Pumpkin & Drumstick Sambhar
Sweet pumpkin and earthy drumstick make a particularly balanced sambhar because they respond well to tamarind and spice. The Udupi Sambhar potli provides the savoury roasted backbone while the pumpkin contributes natural sweetness, reducing the need for much added jaggery.
Servings
4
Prep Time
15 minutes
Cook Time
40 minutes
Total Time
55 minutes
✨ Zaika Potli Secret Technique
Add 1 Udupi Sambhar potli when the drumstick begins cooking. Remove after the dal has simmered with the vegetables.
Ingredients
Ingredients
- Toor dal — 1 cup / 200 g
- Turmeric — ¼ tsp
- Water — 3 cups
- Pumpkin — 250 g, cubed
- Drumstick — 1 large, cut into pieces
- Tomato — 1 medium, chopped
- Tamarind — 25 g
- Hot water — ½ cup
- Jaggery — ½ tsp
- Salt — 1¼ tsp
- Water — 1½ cups, as required
Zaika Potli
- Udupi Sambhar — 1 potli
For the Tempering
- Coconut oil — 2 tsp
- Mustard seeds — ½ tsp
- Curry leaves — 10
- Dry red chilli — 1
Cooking Instructions
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1Pressure-cook the dal with turmeric and water until soft. Mash well.
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2Soak tamarind in hot water for 15 minutes and extract the pulp.
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3Add drumstick, tomato, 1 cup water and the Udupi Sambhar potli to a saucepan.
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4Simmer for 6–7 minutes.
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5Add pumpkin and continue cooking until the vegetables are just tender.
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6Pour in the tamarind extract.
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7Add jaggery and salt and simmer for 5 minutes.
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8Add the mashed dal and enough hot water to reach the desired consistency.
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9Simmer for another 8–10 minutes.
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10Remove the potli.
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11Heat coconut oil, crackle mustard seeds, then add curry leaves and dry chilli.
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12Pour the tempering over the sambhar.
💡 Chef's Pro Tip
Add pumpkin later than drumstick. Pumpkin softens quickly and can dissolve into the sambhar if both are started at the same time.
🍽️ Perfect Serving Pairings
My Take On Pumpkin & Drumstick Sambhar
Sweet pumpkin and earthy drumstick make a particularly balanced sambhar because they respond well to tamarind and spice. The Udupi Sambhar potli provides the savoury roasted backbone while the pumpkin contributes natural sweetness, reducing the need for much added jaggery.
The Secret: Add pumpkin later than drumstick. Pumpkin softens quickly and can dissolve into the sambhar if both are started at the same time.