SAMBAR SADAM | SAMBAR RICE RECIPE – LUNCH RECIPES

March 6, 2025 | By
sambar--sadam bowl

I wanted to post one pot sambar sadam recipe ( Sambar rice in a pressure cooker) after tasting in hotels. Saravana bhavan sambar sadam is very popular in Tamil nadu. I usually make rice and sambar separately and mix them. Every week I used to watch Podhigai channel’s Asathal suvai if it is hosted by “ Mrs.Revathy shanmugam”. Last week she gave the recipe for sambar rice. I tried it the next day.It was a huge success at home.We loved its flavor and taste. I have not used any garam masala here. So It tastes like our Tamil nadu hotel style sambar sadam. It has a goey texture when hot and thickens after it cools down. It tasted great when hot as well as cold. Addition of ghee is a must here. It gives a nice aroma. 🙂 I have updated this recipe with a full video. Please watch it below.

Do check out my Karnataka style Bisi bele bath recipe using homemade bisi bele bath powder.
Here is my Curd rice recipe.


sambar sadam bowl

Sambar sadam/ Sambar rice recipe

Sambar sadam/ Sambar rice recipe How to make sambar sadam – Tamil nadu style sambar rice in one pot

Cuisine:  South Indian
Category: Lunch Recipes
Serves: 4
Prep time: 10 Minutes
Cook time: 20 Minutes
Total time: 30 Minutes

INGREDIENTS

1 cup – 250ml
To pressure cook

  • Raw rice – 1 cup OR steamed rice – 1 cup
  • Toor dal – 1/2 cup
  • Water – 6 –7 cups
  • Carrot – 2 nos
  • Peas – 1/4 cup
  • Beans – 5 nos
  • Drumstick – 2 nos (chop into finger size)
  • Turmeric powder – 1/4 tsp
  • Hing /Asafetida – 1/4 tsp
  • Salt – As needed

To soak in water

  • Tamarind – Lemon size ball

To roast & grind

  • Cooking oil – 1 tsp
  • Red chillies – 8 nos ( use 6 if spicy chilli)
  • Chana dal – 2.5 tbsp
  • Dhania – 2 tbsp
  • Cumin seeds – 1 tsp
  • Methi seeds – 1/2 tsp
  • Grated coconut – 2 tsp (optional)
  • Hing – 2 pinches

To saute

  • Cooking oil + ghee – 1tbsp + 2 tsp
  • Small onion /sambar onion – 15 nos
  • Tomato – 3 nos
  • Sambar powder -1/2 tsp
  • Curry leaves – few

To temper

  • Oil + ghee – 2 tsp
  • Mustard seeds – 1 tsp

Coriander leaves – 2 tbsp (to garnish)
Ghee – 2 tbsp

HOW TO MAKE SAMBAR RICE – METHOD

  • Pressure cook drumstick separately. Remove the flesh & keep aside
  • Wash and pressure cook rice. Wash & pressure cook rice n dal along with chopped carrots ,beans , peas ,turmeric powder , salt & hing. Add 6 cups of water & Cook for 2-3 whistles till rice n dal turns mushy. Open the cooker & mash it well. Set aside.

sambar sadam tile1

  • In a pan , add a tsp of oil and roast all the ingredients given under “to roast & grind” . Powder them nicely and set aside.
    sambar sadam tile2
  • In the same pan, heat oil + ghee and saute the onions, chopped tomatoes & curry leaves. Saute till tomato turns mushy. Then add 1 cup of tamarind extract, sambar powder, turmeric powder , hing & salt if required. Let it boil for sometime till onion gets cooked. If you want , you can directly add the tamarind extract, sauteed onion, tomato mixture to the cooked rice and dal & proceed.
sambar sadam tile3
  • Now add this mixture to the cooked rice . Add the masala powder, drumstick flesh and mix well.Simmer the flame and allow it to boil well for 10 minutes . All the flavour gets into the rice.Stir once or twice in the middle. Add ghee to avoid rice sticking to the bottom of pan. Mix well. Lastly temper the mustard seeds & add. Garnish with coriander leaves..
    sambar sadam tile4

    Serve hot  drizzled with little ghee & papad !! !



Note
  • For variations , u can use steamed rice instead of raw rice. Add water according to the quality of rice.
  • I used byadge chillies in this recipe. It gave a nice color to the rice and less spicy too. If you use spicy chillies, use 5-6 as per your taste buds.
  • Adding coconut is purely optional. If you add it, add more chillies to compensate.
Delicious sambar sadam, creamy curd rice, crispy fryums and spicy pickle, mor milagai is ready to enjoy !
sambar sadam-plate

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40 thoughts on “SAMBAR SADAM | SAMBAR RICE RECIPE – LUNCH RECIPES”

  6. Mahi

    Looks good! I love sambar rice, but DH is not a big fan of this! Shall try it with oats! :)

    Hey, I tried the oats pongal(with rolled oats) in your method, tasted delicious! Thanks!

    Reply
  23. Poornima Saminathan

    Omg Chitra,this recipe is definitely a keeper. It tasted so heavenly,just like the one at hotel saravana bhavan. Thanks for such a wonderful recipe

    Reply
    2. Padma

      Made this today with slight variations..added Chow Chow,radish, carrot nd beans.. tasted like restaurant style..also added coconut while frying dals.tku so much

      Reply
  27. விஜி செந்தில்

    Hi, I am a big fan of ur chutney recipe collection. And, in this sambar rice recipe, is it okay to add drumstick cooked water along with rice and dal?

    Reply
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