🥣 Sambar

🍛 Description: A hearty, tamarind-based lentil stew with vegetables like drumstick, pumpkin, and carrots, sambar is tangy, slightly spicy, and rich in umami. It is made using toor dal (pigeon pea) and spiced with mustard seeds, curry leaves, and asafoetida.

Sambar is a daily staple in South Indian households and often paired with rice, dosa, idli, or vada. Every region has its own twist—some add coconut, others prefer it fiery.

📍 Origin: Tamil Nadu, with regional variants across the South

🥦 Common Veggies: Eggplant, okra, carrots, beans, pumpkin, drumsticks (moringa pods)

🍲 Nutritional Tip: Rich in plant protein, vitamin A, and antioxidants, it’s a wholesome dish for all seasons.

Cypriot Parallel: Sambar can be related to vegetable-based soupa like louvi or fasolada—though with bolder tamarind and curry leaf notes unfamiliar yet inviting.

👉 Spoon into South India’s soulful lentil stew!