Bendakaaya Sambar
- Total Time: 35 mins
- Yield: 3-4 1x
Description
Okra absorbs all the flavors of the different spices in this delicious and hearty stew.
Ingredients
- 10 okra, washed and cut into long pieces
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) toor dal, washed and drained
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 tomato, chopped
- 2 tbsp (30 ml) tamarind pulp
- 1 tsp sambar powder
- 1 tsp coriander powder
- 1/4 tsp turmeric
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp oil
For Tadka:
- 1 tsp oil
- 1/2 tsp each - cumin seeds, urad dal, mustard seeds
- 2 dry red chillies
- few curry leaves
- a pinch of hing
Instructions
- In a pressure cooker, add toor dal with 1 cup water and cook for 3 to 4 whistles. Mash the dal.
- Heat 1/2 tsp oil in a kadai and add onion and tomato. Cook for few mins and then add okra pieces. Saute until soft.
- Add a glass of water, tamarind pulp, turmeric, salt, coriander powder and sambar powder. Mix well, cover and let it simmer for about 10 to 12 mins on low-medium heat. Okra must become tender.
- Add mashed dal and continue to simmer for 10 mins. Adjust salt if necessary. Turn off heat and cover.
- In a separate kadai, add a tsp of oil. Once hot, reduce heat and add urad dal, mustard seeds and cumin seeds along with red chillies, curry leaves and hing.
- Once mustard seeds start to splutter, gently add the tadka mix to sambar. Cover and let it sit for few minutes so that the flavors blend in.
- Serve hot with rice and papad.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 25 mins
- Category: Soup
- Cuisine: South Indian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 160
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is bendakaaya sambar and how is it different from a regular sambar?
“Bendakaaya” is the Telugu word for okra, so this is an okra-based sambar — a South Indian lentil stew built on toor dal with tamarind pulp and sambar powder. The okra is sautéed first with the onion and tomato before being simmered in the tamarind broth, so it becomes tender and absorbs the spiced liquid rather than turning slimy.
What is a tadka and why is it added at the very end?
A tadka (also called a tempering) is a quick bloom of whole spices — here urad dal, mustard seeds, cumin seeds, red chillies, curry leaves, and hing — in a tsp of hot oil. It’s poured over the finished sambar and the pot is covered for a few minutes so the volatile aromas infuse the dish just before serving, without cooking the spices into the stew itself.
