Bengaluru Darshini Hotel Style Sambar

Recipe for Bengaluru darshini hotel style sweet sambar. Karnataka restaurant style sambar with step by step pictures.

I think this might be the most debatable post I have ever written. While the sentiment on the TN vs KA sambar runs very high in my family as is the case with many Tamil people who have settled in Bangalore, I have a confession to make. My son so loves Bengaluru sweet sambar. He likes it more than the Tamil style sambar any day. There, I said it. Every weekend after his game practice, he would get his fix of darshini idli with sambar (idli sambar dippu) on his way back home. Now that we are in a lock down due to corona and its been more than a couple of months since his last sweet sambar outing, he has been asking me to make his favorite, the darshini style sweet sambar. While I had tried so many recipes before over the years, none had come to satisfy him. Then this happened. I have the habit of reading cookbooks on kindle for bedtime. One day, while casually browsing, I found this recipe on the book, Tiffin. The author, Rukmini Srinivas spent a good amount of time in Bengaluru and the recipe for the sambar was so different. It had cinnamon as an ingredient and it intrigued me as I knew that one ingredient that was so unique to Bengaluru sambar was the usage of cinnamon. Have you ever looked at the ingredients of Maiyas or MTR sambar powder? Cinnamon is their secret. The recipe also had tomato puree. The usage of tomato puree is not very traditional in Tamil style sambar. I immediately knew that I had to try it. I am so glad I did the sambar.  After a couple of tries, I have slightly changed the recipe a little and I should say that my son has given his final thumbs up. He says that this is the only sambar that I should be making at home from here on. Now, that is a huge ask since me and my husband have a lot to think about. I dont think we are there yet. Currently I am happy that he got his idli sambar fix. The secret of darshini sambar is the flavour of cinnamon and the lavish use of jaggery and sugar that makes this sambar very unique. Now if you know someone who craves Bengaluru darshini hotel style sambar, then go ahead and make it for them.
P.S: Dear Tamil people, please do not judge my son. Maybe someday he will appreciate the truly delicious Tamil style sambar. Till then, Bengaluru wins big time:)

இந்த சாம்பாரை பற்றி அவதூறு பேசினால் அவர்களுக்கு எல்லாம் கும்பி பாகம் தண்டனை இல்லை பழுக்க காய்ச்சின கம்பி பாகம் தண்டனை!!!

Here is how to make Bengaluru darshini hotel style sweet sambar.

Main Prep
Wash and soak half a cup of toor dal in 1.5 cups of water for 20 minutes. Pressure cook the dal with the water for 6 whistles. Remove from heat and wait for the pressure in the cooker to release naturally. Use the back of the tumbler to mash the dal. Set the dal aside to a bowl. Add in the drumsticks. Add one cup of water. Cook for 2-3 whistles. Remove from heat and wait for the pressure in the cooker to release naturally. Set aside. Dal and drumsticks are done.

Now we will make a masala paste for Bengaluru darshini hotel style sweet sambar.
Here is what you will need.

One ingredient that is very essential for making this sambar is the byadagi chillies. The Bengaluru sambar has a darker colour when compared to the tamil sambar and that is because of the usage of byadagi chillies. Karnataka Byadagi chillies gives the sambar a very nice colour and flavour. If you cannot get hold of Byadagi chillies, you may use kashmiri red chillies. Byadagi Chillies come from the Haveri district in Karnataka. The chilli is long and wrinkled and deeply red. Its not very hot but imparts a dark colour and aroma.

Heat peanut oil in a pan and add in the chana dal, coriander seeds and the cinnamon. When the dal is slightly brown, add in both the varieties of chillies. Saute for a few seconds. Remove the fried ingredients and set aside on a plate to cool. A Note on Cinnamon – We are using Indian cinnamon / cassia. Do not use a lot as it can be over powering and can spoil the taste of sambar. So a heads up on that

In the same pan, add in a teaspoon of oil. Add in the shallots (small onions) and the chopped tomatoes. Saute for a few minutes till the tomatoes are cooked and soft.

Now grind all the fried ingredients together in a mixie with half a cup of water to a smooth paste. Set aside.

Other Prep
Soak half a lime size tamarind in a cup of water for 20 minutes. Once the tamarind has been soaked, squeeze it between the fingers to release all the juices. Strain the juice and set aside. Discard the pith and seeds.

Grind quarter cup of fresh coconut with half a cup of water to a paste. Set aside. One can also use dessicated coconut if you dont have fresh coconut. But fresh coconut is a first choice.

Lets Sambar!!!!
Heat peanut oil in a pan and add in the sliced small onions (Indian shallots). Saute for 2-3 minutes till the onions are soft. Add in the tamarind extract.

Add in the salt, turmeric powder, sugar and jaggery. Don’t ask me why two kinds of sugar. While jaggery gives the earthy note, the sugar amps up the sweetness without overpowering.

Add in the ground masala paste. Wash the mixie with a cup of water and add it to the pan. Always wash the mixie and add it to the pan so you are not wasting any of the masala that is stuck in the mixie. It is an untold rule when you are cooking Indian food. Let the sambar simmer for 10 minutes. While simmering, if you feel that the consistency is too thick or the masalas are scorching at the bottom, feel free to add a little more water.

Add in the cooked dal, drumsticks and the ground coconut paste. Simmer for around 2-3 minutes. Switch off the flame.

Final tempering for the darshini style sweet sambar
Heat ghee in a small kadai. When the ghee is hot, add in the mustard seeds, slit green chillies, and curry leaves. Let the mustard seeds crackle. Add in a pinch of asafoetida. Add in the tempering to the sambar.

Project Bengaluru hotel / darshini style sweet sambar is successfully completed. Serve with idli. As they famously say here, do it “idli-dippu” style which means idlies dipped in a generous amount of sambar.