Sambar Powder (Sambar Podi, Milagai Thool, or Sambar Pudi) is a South Indian condiment or spice mix added to sambar to give it a delicious flavor. Use it to make a delicious sambar recipe, or add it to a simple stir fry (vegan, can be made gluten-free).

About Sambar Powder

Sambar Powder (Sambar Podi, Milagai Thool, or Sambar Pudi) is an aromatic blend of a few lentils and whole spices.

This spice blend is primarily used to make Sambar (South Indian lentil and vegetable stew) and gives it a unique taste and aroma. It can also be added to stir-fries and other dishes to make them flavorful.

Each South Indian household has its own recipe to make sambar powder, which also differs from region to region.

The base ingredients like lentils, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, and dry red chillies remain the same, however, their proportions change.

Some people add other ingredients like grated fresh coconut, cinnamon, or stone flowers to it for a change. This is why each house has a unique taste of its sambar.

To make sambar podi, all the ingredients are roasted on low flame until they are fragrant and browned. They are then cooled and ground to make a powder. This step also ensures no moisture is left in the spices, increasing the shelf life of homemade sambar powder.

In some households, the ingredients are not roasted at all. They are placed in strong sun for 2-3 days until all their moisture evaporates and then they are ground to make the sambar podi.

Although sambar podi is easily available in stores, nothing can beat the fresh homemade one.

Homemade sambar masala powder using the best ingredients is hygienic and easy to make.

It comes together in one hour and keeps good for 4-5 months in an airtight container at room temperature. Moreover, it is very economical to make at home.

In this post, I am sharing a step-by-step sambar masala recipe I learned from my mom. I always use my homemade masala to make sambar; it’s the best you will ever make.

This recipe will yield approximately 3 cups of powder. You can easily half, double, or triple the recipe.

In my house, this amount lasts for 4-5 months and I make sambar once a week. For ½ cup of Toor dal’s sambar, I use 2 tablespoon of sambar podi.

Here are some more homemade spice mix recipes that you may like

• Roasted Cumin Powder
• Dry Mint Powder
• Kerala Garam Masala Powder
• Thandai Powder
• Bisi Bele Bath Powder

Ingredients

Make sure to use the best quality ingredients. Check their shelf life. You will store the sambar podi for at least 3-4 months, so the ingredients’ shelf-life must be good enough.

The ingredients must have no moisture in them. Check them for any hidden molds, insects, or fungi. Discard them if they do not look and smell fresh, and buy fresh ones to make the powder.

Lentils – You will need Bengal gram lentils (chana dal) and split and skinned black lentils (white urad dal).

If you want to rinse the lentils before making the podi, then rinse them well with water and drain all the water. Now spread the lentils on a plate and stay in the strong sun for 3-4 hours. Bring them back inside, keep the plate on the kitchen counter (preferably under a fan), and let them dry well.

Spices – Whole spices that are added to this powder are coriander seeds (dhaniya), cumin seeds (jeera), brown mustard seeds (sarson), fenugreek seeds (methi dana), and black peppercorns (kali mirch).

You will also need asafetida (hing), Kashmiri dry red chilies, and curry leaves.

I like to use Kashmiri dry red chilies as they give a lovely color to the powder without making it too spicy. If they are not available, use any other dry red chilies.

Remove the stalks of the chilies and break them into small pieces. It will make the grinding easy and allow you to discard the ones with insects or mold inside them.

You can also add some turmeric powder to this spice powder. It will also add to its color.

Tip – Roast ½ cup grated fresh coconut and add it to the recipe for a coconut-flavored sambar powder. Consider that the shelf life of sambar pudi will be reduced if coconut is added to it.

Pro Tips By Neha

The key to making a good sambar powder recipe is roasting the spices well. It releases the oil from the spices and makes them very flavorful. Do not over-roast the spices; otherwise, they will become bitter.

Never add any extra oil while making the podi. It will reduce its shelf life.

You can easily half, double, or triple the recipe.

Use fresh and high-quality ingredients to make sambar podi for the best taste and flavor.

The color of the sambar podi depends on the variety of chilies used. If your powder is dull, add some Kashmiri red chili powder to enhance the color. You can also add some turmeric powder for a brighter podi.

Let the roasted spices cool down completely before grinding so no moisture is left.

To make it gluten-free, skip adding asafetida (hing).

How To Make Sambar Powder

Roast The Ingredients

Add 1 cup chana dal and 1 cup white urad dal to a flat, large, and wide pan.

Dry roast on medium-low heat until golden brown and a nutty aroma emits (4-5 minutes). Stir frequently while roasting.

Transfer the roasted lentils to a large bowl and set them aside.

Add

• 1 cup coriander seeds
• ½ cup cumin seeds
• ¼ cup brown mustard seeds
• 2 tablespoon fenugreek seeds
• 2 teaspoon black peppercorns

to the same pan. Roast on medium-low heat until lightly browned and fragrant (3-4 minutes). Stir continuously.

Transfer the ingredients to the large bowl and set aside.

Note – Some people roast the ingredients individually, which is how it was traditionally done. It was also because this powder was made in large quantities, and roasting everything together was impossible anyway. But you can roast the ingredients with a similar roasting time like mine to save time. I assure you there won’t be any difference in the taste or quality of the sambar masala.

Add 50 g (1.8 oz) of Kashmiri dry red chilies (stalks removed) to the same pan and roast on medium-low heat until they are crisp and the color becomes darker (2-3 minutes). Stir continuously.

Remove them into the bowl and keep them aside.

Tip – You can break the chilies into small pieces for easy roasting and grinding.

Add ¼ cup chopped curry leaves to the same pan and roast on medium-low heat for 2-3 minutes until crisp. Stir continuously while roasting.

Remove them into the bowl and set them aside.

Cool the roasted ingredients completely.

Grind The Ingredients

Add the roasted ingredients to a spice grinder along with 1 teaspoon asafetida and grind to make a fine powder.

Note – If your grinder is small or not high-powered, grind the ingredients in batches and then mix them once ground.

Store Sambar Powder

Sambar podi is ready. It might be a little warm because of the grinding. Let it cool to room temperature, then transfer it to an airtight container.

While filling the sambar pudi in the container, fold a kitchen towel into 3-4 layers and keep it beneath the container.

Fill some podi in the container and tap the container over the towel. It will settle down the podi, and you can fill more in the same container.

Store in a cool and dry place at room temperature for 4-5 months. You can also refrigerate it for up to 12 months and freeze it for up to 2 years.

Close the lid of the container tightly every time you open it. Use a clean and dry spoon to take out the podi.

Frequently Asked Questions

Usage Ideas

Use this sambar podi to make a delicious Sambar.

Use it to mke Kootu, Kuzhambu, Kari or Poriyal.

You can also use it to enhance the flavor of any Sabzi, Curry, Bisi Bele Bath, Pulao, Biryani, Rava Upma, or Bread Upma. This podi will add a unique flavor to your everyday recipes and make them very special.

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