Sambar Powder Recipe (Sambar Masala Spice Blend)

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Making fresh, homemade Sambar Powder or Sambar Masala (also known as Sambar Podi in Tamil language) is a simple task that will yield incredible results. This deeply aromatic dry masala (spice mix) is easy to make at home, and is so much more flavorful than what you would buy at the store!

sambar powder in a glass jar.

About Sambar Powder

While I love the convenience of prepared spice mixes – I just don’t want to use them. Oftentimes the store bought versions are weak and/or stale.

To remedy this, I often make my own pre-mixed dry masalas using fresh, whole spices and herbs. The result is so much more flavorful!

Today I’m sharing my Mom’s sambar powder recipe with step by step photos – I’m certain you will love it!

My sambar podi is scented with citrusy coriander, earthy cumin, warming spices like fenugreek seeds, pungent black pepper, spicy chilies, and brightly colored with turmeric, making it the perfect blend for all of your sambar recipes.

If new to Indian cuisine, sambar powder is a special and unique spice blend added to the popular South Indian lentil and vegetable stew Sambar.

This easy spice mix takes just 30 minutes from start to finish, and one batch makes enough to fuel my household’s sambar obsession for up to 4 months.

If you are a fan of Indian food, I implore you to try making this delightful sambar masala; the flavor of your dishes will benefit greatly!

Tips for Best Homemade Spice Blends

Before making any homemade powder or spice mix, always keep a few things in mind so that you get the best flavor:

  • Use spices that are as fresh as possible that have not yet completed their shelf period.
  • Sort through the whole spices to remove any errant stones or insects. This is especially important for particular spices including coriander seeds, fenugreek seeds and cumin seeds.
  • Dry red chilies should feel crisp to the touch and not have any moisture. I recommend you break them open prior to using to ensure they do not have any mold growing sneakily inside.
  • The coriander seeds should also look fresh and feel crisp to the touch; if they appear to have mould or are not aromatic, then throw them away.
  • Herbs and spices will all cook at different times. As such, it is important to work in batches when you are tempering the whole spices.

This recipe yields about 200 grams of sambar masala powder, which lasts me for 3 to 4 months. (For reference, I make sambar dishes once or twice per week.)

Step-by-Step Guide

How to Make Sambar Powder

Roast the Spices

1. Heat a pan and then add ½ cup coriander seeds and 2 tablespoons cumin seeds.

cumin and coriander seed in a pan for roasting

2. On a low heat, roast the coriander and cumin, stirring often, until they become fragrant and change color.

roasted cumin and coriander seed

3. It takes roughly 1 to 2 minutes to roast these spices over a low heat. They should smell aromatic. Do not brown them too much.

making sambar powder recipe by roasting whole spices

4. Remove them from the pan and add them to a large plate or tray.

toasted cumin and coriander removed to a plate

5. Wipe the pan with a cotton napkin and add 16 to 18 dry red chilies. Be sure to remove the crown and the seeds from the red chilies before roasting them.

red chiles being toasted in dry pan

6. Roast the red chilies, stirring them till they change color and release a pungent smoky aroma. Place the roasted red chilies on the same plate as your other toasted spices.

chilies have become dark from toasting

7. Add 1.5 teaspoons fenugreek seeds (methi seeds). Stir often and roast them.

methi seeds added to pan for toasting and making sambar powder recipe

8. Roast till they get browned, but be careful not to burn them.

methi (fenugreek) seeds have become several shades darker from toasting

9. Remove to the same plate.

fenugreek seeds added to plate with other toasted spices for making sambar masala

10. Add 1 tablespoon whole black peppercorns (sabut kalimirch).

whole black peppercorns in a dry pan

11. Stir often and roast.

using a wooden spoon to stir whole peppercorns as they are roasting for making sambhar podi

12. As soon as the black pepper becomes aromatic, remove them from the pan, to the same plate where all the spices are kept.

toasted black peppercorns look the same as untoasted, but they should smell very aromatic

Roast Lentils

If you prefer, you can rinse the lentils in water once or twice before roasting them. Rinse and drain all the water. Spread them on a small plate. Dry them in sunlight for some minutes or keep them under a fan until they are dried.

13. Now add 2 tablespoons chana dal (split and husked bengal gram) to the same pan.

chana dal added to dry pan for toasting

14. For uniform color and doneness, continue stirring at intervals while roasting the chana dal. Chana dal takes longer to cook than the spices; the lentils should become golden before removing to the plate with the other toasted spices.

chana dal roasted for sambar powder

17. Now add 1 tablespoon urad dal (split and husked black gram) to the pan.

urad dal in a dry pan

18. Keep on stirring these lentils, roasting till they become golden and aromatic. Remove them to the same plate as the other spices.

toasted urad dal for sambar powder recipe

Roast More Ingredients

19. Add ⅓ cup curry leaves. Roast the curry leaves stirring them till the leaves become crisp. Keep aside.

roasted curry leaves for sambar powder recipe

20. Now add ½ tablespoons of black mustard seeds (rai).

rai (black mustard seeds) in a dry pan

21. When all the mustard seeds finish popping, then remove them and keep aside.

rai for sambar masala recipe

22. Switch off the heat now and add ½ tablespoon asafoetida (hing) in the pan.

Note: If you are celiac, please be sure to read the label on your asafoetida (hing); many commercially available brands process this spice with wheat.

hing in a dry pan

23. Quickly stir as soon as you add the hing (asafoetida).

toasting the hing for sambhar powder recipe

24. When the color changes and you can smell the asafoetida (hing) in the air, remove the pan from heat and keep it aside.

asafoetida has changed color and is ready for grinding into sambar masala mix

Make Sambar Masala

25. Let all the roasted spices cool down to room temperature.

roasted spices for sambar masala in whole form on a plate

26. Add the cooled spices to your spice grinder. Also add ½ tablespoon of turmeric (haldi). Depending on the size of your grinder jar, you may need to work in batches.

Please note, I have used turmeric powder and not turmeric root, as turmeric root is difficult to grind in my mixer-grinder. You can use 2 inches dried turmeric root that you crush to small bits in a mortar-pestle before adding in the grinder jar.

whole spices and turmeric in a grinder jar

27. Grind to a fine powder.

haldi for sambar powder recipe

28. Remove to a plate or bowl and mix very well. Due to grinding, the powder will become warm.

sambar powder on a plate for cooling and mixing after grinding

Store Sambar Powder

29. As soon as the masala powder cools to room temperature, then carefully spoon it in a jar.

If the masala powder does not become hot or warm while grinding, then you can store the masala powder directly in the jar.

spooning homemade sambar podi into a spice jar

30. Do tap and shake the jar, so that the sambar podi settles down while filling the jar.

homemade sambar podi masala powder recipe in a clear glass jar

31. Close tightly with a lid and keep it at room temperature.

lid added to jar with sambar masala

32. Add sambar powder to any of your favorite sambar recipes. For a serving of 4, use about 2 to 3 teaspoons of this sambar podi.

The recipe can be scaled to make a large batch. If you do scale the recipe up largely, then I recommend to grind the roasted ingredients in a local grinding mill (chakki).

sambar podi in a glass jar with a spoon in it

Storage Tips and Suggestions

Store sambar masala in a clean air-tight jar in a dry and cool place. When taking the spice mix from the jar, never use a wet spoon. Always use a dry spoon.

After you finish taking the required amount of sambar podi for your recipe, close the jar well and keep it back in the same dry and cool place.

If any moisture or water goes into the jar, it will deteriorate the spice mix and may get moldy or have fungus.

This sambar powder keeps well for 3 to 4 months in a dry and cool place. Store it in a place in your kitchen which is cool, dry and does not have any moisture.

You can also choose to store it in the refrigerator if you live in a hot and humid region.

I would not recommend to store sambar powder in the masala dabba (masala container box) as the aroma will fade over a period of time. It is best to store it in an air-tight steel or glass jar or container.

How To Use Homemade Sambar Powder

This homemade sambar masala powder can be used in a variety of different dishes. You can also perk up vegetable stir fries or sautéed vegetables, by adding this sambar podi. It will give the dish a complex taste and flavor.

If you plan to add this spice mix to make sambar, here are a few of my favorites:

FAQs

I have a dietary restriction that keeps me from eating urad dal – what should I use as a substitute?

Simply omit the urad dal if you are unable to eat it!

Which chili peppers should I use for a restaurant style flavor?

Use byadagi red chilies, or a half-half of kashmiri red chilies and byadagi red chilies.

My sambar powder tastes bitter. Where did I go wrong?

Methi (fenugreek) has a bit of a bitter flavor on its own, so if you are eating the spice mixture plain, it may end up tasting rather sharp or bitter.

Once you add it to a sambar recipe, it should taste good! If the resulting recipe tastes bitter, then I expect you likely roasted your whole spices for too long.

Can I add coconut to this sambar powder recipe?

Yes of course! Coconut gives a nice flavor to the sambar masala. Add about ⅓ cup of shredded desiccated coconut (unsweetened). You do need to roast the coconut until golden.

Later powder or grind the roasted coconut with the remaining roasted ingredients. But keep in mind that with coconut the shelf-life of sambar powder will reduce. I suggest to keep this sambar powder with coconut in the refrigerator and not at room temperature.

More Homemade Indian Spice Blends

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sambar powder in a glass jar.

Sambar Powder Recipe (Sambar Masala Spice Blend)

Fresh, fragrant, Sambar Powder made with roasted spices and lentils. Making fresh, homemade Sambar Masala (also known as Sambar Podi in Tamil) is a simple task that will yield incredible results.
4.95 from 53 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Cuisine South Indian, Tamil Nadu
Course Condiment
Diet Vegan
Difficulty Level Moderate
Servings 200 grams
Units

Ingredients

  • ½ cup coriander seeds – 40 grams
  • 2 tablespoons cumin seeds
  • 16 to 18 dry red chillies – halved and seeds removed
  • 1.5 teaspoon fenugreek seeds (methi seeds)
  • 1 tablespoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoon chana dal (split husked bengal gram)
  • 1 tablespoon urad dal (split husked black gram)
  • cup curry leaves
  • ½ tablespoon mustard seeds
  • ½ tablespoon asafoetida (hing)
  • ½ tablespoon turmeric powder (ground turmeric)

Instructions
 

Roasting Spices, Lentils

  • Before you begin roasting the ingredients, measure them and set aside. Halve or break the dry red chillies and remove the seeds with a spoon. Also remove their crowns.
  • Heat a frying pan and then add coriander seeds and cumin seeds.
  • On a low heat, stir and roast the coriander seeds and cumin seeds, till they become fragrant and change color. It just takes 1 to 2 minutes in low heat to roast these. They should smell aromatic. Do not brown them too much.
  • Then remove from the pan and add to a large plate or tray.
  • Wipe the pan with a cotton napkin and add dry red chilies. Remove the crown and seeds from the red chilies, before roasting them.
  • Roast the red chilies, stirring them till they change color and you can get their pungent smoky aroma. Place the roasted red chilies in the same plate.
  • Now add the fenugreek seeds. Stir often and roast them. Roast till they get browned but make sure not to burn or brown them too much. Remove in the same plate.
  • Add black peppercorns. Stir often and roast. The black peppers will get aromatic and this is the time you remove them from the pan. Add roasted black peppers to the same plate, where all the spices are kept.
  • Now add chana dal to the same pan. Keep on stirring at intervals, while roasting the chana dal. Chana dal takes longer to cook than the spices. The dal should get browned or golden. For uniform cooking and color, keep on stirring them. Remove aside in the same plate.
  • Now add urad dal to the pan. Keep on stirring these lentils too while roasting them. Roast till they become golden and you a get a nice waft of the roasted urad dal. Remove them in the same plate.
  • Add curry leaves (fresh or dried). Roast the curry leaves till the leaves become crisp. Keep aside.
  • Next add mustard seeds. When all the mustard seeds finish popping, then remove them and keep aside.
  • Switch off the heat now and add asafoetida (hing) in the pan. Quickly stir as soon as you add the asafoetida.
  • Only the color needs to change of the hing and you should get its aroma. Remove and keep aside.

Making sambar powder

  • Now let all the roasted spices cool down and come at room temperature.
  • In your grinder jar, add the spices. Also add turmeric powder. I ground in two batches. Depending on the size, you can grind in 2 to 3 batches or in one go.
  • Grind to a fine powder.
  • Remove the ground sambar powder on a plate. If grinding in batches, remove the ground masala on a plate and mix very well. Due to grinding the sambar powder will become warm.
  • Once the sambar powder cools at room temperature, then spoon it carefully in a jar.
  • Do tap and shake the jar, so that the sambar podi settles down while filling the jar.
  • Close tightly with a lid and keep at room temperature. Use as needed when making any recipes with it.

Usage and Storage Suggestions

  • Add sambar powder to any of the sambar recipes you make. For a serving of 4, add about 2 to 3 teaspoons of this sambar masala.
  • Store the sambar masala powder in a clean air-tight jar in a dry, cool place. When taking the spice mix from the jar, always use a dry spoon. Never use a wet spoon.
  • Note that if any moisture or water goes into the jar, it will deteriorate the spice blend and may get moldy or have fungus. 
  • After you are done with taking the required amount of sambar masala for your recipe, close the jar well with its lid.
  • This sambar powder keeps well for 3 to 4 months in a dry and cool place. Store it in a cool and dry place in your kitchen which does not have any moisture. if you live in a hot and humid region then store in the refrigerator.

Notes

The approximate nutrition info is for 1 teaspoon of Sambar Powder.

Nutrition Info (Approximate Values)

Nutrition Facts
Sambar Powder Recipe (Sambar Masala Spice Blend)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 13 Calories from Fat 9
% Daily Value*
Fat 1g2%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 1g
Sodium 1mg0%
Potassium 30mg1%
Carbohydrates 2g1%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin A 208IU4%
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) 1mg67%
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 1mg59%
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) 45mg225%
Vitamin B6 1mg50%
Vitamin C 79mg96%
Vitamin E 1mg7%
Vitamin K 1µg1%
Calcium 30mg3%
Vitamin B9 (Folate) 464µg116%
Iron 1mg6%
Magnesium 7mg2%
Phosphorus 9mg1%
Zinc 1mg7%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

This Sambar Powder post from the archives first published in October 2015 has been updated and republished on October 2021.

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Welcome to Dassana's Veg Recipes. I share vegetarian recipes from India & around the World. Having been cooking for decades and with a professional background in cooking & baking, I help you to make your cooking journey easier with my tried and tested recipes showcased with step by step photos & plenty of tips & suggestions.

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80 Comments

  1. I always follow your recipes in cooking and my husband has become a fan of your prescribed recipes. They turn out so well that i can blindly trust your recipes.5 stars

  2. I managed a delicious sambar today with your sambar podi recipe.
    Thanks for the easy to follow measurements and procedure.