To begin making the Kerala Style Varutharacha Sambar recipe, we will first prepare the Homemade Roasted Coconut Sambar Powder.

Heat oil in a heavy bottomed pan and add fenugreek seeds. Roast till lightly browned. Add in the split urad dal and chana dal. Roast until they turn golden brown.

Once the dals turn brown add the asafoetida and fry for a few seconds till aroma comes through. Transfer this to a bowl and leave to cool.

In the same pan, roast the coriander seeds and dry red chillies. Roast until till they give out a nice aroma and  and the red chillies are lightly browned and roasted. Now add in the curry leaves and grated coconut and fry till the coconut turns brown (take care not to burn the coconut). Keep aside to cool.

Once cooled grind all the ingredients in a spice grinder until all the dals and spices are ground into a coarse powder like texture. You can optionally add some water to grind to a fine paste. 

Once the powder is ready, the next step is to prepare the Varutharacha Sambar.

In a pressure cooker add in the tamarind water, turmeric powder, salt and all the vegetables. Add a cup of water and cook until you hear two whistles. Turn off the heat and allow the pressure to release naturally.

In a large sauce pan, combine the lentils, the cooked vegetables in tamarind water and the sambar powder. Stir to combine all the ingredients well. Check for the salt and spice levels and adjust according to taste. You can also adjust the consistency of the sambar by adding water if you like it thinner. 

Turn the heat on medium and begin to simmer the Varutharacha Sambar for about 5 to 6 minutes. While the sambar is simmering, we will now get the seasoning ready. 

Heat coconut oil in a small pan; add in the mustard seeds and allow it to crackle.

Add finely sliced pearl onions and saute until they turn soft and light brown in colour.

Add the dry red chillies and curry leaves and fry for a few seconds until the red chillies are roasted. This will take about 20 seconds.

Pour the seasoning over the simmering Varutharacha Sambar and garnish with chopped coriander leaves.Turn off the heat and keep the sambar covered for about 10 to 15 minutes before you serve.

Serve Varutharacha Sambar along with Carrot and Beans Thoran, Steamed Rice and Elai Vadam for a weekday meal.

Note:

1. Coconut oil enhances the flavour of the curry and lifts it to a whole new level. For health benefits, I tend to use a lesser quantity of coconut oil in my cooking. I avoided using coconut oil while frying the spices and grated coconut for the ground mixture. I only added it while preparing the seasoning/tempering. Please feel free to add more if you like the flavor.

2. Don’t limit your use of veggies to those I have mentioned in the recipe. You can add whichever vegetables are available in your refrigerator.