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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PREP TIME
COOK TIME
TOTAL TIME
SERVES
10 min
30 min
40 min
3
Ingredients
Toor dal – 1/3 cup
Tomato – 1 (small sized)
Cumin seeds – ¼ tsp
Turmeric powder – ¼ tsp
Water – 1 cup (approx)
Tamarind – small gooseberry size
Small Onion – 10
Red chili powder – 1/4 tsp
Coriander powder – ½ tsp
Sambar powder – 1/2 tbsp
Salt – to taste
Chopped cilantro – 1 tbsp
Mustard seeds – ½ tsp
Fenugreek seeds – ¼ tsp
Curry leaves – a spring
Hing – a pinch
Dried red chilli – 3
Oil – 1 tbsp
Note
* 1 cup = 235 ml
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!