This Authentic Instant Pot Sambar recipe is an easy vegetable lentil stew recipe from the South Indian state of Kerala. This boldly flavored sambar is normally eaten with the South Indian staples of idli, dosa, vada, or rice but you could also eat it as a soup or stew. Use your choice of vegetables.
Stir together 2 cups water, rinsed toor dal, and turmeric in the inner pot.
Close the lid and pressure cook on high pressure for 10 minutes and allow for a natural pressure release. [Read More: The Different Pressure Release Methods].
Press Cancel and open the lid.
Mash the dal with the back of a large spoon or potato masher.
Stir in 1 ½ cups water, eggplant, cucumber, okra, tomato, onion, salt, sambar powder, sugar and tamarind.
Close the lid and pressure cook on high pressure for 1 minute, open the lid and do a quick release of pressure. [Read More: The Different Pressure Release Methods].
Press Cancel and open the lid.
Optional: - Dry roast the coconut over medium heat in a small frying pan, stirring constantly. Remove from heat when the coconut is a rich golden-brown color. This can take about 10 to 15 minutes. Be careful not to burn! - Transfer the coconut into a mini blender bowl and add 3 tablespoon water. Blend the coconut and water into a smooth paste. If the coconut mixture does not move in the blender, add a bit more water, one tablespoon at a time. Don't add too much water. - Stir the coconut mixture into the sambar.
Preheat a small frying pan and add oil.
Once oil is hot, add mustard seeds and cover with a splatter screen or lid.
When the mustard seeds stop popping, turn off the heat, remove the lid and add the curry leaves.
Saute the curry leaves for a few seconds until fragrant.
Add the mustard seeds and curry leaves with the oil into the sambar.
Cook in Saute mode till heated through.
Add in chopped cilantro and stir to combine.
Video
Notes
Prep time does not include steps that are already accounted for in the ingredient list, e.g. rinsed dal, chopped onions, etc.