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Brahmin Style Araithu Vitta Sambar

February 16, 2020 by Senthil Sadasivam Recipe rating:
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Brahmin Style Araithu Vitta Sambar (“araithu vitta” means using ground masala) is an interesting variation to the regular sambar, and is a traditional dish from the brahmin/ iyer household. This special sambar preparation typically uses a wet masala of dry roasted spices along with coconut, but can also be made from dry sambar powder (with coconut of course). Some jaggery is also added to this sambar and it balances out the spiciness and the tanginess in a subtle manner. This sambar is also a staple item in the popular and traditional vegetarian restaurants owned and run by brahmins across India and the globe.

To try this awesome sambar, you need to first make the special sambar powder (or wet masala) using the instructions on my Homemade Sambar Powder recipe, and make sure you include coconut as it is the main ingredient in this dish.

Any vegetable (or a combination of vegetables) will work for this sambar. Some of the most popular sambar vegetables include drumstick, eggplant, white/ yellow pumpkin, chayote squash, carrot, radish, green beans, sweet potato, potato, etc.

I raided my fridge the other day looking for vegetables when I was craving for this sambar, and found some drumsticks, eggplant, carrot, red radish, sweet potato and I also used some amaranth stems (keerai thandu). After an hour of labor, we all sat down and enjoyed an awesome tasting, fragrant and flavorful Brahmin style araithu vitta sambar along with keerai paruppu masiyal (amaranth dal side dish).

Brahmin Style Araithu Vitta Sambar
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Brahmin Style Araithu Vitta Sambar

An awesome tasting, fragrant and flavorful sambar variation (with coconut) from the Brahmin/ Iyer household.

Course Side Dish
Cuisine Indian
Keyword Brahmin Style, Dal, Iyer Style, Sambar
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 4 people
Author Senthil Sadasivam

Ingredients

  • 1 lb Sambar vegetable mix (drumstick, eggplant, carrot, radish, green beans, white/ yellow pumpkin, chayote squash, sweet potato, potato, etc)
  • 5 tbsp Araithu vitta sambar powder or wet masala Refer to instructions above
  • Tamarind juice to taste

To pressure cook dal

  • 1 cup Tool dal
  • 1 Tomato
  • 4 cloves Garlic optional
  • 1 tsp Turmeric powder
  • 1 tsp Hing powder
  • 1 tsp Sesame oil

For tadka

  • 1/2 tbsp Mustard seeds
  • 1/2 tbsp Methi seeds
  • 1 Green chili sliced
  • 1/2 tbsp Jeera seeds
  • 1 Red chili
  • 1 sprig Curry leaves
  • 1 cup Onion (or shallots) sliced
  • 1 cup Tomatoes chopped

To garnish

  • 1/4 cup Coriander leaves chopped

Instructions

  1. Wash and cut vegetables of your choice and preference. I have used some drumsticks, eggplant, carrot, red radish, sweet potato and amaranth stems in this recipe.

  2. Wash and pressure cook dal for three whistles with 1 tomato, 4 cloves garlic (optional), 1 tsp each turmeric powder, hing powder and sesame oil with three cups water.  Mash the dal and keep it separate.

  3. On a big pot, heat oil and add mustard seeds.  When they splutter, add methi seeds and let them brown slightly.  Quickly add jeera seeds, and after few seconds, add 1 red chili and fry for some time.  Add curry leaves, then sliced onion and green chili and fry well.

  4. Add enough water, cut veggies, salt and mix well and cover and cook for about 10 mins.

  5. Add mashed dal to the pot, mix well, adjust salt level and cover and cook for another 10 mins or until the vegetable pieces are soft and tender.

  6. Add about 5 tablespoons of sambar powder or masala (with coconut). Instructions to make that masala (or powder) can be found in the blog.

  7. Add tamarind juice, 1 tablespoon of jaggery and let it cook for another couple mins.

  8. Garnish with chopped coriander leaves and enjoy with hot rice, homemade ghee, a spicy side dish fry (Potato, Plantain or Suran) and a papad!

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