Udupi Style Ivy Gourd & Brinjal Sambar – Authentic South Indian Sambar Recipe

Udupi Style Thondekayi and Badnekayi Sambar Recipe – A Delightful Ivy Gourd & Brinjal Sambar

This Udupi-style Sambar, featuring a harmonious blend of ivy gourd (Thondekayi) and brinjal (Badnekayi), is a traditional dish from the coastal region of Karnataka. Rich in flavors, with the perfect balance of tanginess, sweetness, and spice, this vegetable-packed dish is a quintessential part of any South Indian meal. It pairs wonderfully with steamed rice, a side of cabbage palya, and a dollop of ghee, making it a wholesome and satisfying choice for a vegetarian lunch or dinner.

Ingredients

Preparation Time

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Total Time: 40 minutes

Servings

• Servings: 4

Cuisine

• Cuisine: Udupi, South Indian

Course

• Course: Lunch / Dinner

Diet

• Diet: Vegetarian

Instructions

1. Prepare the Dal
   Begin by rinsing the toor dal thoroughly. In a pressure cooker, add the rinsed dal along with 2 cups of water, ensuring that the dal is fully immersed. Add salt and turmeric powder to the dal. Close the lid of the cooker and cook for 4 whistles. Once done, let the pressure release naturally before setting the cooked dal aside.

   Related Articles

   • 
     Chyawanprash Spice Delight Cookies: Wholesome Wellness Bites
   • 
     Vegetable Rice Upma: A Hearty South Indian Breakfast Recipe
   • 
     Spicy Tomato Garlic Uttapam Recipe – Easy South Indian Breakfast
   • 
     Spicy Smoked Chicken (Dum Murgh Aatishi) – Flavorful North Indian Delight

2. Cook the Vegetables
   While the dal is cooking, take a saucepan and add 2 cups of water. Add the chopped Tindora (ivy gourd), Brinjal (eggplant), and Carrot along with a pinch of salt and turmeric powder. Boil the vegetables for 25 minutes or until they are tender and fully cooked. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking to the bottom.

3. Prepare the Sambar
   Once the vegetables are cooked, add the cooked toor dal to the saucepan with the vegetables. To this mixture, add Udupi sambar powder, tamarind water, and jaggery. Stir the mixture thoroughly to combine the flavors. Taste and adjust the salt if necessary. Allow the sambar to simmer on medium heat for an additional 5 minutes. Once it reaches a flavorful consistency, remove it from the stove.

4. Tempering the Sambar
   Now, it’s time to temper the sambar to enhance its flavor. In a separate tadka (tempering) pan, heat a little sunflower oil. Add the mustard seeds and urad dal. Allow them to splutter and turn golden. Then, add the dry red chillies and curry leaves. Sauté for about 10 seconds to release their fragrance. Carefully pour this tempering over the simmered sambar and stir it in. The tempering adds an irresistible aroma and extra depth to the dish.

5. Serving
   Your Udupi-style Thondekayi and Badnekayi Sambar is now ready to be served. Ladle the sambar into serving bowls and pair it with freshly steamed rice, a side of Cabbage Palya (spicy cabbage stir-fry), and a dollop of ghee for an authentic and satisfying meal.

Tips for the Perfect Udupi Sambar

• Vegetables: You can adjust the vegetables in this sambar based on what you have at home. While ivy gourd and brinjal are the main ingredients, you can also add other vegetables like drumstick, pumpkin, or potato for variation.
• Spices: Udupi sambar powder is key to this recipe, but if you don’t have it, you can use a mix of coriander powder, cumin powder, and a pinch of asafoetida.
• Tamarind: Ensure that your tamarind water is of good quality to bring the right level of tanginess. You can adjust the quantity of tamarind water to suit your taste.
• Jaggery: Adding jaggery helps balance the flavors by offsetting the tanginess of tamarind and the heat from the spices. Feel free to adjust the amount to your liking.

Nutritional Information (Per Serving)

This Udupi-style Thondekayi and Badnekayi Sambar is a flavorful, wholesome dish that brings the best of South Indian cuisine to your table. The medley of vegetables and spices will make it a favorite among vegetarians and anyone who appreciates authentic Indian flavors. Try it for your next family meal and enjoy the delightful taste of Udupi!