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You are here: Home / Dal Recipes / Methi Leaves Sambar-Vendhaya Keerai Sambar Recipe

Methi Leaves Sambar-Vendhaya Keerai Sambar Recipe

November 24, 2015 28 Comments

Learn how to make Methi Sambar with this easy recipe using methi leaves and a great and fresh Sambar recipe. 

Today is a leap day, a once-in-4-years type thing that I didn’t want to miss so although I am in KL living out of a suitcase for the next couple days, I wanted to share something here using the very wonky Internet from my hotel room.

Methi Sambar (Fenugreek Leaves Sambar)

Any recipe that amma sends me, especially if it’s along with ‘styled’ pictures that my uncle Radha mama takes, is special. Methi, or fenugreek leaves, are not very common in Kerala and you don’t often see it in every vegetable stall. So amma grew her own (but of course). Then she made sambar with it and I think her argument was “if you can make dal with it, I can make sambar with it”. Well of course you can amma. The cherry tomatoes you see in the pic are also from her small garden.

Here’s the recipe, from her kitchen to yours.

Amma’s Methi Sambar (Vendhaya Sambar) Recipe

Preparation time: 15 mins
Cooking time: 40 mins
Serves: 4

Ingredients:
1 bunch fresh methi (fenugreek leaves), cleaned and chopped
1/2 cup toor dal, (pressure) cooked until soft and mushy
1 carrot, chopped (optional)
1 tomato, chopped (or a few cherry tomatoes, halved)
A handful of shallots, peeled
1 lemon-sized ball of tamarind
2 tbsp sambar powder
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
A pinch of sugar
Salt to taste

For tempering:
1 tsp ghee or oil
1/4 tsp mustard seeds
1/4 tsp powdered jeera / cumin
A generous pinch of hing / asafoetida
A few shallots, sliced long

How to Make Vendhaya Keerai Sambar:

1. Soak tamarind in 1 cup warm water for 15 mins. Extract juice and discard the pulp. Transfer this to a pan along with the sambar powder, salt, turmeric powder, tomato, shallots, carrot and chopped methi leaves. In Kerala, a typical sambar consists of a few vegetables all added in together and this is how amma makes her sambar. You can omit the carrot if you want to keep it simple but the tomato is definitely recommended.

2. Bring the above mixture to boil with 2-3 cups of added water for about 15 mins. Add sugar and the cooked dal. Bring to boil and mix well. Adjust salt. Remove from fire.

3. Heat a small pan and add the ghee along with the rest of the ingredients for tempering. When the mustard seeds pop and the shallots turn a light brown, remove from fire and dunk straight into the cooked sambar. Mix well.

Methi Sambar (Fenugreek Leaves Sambar)

Note: Don’t add curry leaves or coriander leaves to this sambar. This is to ensure that the flavour of the methi is dominating. I know the picture has some coriander leaves but that’s just amma trying to make the sambar look pretty for the picture 🙂

Huge thanks, as always, to Amma and Radhmams for the Vendhaya Keerai Sambar pictures and recipe 🙂

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By nags Filed Under: Dal Recipes, Kerala Recipes, Methi / Fenugreek Leaves, Sambar Recipes, Uncategorized

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Comments

  1. Anonymous

    April 4, 2012 at 3:36 am

    Wow! this is so delicious! I realized very late that I have nothing in my fridge but methi leaves..i like it but my husband doesn't prefer regular methi dal..so this is like something new and he loves it as well!!! Thanks for the recipe..could you also give a recipe for sambar powder so that I use that method the next time 🙂 thanks

    Reply
    • Nagalakshmi V

      April 4, 2012 at 6:46 am

      thanks, glad you liked the methi sambar recipe. here's my recipe for sambar powder: https://www.cookingandme.com/2008/09/mystery-masala-series-sambhar-cum-rasam.html

      Reply
  2. Archana Chari

    March 24, 2012 at 4:22 pm

    Nags, made a HUGE batch today! With rice for lunch and dosai for dinner. Makes my atta dosai taste good too 🙂 So much flavour!

    Reply
  3. Mich

    March 19, 2012 at 6:52 am

    This was a wonderful recipe. I tried it without the carrots. Thanks so much.

    Reply
  4. samyyyr

    March 13, 2012 at 3:19 am

    Some delicious snaps… Liked it!!!

    Reply
  5. Archana

    March 6, 2012 at 3:57 pm

    very unusual. Thanks.

    Reply
  6. vjperera

    March 5, 2012 at 3:34 am

    Nags just tried this bc it's late and im out of curry leaves but strangely I have fresh methi… it's odd i know especially living in DC where fresh methi is a rare thing to have but your recipe came at the right time and it tastes great!

    Reply
    • Nagalakshmi V

      March 5, 2012 at 3:36 am

      That made me smile 🙂 Amma will be so happy her methi sambar is a hit 🙂

      Reply
  7. maha

    March 3, 2012 at 10:21 pm

    sounds new and healthy too and looking delicious..
    Maha

    Reply
  8. ShobiGanesh

    March 1, 2012 at 11:06 pm

    hi nags ..how to contact u thru mail ? cudnt find ur mail id anywhere in ths blog ..iam sorry if i missed it ..pl do let me know ..i have some clarification …thanx and regards ..
    ShobiG ( regular custy to ur blog )

    Reply
    • Nagalakshmi V

      March 2, 2012 at 1:41 am

      [email protected]

      Reply
  9. Ambika

    March 1, 2012 at 10:38 pm

    Yummy! Love the use of methi in samabar!

    Reply
  10. RAKS KITCHEN

    March 1, 2012 at 2:44 pm

    Quite new to me too, Sounds great and lovely picture Nags!

    Reply
  11. Gayathri NG

    March 1, 2012 at 4:15 am

    Healthy n absolutely tasty sambar…

    Reply
  12. Aarthi

    February 29, 2012 at 3:39 pm

    This sounds quite unusual..Will try it someday..Can we add dried fenugreek leaves in this

    Reply
    • Nagalakshmi V

      March 2, 2012 at 1:41 am

      yes it should work, though the flavour will be different.

      Reply
  13. notyet100

    February 29, 2012 at 3:17 pm

    Will try this sometime,perfect with plain rice nd some Aloo bhujia,,

    Reply
  14. Hema

    February 29, 2012 at 2:49 pm

    It's my husband's favorite sambar, I add fresh peas instead of carrots and a tsp of jaggery to balance the bitterness of methi, very motivated to blog from a hotel room..

    Reply
  15. Poornima Nair

    February 29, 2012 at 2:39 pm

    Never added methi to sambar, should be interesting. It must be great to have fresh methi all the time!

    Reply
  16. zareena

    February 29, 2012 at 12:28 pm

    This is a unique dish. Never thought of adding methi leaves to sambar. The snaps are lovely.

    Reply
  17. jeyashrisuresh

    February 29, 2012 at 12:19 pm

    wow sambar made from organic methi leaves- Yum

    Reply
  18. San

    February 29, 2012 at 8:11 pm

    Unusual sambar which is a must try with fenugreek. Got to try it soon.

    Reply
  19. Smitha

    February 29, 2012 at 10:55 am

    Nags, Great recipe. I guess I could google about it but if u get a chance can you check with ur mom on when we should plant the seeds and related info on growing methi. Will the simple uluva seeds that we use for cooking be enough. I tried it some time ago, I am not sure it sprouted.
    – Smitha

    Reply
    • Nagalakshmi V

      March 5, 2012 at 3:40 am

      I have tried sprouting regular fenugreek seeds and it worked for me (the young plants died though due to lack of direct sun). Sometimes, the seeds are smoked or processed a bit before selling so those seeds won't work.

      Reply
    • Nagalakshmi V

      March 6, 2012 at 5:49 am

      A day sounds too long. I sowed them directly and made sure the soil is very moist first day or two. Also, don't sow them too deep. In fact, my mom just scatters them and gently throws some soil on top, barely covering the seeds.

      Reply
    • Smitha

      March 6, 2012 at 4:57 am

      Thank You Nags, I tried soaking them in water for a day . Did that today morn so am yet to know the results. Do you do that or directly sow the dried seeds into the soil?

      Reply
    • Smitha

      March 6, 2012 at 10:17 am

      Sounds good. I will try that approach , coz I live at Cochin and the climate is the same as Ktym. So it has to work for me too. Thanks a tonne !!!

      Reply
  20. Saee Koranne-Khandekar

    February 29, 2012 at 9:32 am

    Methi in sambar is quite uncommon, but I like your mum's rationale. And I am so glad you've asked readers not to add any other herbs–it makes me angry when people add curry leaves and coriander to greens that have their own flavor!

    Reply

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I am Nags, the face behind Edible Garden, a food and recipes website for the busy (and sometimes lazy!) cook since 2007. My recipes are meant to be quick yet healthy and delicious - Nothing fancy, nothing too difficult. Follow Me On Instagram for real-time food and life updates.

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