Small onion sambar/ Shallots sambar/ Vengaya sambar / Pearl onion sambar call it by any name is known for its extreme deliciousness and is served with both breakfast and lunch. Just like any other sambar made at home this sambar holds all the same procedures but it needs to be accepted that this particular sambar made with small onions carries extra special flavors and taste due the main ingredient, yes we know that it is shallots. This variety of onions are also called as sambar onions and can be used in variety of non- veg dishes and veg dishes to enhance the taste replacing regular onions. Though I like the taste of food made with pearl onions I don’t like the peeling part, n number of ways you find to peel, it turns out to be hard for me which gives a set back for its use in my kitchen. At least from this year I hope to post lot more dishes made with small onion to make our dishes more yummy. So lets get to the making!
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- 1. Toor dal – 1/3 cup
- 2. Tomato – 1 (small sized)
- 3. Cumin seeds – ¼ tsp
- 4. Turmeric powder – ¼ tsp
- 5. Water – 1 cup (approx)
- 6. Tamarind – small gooseberry size
- 7. Small Onion – 10
- 8. Red chili powder – 1/4 tsp
- 9. Coriander powder – ½ tsp
- 10. Sambar powder – 1/2 tbsp
- 11. Salt - to taste
- 12. Chopped cilantro – 1 tbsp
- 13. Mustard seeds – ½ tsp
- 14. Fenugreek seeds – ¼ tsp
- 15. Curry leaves – a spring
- 16. Hing – a pinch
- 17. Dried red chilli - 3
- 18. Oil – 1 tbsp
- * 1 cup = 235 ml
- Wash toor dal. In a pressure add toor dal, tomato, cumin seeds, turmeric powder and 1 cup water. Pressure cook for 3 whistles. When the pressure has subsided open the cooker, Mash dal well and set aside.
- Soak the tamarind in ½ cup warm water and extract the tamarind juice.
- Heat oil in a kadai, add mustard seeds, after it splutters add fenugreek seeds, curry leaves and small onions/ pearl onions. Saute well and add red chilli powder, sambar powder and coriander powder. Saute well for few seconds so that the onion gets roasted a little. Now add tamarind extract. Mix well and allow the it to boil. When the raw smell is gone add cooked and mashed dal. Give it a good stir and allow it boil well. When everything looks combined garnish it with chopped cilantro and serve it hot with rice!
How to make Chinna vengaya sambar with step by step images
- Wash toor dal. In a pressure add toor dal, tomato, cumin seeds, turmeric powder, salt and 1 cup water. Pressure cook for 3 whistles or until cooked.
- When the pressure has subsided open the cooker, Mash dal well and set aside.
- Soak the tamarind in ½ cup warm water and extract the tamarind juice.
- Heat oil in a kadai, add mustard seeds, after it splutters add fenugreek seeds, curry leaves, dried red chilli, hing and small onions/ pearl onions. Saute well and add red chilli powder, sambar powder and coriander powder. Saute well for few seconds so that the onion gets roasted a little.
- Now add tamarind extract. Mix well and allow the it to boil. When the raw smell is gone add cooked and mashed dal.
- Now give it a good stir and allow it boil well. When everything looks combined garnish it with chopped cilantro and serve it hot with rice, idli or dosa!