About 3-4 medium, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes)
4 cups Water (For soaking the potatoes)
4 tbsp Vegetable Oil (Or any neutral cooking oil)
1 tsp Mustard Seeds
1 tsp Urad Dal (Optional, for added crunch)
10 leaves Curry Leaves (Fresh or dried)
0.25 tsp Hing (Use gluten-free hing for a gluten-free dish)
0.5 tsp Turmeric Powder
1 tsp Red Chili Powder (Adjust to your spice preference)
1 tsp Salt (Adjust to taste)
2 tbsp Coriander Leaves (Freshly chopped, for garnish)
Instructions
1
Prepare the Potatoes
Peel the potatoes and chop them into uniform 1/2-inch cubes.
Place the cubes in a large bowl of cold water and let them soak for 10-15 minutes. This removes excess starch and helps them get crispy.
Drain the potatoes completely using a colander and pat them thoroughly dry with a kitchen towel. This step is crucial to prevent splattering and to ensure they fry well.
2
Temper the Spices
Heat oil in a wide, heavy-bottomed pan or kadai over medium-high heat.
Once the oil is hot, add the mustard seeds and wait for them to splutter, which should take about 30 seconds.
Add the urad dal and fry for about 1 minute until it turns a light golden brown.
Carefully add the curry leaves and hing, and sauté for another 30 seconds until the leaves are crisp and fragrant.
3
Cook the Potatoes
Add the dried potato cubes to the pan. Sprinkle with turmeric powder and salt.
Stir well to ensure all the potato pieces are evenly coated with the oil and spices.
Pour the prepared tamarind extract into the pot with the cooked vegetables. Let it simmer for 2-3 minutes for the raw smell of tamarind to dissipate.
Add the mashed rice and dal mixture to the pot. Stir vigorously to combine everything without any lumps.
Add the grated jaggery (if using) and mix well.
The mixture will be very thick. Add 1 cup of hot water (or more) to adjust the consistency to your liking. It should be like a thick, flowing porridge.
Let the Sambar Rice simmer on low heat for 5-7 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
4
Prepare the Tempering (Tadka)
In a small pan (tadka pan), heat the ghee over medium heat.
Once the ghee is hot, add the mustard seeds and let them splutter completely.
Add the urad dal and dry red chillies. Sauté for about 30 seconds until the dal turns light golden brown.
Add the fresh curry leaves and hing. Be careful as the leaves will splutter. Sauté for another 10 seconds until the leaves are crisp and fragrant.
5
Garnish and Serve
Pour the hot tempering immediately over the simmering Sambar Rice.
Add the freshly chopped coriander leaves.
Give it a final mix and turn off the heat.
Serve hot, with an extra dollop of ghee on top if desired, alongside papad, potato chips, or a simple vegetable stir-fry (poriyal).
Spread the potatoes in a single layer. Cover the pan and cook on low-medium heat for 5-7 minutes, until they are about 50% cooked and slightly tender when pierced with a fork.
4
Fry Until Crispy
Uncover the pan and increase the heat to medium.
Continue to cook for another 10-12 minutes, stirring gently every 2-3 minutes.
Allow the potatoes to form a golden-brown crust on the bottom before flipping. Avoid stirring too frequently as this will prevent them from becoming crispy.
Cook until the potatoes are tender on the inside and crisp and golden on the outside.
5
Add Final Spices and Serve
Once the potatoes are perfectly cooked, reduce the heat to low.
Sprinkle the red chili powder over the potatoes and mix gently to coat them evenly.
Cook for one more minute, being careful not to burn the chili powder.
Turn off the heat, garnish with freshly chopped coriander leaves, and serve hot.
