tips n recipes

  • About
  • Recipes
  • WHW
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
  • Recipes
  • WHW
  • Subscribe
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • Recipes
  • WHW
  • Subscribe
×
Home » Recipes » Condiment

Kerala Sambar Powder Recipe

Published: Jul 2, 2022 · Modified: Apr 20, 2024 by Abhi

20
Shares

Pin Recipe Video

This homemade Kerala Sambar powder recipe is a vegan spice blend prepared with fresh curry leaves, spices and lentils that turns sambar super yummy and flavourful. The recipe is so easy and quick that you won't go for store-bought as you can make it easily at home in no time.

Kerlara sambar powder in a jar
Jump to:
  • About the recipe
  • Reasons to 💖Kerala sambar powder recipe
  • Ingredients
  • How to make sambar powder Kerala style
  • Storage
  • How to use this sambar powder?
  • Variations
  • Equipment
  • Tips
  • Recipe

About the recipe

Sambar is super popular in India and is the traditional dish of South India that everyone loves and enjoys. It is a vegetarian dish made with yellow lentils, spices & vegetables using sambar powder and is usually served with rice, idli and dosa. Sambar powder plays a vital role in making this dish as all the flavour and aroma in the sambar comes from this spice blend only. The more aromatic and fragrant the sambar masala is, the more delicious the sambar will be.

This vegan Kerala sambar powder is a spice blend prepared using lentils, dried spices and fresh curry leaves. The recipe calls for roasting the spices and lentils on low heat to dry out any moisture if present before grinding. A perfect must-have spice blend that turns sambar super tasty with flavourful spices.

This Kerala sambar powder masala recipe is inspired by my chai masala and raita masala on this site.

Reasons to 💖Kerala sambar powder recipe

  • The foremost reason is always freshness without any preservatives.
  • You have control over the ingredients. You can easily avoid the ones you dislike.
  • An easy-peasy recipe that won't take much time.
  • Storage is not a problem as it stays fresh for a long time.
  • You can save a few dollars by reutilizing the same spices you already have in your spice box!!

Ingredients

To make sambar masala powder Kerala style, you need the following ingredients:

ingredients labelled for kerala sambar masala
  • White lentils/dehusked black gram (Urad dal)- I use whole white lentils for this recipe. Feel free to use either whole or split ones, whatever is handy.
  • Bengal gram lentils/split chickpeas (chana dal)- thickens the sambar curry.
  • Coriander seeds (dhania)- impart aroma and flavour.
  • Dry chillies (sukhi mirch) -add spicy quotient. Use as much spicy as you want.
  • Cumin seeds (jeera)- impart aroma and also promote digestion.
  • Curry leaves (karee patta) - add aroma. Use fresh for the best results. (if available)
  • Fenugreek seeds (methi dana)- help digestion. Make sure to add a small amount of these seeds as they might impart a bitter taste to the sambar.
  • Asafoetida powder (hing)- is good for digestive health.
  • Oil- (optional) It helps in combining spices well.

See the recipe card for quantities.

How to make sambar powder Kerala style

For the full recipe, check out the video below. Don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube Channel to stay up to date on all my new videos!! 

Let's get started on how to make Kerala sambar powder at home:

all sambar masala ingredients in a skillet

Pour oil, white lentils, Bengal gram lentils and coriander seeds into a skillet and roast for 2 minutes on low heat. Combine the rest of the ingredients and continue roasting on low heat for 2 minutes or until you get golden brown.

blended masala ingredients in a blender

Cool down and grind into a fine powder. Store it in an airtight container. Use as and when required.

Kerala Sambhar masala powder in a jar

Storage

  • Store this sambar podi Kerla style in an airtight container.
  • Make sure to cool down this spice blend before storing it.
  • This sambar masala powder stays fresh for at least 3-4 months at room temperature or up to 6 months if stored in a refrigerator.

How to use this sambar powder?

  • A tablespoon of this sambar masala powder is enough to uplift the flavour of any regular sambar.
  • Add this sambar masala to rasam to take it to the next level.
  • Give a different and unique taste to stir-fried vegetables and grilled chicken using this spice blend.
samabar masala kerala style in a container

Variations

  • Black peppercorns- to imbue heat into the dish.
  • Pigeon pea - for extra thickness in the curry.
  • Mustard seeds - for additional spice flavour.
  • Turmeric powder - to give a vibrant yellow colour.
  • Coconut - add desiccated coconut for a rich, creamy consistency.

Equipment

I use a Nutribullet blender to blend almost all spices like masala paste, chai masala, and raita masala powder. Also, I use this same blender to prepare smoothies, Lassi, and chutney like red chutney and green chutney. It is too easy and convenient to use. All-in-one equipment that is worth trying!!

sambar masala powder in a jar

Tips

  1. Make sure to dry all the spices before grinding to increase the shelf life of the spice blend.
  2. Add turmeric powder if you like masala to be yellowish. I prefer all-natural spices in reddish-brown colour, so I avoided turmeric in this recipe.
  3. Do not roast spices on high heat as it may burn spices and turn them bitter.
  4. Cool down spices before and after grinding; otherwise, moisture may arise. It can spoil the masala later on. 
  5. Always use a clean, dry spoon when using it.
  6. Store in an airtight jar. It stays fresh for at least 3-4 months at room temperature.

And if you make this Kerala sambar powder aka Kerala sambar podi recipe, please let me know what you think!

Follow me on YouTube, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, or Twitter for more tips and delicious food recipes.

You can also leave a comment or share a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #tipsnrecipes to let me know how it goes!

Recipe

Kerlara sambar powder in a jar

Kerala Sambar Powder Recipe

Abhi
This homemade Kerala Sambar powder recipe is a vegan spice blend prepared with fresh curry leaves, spices, and lentils that turns sambar super yummy and flavourful. The recipe is so easy and quick that you won't go for store-bought as you can make it easily at home in no time.
5 from 3 votes

↑ Click stars to rate now!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved!
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 5 minutes mins
Total Time 10 minutes mins
Course Spice blend
Cuisine Indian, South Indian
Servings 50 tablespoons
Calories 12 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Skillet
  • 1 Spatula
  • 1 Blender

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 tablespoon Oil
  • ½ cup White lentils (110g)
  • ¼ cup Bengal gram lentils (50g)
  • ¼ cup Coriander seeds (15g)
  • 1 tablespoon Fenugreek seeds (4g)
  • 2 tablespoon Cumin seeds (13g)
  • 2 tablespoon Asafoetida (14g)
  • few Curry leaves
  • 8-10 Dry red chillies
Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions
 

  • Roast lentils and coriander seeds using a small amount of oil on low heat for 2 minutes.
  • Combine the rest of the ingredients and roast for 2-3 minutes or until the colour turns golden.
  • Cool down and blend into a powder
  • Store in an air-tight jar.
  • Use it when required.

Video

Notes

 
Nutrition Facts
Serving size: tablespoon
Servings: 50
Amount per serving  
Calories 12
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0.5g 1%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 1mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 1.6g 1%
Dietary Fiber 0.6g 2%
Total Sugars 0.2g  
Protein 0.6g  
Vitamin D 0mcg 0%
Calcium 7mg 1%
Iron 0mg 2%
Potassium 31mg 1%
 
Subscribe to my YouTube Channel to stay updated on all my new videos!! 

Nutrition

Serving: 50tablespoons | Calories: 12kcal

Share

Facebook Pin Twitter Email

Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star✨ rating below!


20
Shares

More Condiment

  • A bowl of fresh fruits with yogurt.
    Fruit Raita
  • Garlic chutney in a bowl on a serving platter
    Garlic Chutney
  • mixed vegetable raita in a bowl.
    Mix Vegetable Raita |Mixed Raita
  • cottage cheese and potato filling in a wok.
    How to make filling

Comments

  1. Katie says

    July 08, 2022 at 1:31 pm

    5 stars
    Such an incredible spice mix!! I have been using this in everything recently!

    Reply
    • Abhi says

      July 09, 2022 at 4:02 am

      Thanks, Katie. Good to know that!!

      Reply
  2. Nancy says

    July 07, 2022 at 7:22 pm

    5 stars
    What a flavourful recipe. Thanks for the tips

    Reply
    • Abhi says

      July 08, 2022 at 1:37 am

      Thanks Nancy!!

      Reply
5 from 3 votes (1 rating without comment)

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Hi, I'm Abhi!

In the tips n recipes blog, you will find delicious, low-spice, tried-and-tested recipes with tips that help you make 100% fail-proof recipes.

More about me →



Popular Recipes

  • chicken drumsticks in a pan
    Chicken Drumsticks Curry
  • Pumpkin rice in a black skillet with a wooden spoon full of coconut meat and few chunks of raw pumpkin on the table
    Pumpkin Rice Recipe
  • Kerlara sambar powder in a jar
    Kerala Sambar Powder Recipe
  • egg flatbread cut into triangle shapes.
    Egg Paratha |Egg Flatbread
  • chicken mayo sandwiches in a plate ready to be served.
    Chicken Mayonnaise Sandwich
  • Sandwiches on a serving plate with ketchup
    Veg Sandwich with Mayonnaise

Don't want to miss the Recipe Videos?? Subscribe to my YouTube channel!



Something Healthy?

  • corns, carrot and carrot soup in a bowl with a spoon in it.
    Cabbage Carrot Corn Soup |3C Soup
  • weight loss watermelon smoothe in a glass topped up with almonds
    Weight Loss Watermelon Smoothie
  • green soup
    Green Vegetable Soup Recipe
  • Stir fry veggies 
    Healthy Stir-Fry Veggies Recipe
  • cucumber and beetroot salad in a bowl with a spoon in it.
    Cucumber Beetroot Salad
  • chrunchy veggie salad with nuts and raisins in a bowl.
    Nutty Crunchy Veg Salad

Footer

↑ back to top

Recipes

Vegan

Veg

Non-Veg

About

Privacy Policy

Accessibility

Disclaimer

Subscribe

Sign Up! for the newsletter

YouTube for videos

Contact

Contact

As a part of affiliate marketing, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2025 tips n recipes | All rights reserved

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.