Ready to cook sambar mix :

Whip up a quick and delicious sambar in no time with this ready-to-use sambar mix, perfect for travelers or anyone in need of a speedy meal. There's no need to fuss with cooking dal or soaking tamarind. Simply add a few of your favorite vegetables, and you can even cook it in the microwave for added convenience.

This sambar mix is a lifesaver for those evenings when you're scrambling for a side dish for your dinner tiffin or need an extra dish that can be prepared quickly. Feel free to adjust the ingredients and quantities to suit your taste. This recipe offers a customizable foundation that you can tweak to your liking.

Create an instant, mouthwatering sambar at home in minutes by keeping this ready-to-make sambar mix on hand. When it's time to cook, just mix a tablespoon of this powder with water, toss in some vegetables, let it boil, and voilà—your sambar is ready!

Especially beneficial for travelers, this dry mix requires no additional cooked dal or tamarind, making it incredibly convenient. It's an essential recipe for any parent who wants to ensure their family can enjoy a homemade taste of sambar or kuzhambu, a beloved dish from Tamil Nadu, without the fuss.

While the traditional process of making sambar isn't overly difficult or time-consuming, having a pre-made mix is a godsend for busy individuals, the elderly, college students craving a taste of home, or anyone living alone who yearns for authentic, homemade flavors.

Many of us pack various podis, pastes, and thokkus for travel, and this sambar mix is no exception. It's been tried and tested during my family's travels and has earned their seal of approval. Take it with you on road trips, stays in limited-kitchen accommodations, or business travels when you're craving a homemade meal.

This instant sambar mix is not just for those on the move but also for busy homemakers and working parents who want to enjoy delicious, homestyle food without spending hours in the kitchen. It's particularly handy for small servings when a large batch of sambar isn't needed. Customize the basic South Indian sambar recipe to match your taste preferences, and store the mix until needed. Enjoy the comfort of homemade sambar, just like mom's, with minimal effort and maximum flavor.
How to use this mix?

To whip up sambar using the instant mix, follow these simple steps:

1. Begin by measuring out the amount of water you'll need in a cooking vessel. The quantity of water depends on how much sambar you wish to prepare.

2. As an example, for this batch, take approximately 150 ml of water and bring it to a boil. Then, add 3 tablespoons of the ready-made sambar mix. Whisk well to avoid any lumps forming.

3. Ensure the mix is thoroughly dissolved in the water. Place the vessel back on the heat and add your choice of finely chopped vegetables, such as potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, and pumpkins, into the mix.

4. Remember, the mix does not include salt, so add salt to taste at this stage.

5. Allow the vegetables to cook until they're soft. If the sambar reduces too much or becomes too thick for your liking, simply add a bit more water to achieve your desired consistency and bring it to a boil again.

6. While the mix already contains dal powder for thickness, if you're preparing this at home and have some cooked dal handy, you can add it to the sambar for extra body. This step is optional.

7. If you find the sambar still too thin, a handy trick is to mash some of the potatoes right in the pot with your ladle to naturally thicken the sambar.

8. Once cooked to your satisfaction, garnish the sambar with fresh coriander leaves for a burst of flavor.

9. There's no need for any additional seasoning or to add dal, tamarind, as these ingredients are already incorporated into the instant mix.

This straightforward process ensures you can enjoy a homemade, flavorful sambar without the hassle, perfect for any meal.

Notes
Enhancing the sambar with a touch of ground coconut paste can significantly enrich its flavor.

• If you choose to incorporate coconut paste, remember to slightly increase the amount of instant mix used to maintain the balance of flavors.

• Considering that these mixes might often accompany travelers, it's understood that certain fresh ingredients like curry leaves might not be readily accessible at their destination.

• Therefore, we include these in the mix beforehand. Similarly, to simplify the preparation process and eliminate the need for travelers to source and prepare tamarind, we incorporate a roasted and powdered form of tamarind into the mix.

• This ensures the sambar retains its traditional tang without the extra work. Finally, any personal adjustments or enhancements to the sambar can be effortlessly achieved with the addition of your own homemade sambar powder, allowing for a customizable and satisfying meal experience.

So how to prepare this sambar Premix

Ingredients

1 cup washed dried toor dal ( you can also wipe dry the dal without washing to remove any coat to increase shelf life )

4 tbsp coriander seeds

1 tsp asafoetida solid or in powder form . If adding asafoetida powder , add it to ground powder . Do not roast powder .

4 tbsp fried gram

4 tbsp chana dal

1 tsp fenugreek/ methi seeds

20 red chilies ( mix of Guntur and Byadagi varieties)

1 small orange size Tamrind ball broken to pieces after removing fibres )

1 tsp turmeric powder to be added to the premix

1/2 cup curry leaves washed and dried .

1 tbsp mustard seeds dry roasted for tempering.

3 broken red chilies to be added as tempering

Method

• Begin by dry roasting each ingredient separately to enhance their flavors.

• After roasting, grind the chilies and tamarind individually until they become brittle, ensuring their textures are ideal for powdering.

• Next, finely grind the dals into a powder. Combine the powdered tamarind and red chilies with the ground dal and coriander seed powder, creating a harmonious blend.

• For the tempering components, dry roast the mustard seeds, curry leaves, and a few broken red chilies, if desired, to infuse additional spice and aroma.

• In case the mixture isn't finely ground on the first attempt, pass it through a sieve. Repeat the grinding and sieving process as necessary until you achieve a smooth, fine powder.

• Transfer this finely ground sambar premix powder into a large mixing bowl. Stir in turmeric powder, the roasted mustard seeds, dry roasted red chilies, and dry roasted curry leaves, mixing thoroughly to combine all the flavors.

• Your aromatic sambar premix powder is now ready to use.

• To prepare the sambar, simply measure the needed amount of premix powder and blend it with hot water to form a smooth paste. Introduce this mixture to your boiled vegetables, season with salt, and allow the mixture to simmer for a few minutes until the flavors meld together beautifully.

• There's no need for a final tempering step as the premix already contains all the necessary tempering ingredients. Garnish your sambar with fresh coriander leaves before serving to add a fresh burst of flavor.
  

Check my other sambar recipes by clicking on the links

Check this you tube video also for a sambar Premix recipe .