Onam Special Sambar Curry Recipe – A Must-Have for Sadhya

Onam, the biggest festival of Kerala, is a celebration of tradition, togetherness, and above all, food. The highlight of this festival is the Onam Sadhya – a grand vegetarian feast served on banana leaves with more than 20 dishes. Among all, one dish that truly stands out is the Kerala-style Sambar curry.

This tangy, aromatic, and hearty dish made with dal, tamarind, coconut, and seasonal vegetables brings balance to the Sadhya. If you’re living abroad and want to prepare an authentic Onam feast, you can easily source ingredients from trusted Kerala online stores in the UK like PickEasy store UK, your go-to Kerala Kada and online store UK for everything Kerala.

Ingredients for Kerala Sambar

Vegetables (choose a mix):

• Drumstick – 1 (cut into pieces)

• Pumpkin – 1 cup (cubed)

• Brinjal – 2 small (chopped)

• Ladies’ finger – 6 (cut in halves)

• Carrot – 1 (sliced)

• Tomato – 2 (chopped)

For Dal:

• Toor dal (pigeon peas) – 1 cup

• Turmeric powder – ½ tsp

  For Masala Paste:

  • Grated coconut – ½ cup

  • Coriander seeds – 2 tbsp

  • Fenugreek seeds – ½ tsp

  • Chana dal – 1 tbsp

  • Dry red chillies – 5–6

  • Curry leaves – 6–8

  Other Ingredients:

  • Tamarind – lemon-sized ball (soaked in warm water)

  • Sambar powder – 1 tbsp

  • Salt – to taste

  For Tempering:

  • Coconut oil – 2 tbsp

  • Mustard seeds – ½ tsp

  • Curry leaves – 6–8

  • Dry red chillies – 2

  • Asafoetida – a pinch

• For Masala Paste:

  • Grated coconut – ½ cup

  • Coriander seeds – 2 tbsp

  • Fenugreek seeds – ½ tsp

  • Chana dal – 1 tbsp

  • Dry red chillies – 5–6

  • Curry leaves – 6–8

  Other Ingredients:

  • Tamarind – lemon-sized ball (soaked in warm water)

  • Sambar powder – 1 tbsp

  • Salt – to taste

  For Tempering:

  • Coconut oil – 2 tbsp

  • Mustard seeds – ½ tsp

  • Curry leaves – 6–8

  • Dry red chillies – 2

  • Asafoetida – a pinch

Method of Preparation

1. Cook the Dal – Pressure cook toor dal with turmeric until soft. Mash and keep aside.

2. Cook Vegetables – Boil all vegetables with salt and turmeric until just cooked.

3. Prepare Masala Paste – Roast coriander seeds, fenugreek, chana dal, red chillies, coconut, and curry leaves in a little oil. Grind into a fine paste.

4. Make Tamarind Base – Extract tamarind pulp and add to the vegetables. Boil until raw smell goes.

5. Combine – Add cooked dal and ground paste to the tamarind-veggie mix. Stir in sambar powder and simmer until well blended.

6. Tempering – Heat coconut oil, splutter mustard seeds, add curry leaves, red chillies, and asafoetida. Pour over the sambar.

Serve your hot Onam special Sambar curry with rice, chips, and payasam for a complete Sadhya experience. 🌿🍲

Bringing Kerala to the UK

No Onam is complete without authentic flavors. For Malayalees abroad, shopping from PickEasy store UK, the most trusted Kerala Kada and Kerala online store UK, makes it easy to find all the ingredients you need – from toor dal and sambar powder to tamarind and coconut products.

This Onam, celebrate with love, tradition, and the flavors of Kerala – made possible with the right ingredients from your favorite online store UK.

Visit *PickEasy.co.uk today and start your Kerala food journey!*