Instant Pot Pumpkin Sambar

Pumpkin Sambar is a South Indian lentil and pumpkin stew recipe made with yellow or red pumpkin, lentils, tamarind, and a unique blend spice blend together called sambar powder in an Instant pot pressure cooker.

It is also known as Sihi kumbalakayi Sambaru or huli in Karnataka and kaddu Sambhar in North India.

What is Sambar ?

Sambar is a South Indian lentil and vegetable stew made with lentils, tamarind, and a unique blend spice blend together called sambar powder.

Homemade Sambar Powder

Sambar powder is easily available on Amazon or any Indian grocery store. In case you can’t find sambar powder, here’s a quick recipe to make it at home.

Dry roast the following spices in a pan on medium-low heat until fragrant, around 3 to 4 minutes.

• 1 tablespoon coriander seeds (dhaniya)
• 1 tablespoon channa dal (skinned split bengal gram)
• ½ teaspoon cumin(jeera) seeds
• 1 teaspoon urad dal (skinned split black gram)
• 4-5 dried red chilies (or more to taste)
• ½ teaspoon methi seeds (fenugreek seeds)

Let it cool completely and then grind to a fine powder. Store in an airtight container and use as needed.

How to make Pumpkin Sambar in Instant Pot

Peel the pumpkin skin, de-seed and dice into 1 inch pieces.

Rinse and soak the toor dal (lentils) in water for at least 30 minutes to fasten the cooking process as pumpkins cook faster than lentils.

Press SAUTE on Instant Pot. Add oil and once it's hot add mustard seeds, cumin, curry leaves, and asafetida, let it splutter.

Then add diced pumpkin, rinsed and soaked toor dal(lentils), sambar powder, turmeric powder, red chilli powder, tamarind extract, salt, coconut paste and water. Mix well.

Close the lid on the pot. Set the pot to MANUAL/PRESSURE COOK (High Pressure) and set the timer to 8 minutes

Once the Pot beeps, Do a NATURAL PRESSURE RELEASE.

Remove lid away from you, garnish with Cilantro.

Mix well and adjust consistency and spice level. Increase accordingly.

Serve sweet pumpkin sambar with Hot Steamed Rice.

Serving Suggestions for Pumpkin Sambar

Pumpkin Sambar is served traditionally with Steamed Rice. But can be eaten with quinoa, brown rice! or even eaten as a lentil soup.

Tips & Variations

• Blend ¼ cup fresh/frozen coconut with little water to make smooth coconut paste.
• To make tamarind paste, soak lemon-sized tamarind in hot water, squeeze and extract the juice.
• Sambar Powder is easily available in Indian grocery stores or Amazon (http://amzn.to/2G0Eeck).
• You can also add vegetables like carrot, drumstick, eggplant, etc.

More Instant Pot Lentil Recipes

• Dal Tadka – Dal prepared with split pigeon peas lentils, assorted spices
• Chana Dal Fry – Dal prepared with split chickpeas lentils, assorted spices
• Green Lentil Soup – lentil soup made with green lentils, carrots, celery, red bell pepper, and Indian spices
• Whole green moong dal– Dal cooked with whole mung beans
• Spinach Dal / Palak Dal – Dhal cooked with spinach leaves
• Panchmel dal – dal prepared with five varieties of lentils
• Red Lentils/Masoor dal – dal prepared with red lentils

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