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    Home » Breakfast / Tiffins » Sambar Vadai | Two in One Recipe Post

    Sambar Vadai | Two in One Recipe Post

    Posted on September 23, 2016 · Last Updated on September 5, 2024 · By Srividhya G · 40 Comments

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    Sambar Vadai collage of four images with text overlay at the bottom of the first one

    Sambar Vadai is the crispy deep fried savory snack soaked in hot piping lentil sambar. It is one of my favorite comfort food recipes – I can enjoy it with any meal. The crispy vada, when soaked in the sambar, becomes super soft and melts down as you chew it. So the taste of the sambar vada depends completely on the sambar. Here come my tiffin sambar version 3, and the sambar vadai recipe with step wise pictures. 

    Serving Sambar Vadai in three white bowls with metal spoons on the side

    Apparently, this is my 30th sambar variety post. :-) I wanted to post this recipe for a long time. This is my all-time favorite sambar recipe.

    Very Special Sambar Vadai

    So what makes it so special? I have mentioned in my blog before that Revathy Shanmugam is one of my favorite chefs.

    I am always amazed by her way of presenting the recipes in a simple way and needless to say about the tips that she explains during the preparation. 

    In fact, I pretty much watch all her shows and this sambar vadai recipe and the sambar recipe is from one of her show “Arusuvai Adu Thani Suvai”. Her recipes never failed me and here is my version of sambar vadai adapted from hers.

    Overhead on three bowls with Sambar Vadai looking extra yummy

    Preparing the Vadai

    When I make a plan to make sambar vadai, I also plan for the thayir vadai. Oh yeah, tomorrow’s recipe is thayir vadai. 

    I usually soak 1 cup of urad dal and prepare the batter as I mentioned in my urad dal vada post. But before adding onions, I divide the batter into half.

    For thayir vadai, we don’t need to add onions whereas for sambar vadai we need onions. So one half of the batter is for sambar vadai and the other half is for thayir vadai.

    To the sambar vadai batter, I add cilantro and onions and fry them in a regular way. Let me talk about thayir vadai tomorrow.

    Fried vadai on a green plate

    Preparing the Sambar

    This sambar is super simple and doesn’t call for any exotic ingredients. The secret ingredient here is the pumpkin and the trick is to cook the pumpkin along with dal and mashing it together. As masoor dal is easy to cook, I always opt for masoor dal. So this tiffin sambar is with masoor dal.

    I have tried cooking dal with carrots for this sambar and it has come out really well. Sometimes I include a small piece of jaggery even after adding the sweet veggies.  This sambar goes well with any tiffin items and also this is perfect for sambar idli.

    A closeup of the delicious tiffin sambar looking extra bright

    Preparing Sambar Vadai

    Once the vadai and sambar are ready, assembling sambar vadai is super simple. All you need is piping hot water to soak the vadai first. This makes the vada soft and also helps to absorb the sambar.

    So no more explanations here comes the detailed sambar vada recipe.

    Sambar Vadai collage of four images with text overlay at the bottom of the first one

    Sambar Vada Recipe

    Ingredients:

    For Ulundu Vadai:

    I followed the ulundu vadai recipe that I posted during this April BM. 

    For Sambar:

    • Sambar Powder – 1.5 tbsp
    • Chopped Red Pumpkin – 1 cup
    • Masoor dal – ½ cup
    • Water – 1.5 cups of water + 2 cups + ½ cup
    • Turmeric Powder – ½ tsp
    • Hing – ¼ tsp
    • Methi powder – ¼ tsp
    • Tamarind Water – 1.5 cups (Gooseberry sized tamarind or 1 heaped tbsp of tamarind paste)
    • Curry leaves – 1 strand
    • Chopped Onion – ½ cup
    • Chopped Cilantro – 3 tbsps
    • Tomatoes – 2
    • Oil – 1 tbsp
    • Mustard seeds – 1 tsp
    • Salt – 2 tsps
    • Chopped Drumstick –  5 to 6 pieces (I used frozen one)

    For Sambar Vadai:

    • Fried vadas – 2 for each plate
    • Sambar – about 1 cup for each plate
    • Hot water – 2 cups
    • Chopped Onion – ¼ cup
    • Chopped Cilantro – ¼ cup
    • Ghee – as required (optional, if you want to make it vegan, skip the ghee)

    Prep – Work:

    For Sambar:

    • If using tamarind, soak them in 2 cups of water for about 30 to 45 minutes and extract 1.5 cups of tamarind water.
    • If using paste, dilute the paste in 1.5 cups of water and set aside.
    • Chop all the veggies and if you are using frozen drumstick thaw it to room temperature.
    • Wash the masoor dal and pressure cook it along with pumpkin and turmeric powder by adding 1.5 cups of water.
    • Once the pressure is gone, mash them well. We need the pumpkin to be pureed.

    Three steps showing the pumpkin after it has been mashed

    Preparing Sambar:

    • Heat the kadai and add oil.
    • Once the oil is hot, add the mustard seeds, methi powder, and hing. Saute for a minute.
    • As the mustard seeds, starts to splutter add the curry leaves and chopped onions.
    • Cook until the onions turn translucent.
    • Now add the tomatoes and cover and cook for 3 minutes.
    • When the tomatoes are slightly mushy, add the drumsticks and the tamarind water.

    Frying onions, then adding tomatoes and then drumsticks and the tamarind water

    • Add salt and let it simmer for about 5 minutes.
    • Now add the sambar powder in ½ cup of water and mix well and make sure there aren’t any lumps. Add this to the sambar.
    • Let it simmer for 5 more minutes.
    • Now add the masoor dal pumpkin mix and check for salt. If required add more and simmer it again for 5 minutes.
    • Add the chopped cilantro after five minutes, bring it to one and turn off the heat.

    Adding the chopped cilantro to the pan and bringing it to boil

    That’s it. Sambar is ready.

    Preparing Vadai:

    I have included the detailed step by step recipe in the vadai post.

    Assembling the Sambar Vadai:

    • Boil the water and make sure the water is hot.
    • Now pour this hot water on the vadai and let it sit for 15 minutes. This is the key step and this makes the vadai super soft.
    • After this take this soaked vadai and place them in your serve ware.
    • Add about 1 cup water or more on each plate. Ensure the vadai is soaked in sambar.
    • Now drizzle some chopped onion and cilantro.

    Sambar vadai steps shoring soaked vadai being transferred to different bowls and then topped with chopped onion and cilantro

    Add a dollop of ghee and serve hot and enjoy!!!

    A closeup of the delicious sambar vadai served with a bit of ghee and topped with cilantro

    Notes:

    • We love masoor dal, so I am opting masoor dal these days. But the original recipe calls for toor dal.
    • Instead of pumpkin, carrots can be boiled and I have tried that. Basically, we need a sweet veggie.
    • Adjust the salt and spices as per your preference.
    • The water that you pour on the vadai should be piping hot.

    Enjoying Sambar Vadai?

    You will love these, too:

    • Paruppu Vadai Without Onion | Festival Special Aama Vadai | Lentil Fritters
    • Thayir Vadai | Dahi Vada
    • Adai Batter Vadai
    • Aval Vadai | Poha Vada | Flattened Rice Fritters

    Have you made this recipe?

    If you’ve made this delicious sambar vadai, please share your photos with me on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or Twitter – I will be delighted to see your results!

    📖 Recipe

    Serving Sambar Vadai in three white bowls with metal spoons on the side
    Pin Recipe Print Recipe
    5 from 2 votes

    Sambar Vadai | Two in One Recipe Post

    Sambar Vadai – the crispy deep fried savory snack soaked in the hot piping lentil sambar is one of my favorite comfort food and I can enjoy it for any meal. The crispy vada, when soaked in sambar, becomes super soft and melts down as you chew it and the taste of the sambar vada depends completely upon the sambar.
    Prep Time4 hours hrs
    Cook Time1 hour hr 15 minutes mins
    Soaking Time4 hours hrs
    Total Time5 hours hrs 15 minutes mins
    Course: Breakfast
    Cuisine: TamilNadu
    Servings: 5
    Calories: 249kcal
    Author: Srividhya G

    Ingredients

    For Ulundu Vadai (I followed the ulundu vadai recipe that I posted during this April BM)

    For Sambar

    • 1.5 tbsp Sambar Powder
    • 1 cup Chopped Red Pumpkin
    • ½ cup Masoor dal
    • 4 cups Water 1.5 cups of water + 2 cups + ½ cup
    • ½ tsp Turmeric Powder
    • ¼ tsp Hing
    • ¼ tsp Methi powder
    • 1.5 cups Tamarind Water Gooseberry sized tamarind or 1 heaped tbsp of tamarind paste
    • 1 strand Curry leaves
    • ½ cup Chopped Onion
    • 3 tbsp Chopped Cilantro
    • 2 Tomatoes
    • 1 tbsp Oil
    • 1 tsp Mustard seeds
    • 2 tsps Salt
    • 5-6 pieces Chopped Drumstick I used frozen one

    For Sambar Vadai

    • 2 Fried vadas - 2 for each plate 2 for each plate
    • 1 cup Sambar about 1 cup for each plate
    • 2 cups Hot water
    • ¼ cup Chopped Onion
    • ¼ cup Chopped Cilantro
    • Ghee - as required optional, if you want to make it vegan, skip the ghee

    Instructions

    Prep Work for Sambar

    • If using tamarind, soak them in 2 cups of water for about 30 to 45 minutes and extract 1.5 cups of tamarind water.
    • If using paste, dilute the paste in 1.5 cups of water and set aside.
    • Chop all the veggies and if you are using frozen drumstick thaw it to room temperature.
    • Wash the masoor dal and pressure cook it along with pumpkin and turmeric powder by adding 1.5 cups of water.
    • Once the pressure is gone, mash them well. We need the pumpkin to be pureed.

    Preparing Sambar

    • Heat the kadai and add oil.
    • Once the oil is hot, add the mustard seeds, methi powder and hing. Saute for a minute.
    • As the mustard seeds, starts to splutter add the curry leaves and chopped onions.
    • Cook until the onions turn translucent.
    • Now add the tomatoes and cover and cook for 3 minutes.
    • When the tomatoes are slightly mushy, add the drumsticks and the tamarind water.
    • Add salt and let it simmer for about 5 minutes.
    • Now add the sambar powder in ½ cup of water and mix well and make sure there aren't any lumps. Add this to the sambar.
    • Let it simmer for 5 more minutes.
    • Now add the masoor dal pumpkin mix and check for salt. If required add more and simmer it again for 5 minutes.
    • Add the chopped cilantro after five minutes, bring it to one and turn off the heat.
    • That's it. Sambar is ready.

    Preparing Vadai

    • I have included the detailed step by step recipe in the vadai post.

    Assembling the Sambar Vadai

    • Boil the water and make sure the water is hot.
    • Now pour this hot water on the vadai and let it sit for 15 minutes. This is the key step and this makes the vadai super soft.
    • After this take this soaked vadai and place them in your serve ware.
    • Add about 1 cup water or more in each plate. Ensure the vadai is soaked in sambar.
    • Now drizzle some chopped onion and cilantro.
    • Add a dollop of ghee and serve hot and enjoy!!!

    Notes

    • We love masoor dal, so I am opting masoor dal these days. But the original recipe calls for toor dal.
    • Instead of pumpkin, carrots can be boiled and I have tried that. Basically, we need a sweet veggie.
    • Adjust the salt and spices as per your preference.
    • The water that you pour on the vadai should be piping hot.
    • Adapted from Revathy Shanmugam’s TV Show.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 249kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 957mg | Potassium: 684mg | Fiber: 15g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 830IU | Vitamin C: 22mg | Calcium: 68mg | Iron: 4mg

    I am not a nutritionist. The nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. It varies depending upon the product types or brands.

    Tried this recipe?Mention @vidhyasvegetariankitchen or tag #vidhyasvegkitchen
    For Video RecipesCheck out My YouTube Channel

     

     

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    Filed Under: Breakfast / Tiffins, Chaats Tagged With: Blogging Marathon, Chaats, hotel sambar, Kids Friendly Snacks, revathy shanmugam sambar vadai recipe, sambar idli sambar, sambar vadai, sambar vadai recipe, sambar vadai sambar, Snacks, tiffin sambar, tiffins

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Antonet Roajer says

      April 14, 2017 at 7:30 am

      I love sambar vada. Yummy!! Yummy!!

      Reply
      • Srividhya G says

        April 14, 2017 at 9:18 am

        Thank you

        Reply
    2. cookingwithsapana says

      November 15, 2016 at 9:18 am

      I love sambhar vada to the core. It looks so delicious.

      Reply
      • Srividhya G says

        November 15, 2016 at 3:14 pm

        Thanks Sapana.

        Reply
    3. PRADNYA says

      November 04, 2016 at 5:23 pm

      this sunday – will be making this for breakfast…thanks

      Reply
      • Srividhya G says

        November 07, 2016 at 8:13 am

        Thanks Pradnya. Let me know how it turned out.

        Reply
    4. Srivalli Jetti says

      November 03, 2016 at 4:34 am

      This is our favorite Saturday night dinner and love making it often!..very nicely done..

      Reply
      • Srividhya G says

        November 04, 2016 at 7:55 am

        Thanks.. I try to make it whenever I prepare pongal. :-)

        Reply
    5. Sandhya Ramakrishnan says

      October 27, 2016 at 6:00 am

      My ever favorite. Love the piping hot sambhar vadai with some boondi and onions on top :)

      Reply
      • Srividhya G says

        October 27, 2016 at 9:03 am

        Mine too. Thanks :-)

        Reply
    6. themadscientistskitchen says

      October 21, 2016 at 8:50 am

      Vidhya I have had my dinner right now but this yummy sambhar vada is making me hungry yet again. Its delicious nad I hav ebeen planning to make it for ages now. Maybe for diwali.

      Reply
      • Srividhya G says

        October 22, 2016 at 9:23 pm

        :-) :-) Thanks and please do try.

        Reply
    7. Sowmya:) says

      October 14, 2016 at 12:00 am

      This one is a family favorite….have to eat it every time we visit any South Indian restaurant. yours looks delectable

      Reply
      • Srividhya G says

        October 14, 2016 at 8:43 am

        Same here.. during each and every visit I order it. Thanks

        Reply
    8. Pavani says

      October 10, 2016 at 7:29 pm

      Love this delicious sambar vadai. Adding pumpkin to sambar sounds yummy, will have to try it out some time.

      Reply
      • Srividhya G says

        October 10, 2016 at 8:07 pm

        Please do try it Pavani. Thanks Much.

        Reply
    9. Smruti | Herbivore Cucina says

      October 10, 2016 at 5:27 pm

      Sambar Vada looks SO good!! Perfect for dinners.

      Reply
      • Srividhya G says

        October 10, 2016 at 8:21 pm

        Thanks Smruti.

        Reply
    10. Nalini says

      October 04, 2016 at 7:02 pm

      One of my favorite,amazing recipe.I love Revathi Shaumugam’s recipe and like the way she cooks each and every dish with so much dedication and perfection..

      Reply
      • Srividhya G says

        October 05, 2016 at 8:02 am

        Oh yeah.. I love her shows and of course her recipes.

        Reply
    11. Suma Gandlur says

      October 01, 2016 at 5:22 pm

      Yummy vadas dunked in that flavorful sambhar sounds like an ultimate treat.

      Reply
      • Srividhya G says

        October 01, 2016 at 10:06 pm

        :-) Thanks

        Reply
    12. Vaishali Sabnani says

      September 27, 2016 at 10:19 pm

      Oh wow..love those vadas dunked in sambar..absolutely fantastic .

      Reply
      • Srividhya G says

        September 28, 2016 at 8:17 am

        Thanks a lot. :-)

        Reply
    13. kushigalu says

      September 27, 2016 at 10:45 am

      Wish I could grab a bowl right now! YUMMY!

      Reply
      • Srividhya G says

        September 27, 2016 at 2:37 pm

        Will send it across.. thanks pa

        Reply
    14. Harini-Jaya R says

      September 27, 2016 at 9:38 am

      Very tempting. Love the combo.

      Reply
      • Srividhya G says

        September 27, 2016 at 2:36 pm

        Thanks Harini.

        Reply
    15. ALBONI says

      September 24, 2016 at 7:45 pm

      Yumilicious sambar vadai love it !!!
      plz visit my blog too and share your valuable comments. Thank you.

      Reply
      • Srividhya G says

        September 25, 2016 at 5:57 pm

        Sure Alboni.. I will visit more often after this blogging marathon is over. Thanks

        Reply
    16. Priya Suresh says

      September 24, 2016 at 12:19 pm

      Omg, gal this post is seriously very much tempting, am keeping myself away from deep frying and this vadais makes me drool.

      Reply
      • Srividhya G says

        September 25, 2016 at 6:17 pm

        After this marathon, no more deep frying for two months at least. I can totally get you.. thanks priya

        Reply
    17. Bikramjit says

      September 24, 2016 at 3:14 am

      I love Sambhar , I am sure I have written here a lot many times .. so this is just yummilisciousssssssssssssssss :)

      Reply
      • Srividhya G says

        September 24, 2016 at 5:52 am

        :-) Thanks a lot Bikram.

        Reply
    18. Gayathri Kumar says

      September 23, 2016 at 8:04 pm

      Even I like Revathi Sanmugam’s recipes. This sambar vadas are one of my fav. Your post is making me so hungry..

      Reply
      • Srividhya G says

        September 23, 2016 at 9:32 pm

        Her recipes are great naa. :-) Thanks Gayathri.

        Reply
    19. usha says

      September 23, 2016 at 6:28 pm

      Sambar vada is a nice combo and can be served for any meal, breakfast, lunch or dinner.

      Reply
      • Srividhya G says

        September 23, 2016 at 6:38 pm

        True. :-)

        Reply
    20. Kalyani says

      September 23, 2016 at 7:16 am

      Inge konchum sambhar vadai parcel please :)) would love to dig into this if someone makes this yummy stuff

      Reply
      • Srividhya G says

        September 23, 2016 at 7:53 am

        kandipaga.. sambar vadai oruuuu parcel (server sundaram style ;-) ;-) ). Thanks Kalyani

        Reply
    5 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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