PEERKANKAI SAMBAR
Tamilnadu is famous for different kinds of sambar. Here is a simple sambar with ridged gourd. If you dont have any home made sambar powder, use MTR sambar powder which is available in Indian grocery store. Enjoy
Ingredients
Ridged gourd / Peerkanakai – 2 peeled and cut into small cubes
Onion – 1 medium
Tomato – 2 medium
Moong dal / Pasiparuppu – 3/4 cup
Sambar powder – 11/2 tsps
Turmeric powder – 1/2 tsp
Chilly powder – 1/2 tsp
Cumin – 1 tsp
Garlic pods – 4
Asafoetida a pinch
Tamarind paste – 1/4 tsp
A handful of chopped cilantro
Ghee / oil – 2 tbsps
Method
1. Heat ghee in a pressure cooker and fry the moong dal until a nice aroma comes out from the dal. (slightly brown in color). Add enough water , turmeric and asafoetida and pressure cook the dal.
2. Add little water to the ridgegourd pieces and cook seperately. Don’t over cook the vegetable.
3. Heat 2 tbsps of oil in a frying pan and pop mustard, cumin and add the sliced onion and garlic and fry until soft. Add the chopped tomato cook till the tomatoes are mashed well add the sambar powder, chilly powder fry for few more minutes.
4. Now combine everything together. To the cooked dal add the cooked vegetable and the prepared masala, tamarind juice and salt. (if you feel the sambar is too thick you can add water at this stage)
5. Finally garnish with cilantro. This sambar goes well with rice, dosai and chapathi.
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Note: Frying the moong dal in ghee before cooking gives you a better taste.

April 5, 2007 at 10:46 am
Hi jasu
that’s wonderful slide show..good presentation!!
thank you Swapna
-JJ
April 5, 2007 at 11:57 am
Love the slide show!:))
Sanbhar looks eat,got to give me the recipe for Sambhar pd too:))
Hi Asha, I am very sorry, really I dont know how to make sambar powder. My aunt made this powder for me.
I will ask her and give you the recipe when I get some time. Try MTR sambar powder it is so goood.
thanks
-JJ
April 6, 2007 at 8:52 am
Jasu,
Your sambar looks like hotel sambar. Beautiful presentation and loved your idea of having the slide show of all the pics in the bottom.
Hi Seema, try this sambar it is delicious.
Just came an idea to explain with pics.
thanks
-JJ
April 6, 2007 at 11:18 am
liked the slide show describing the recipe, so cute.
Moongdal sambar that too with ridgegourd is new.
thanks for the recipe
Thanks Richa you too like the slide. I hope this will give a better idea than steps.
Something diff, but a nice sambar.
thanks
-JJ
April 6, 2007 at 12:52 pm
Jasu, the sambhar looks delicious, does this sambhar taste good only with moong or can also be prepared with tur dal ?
Tommorows sambhar will be from one of ur sambhar recipes!! difficult to choose among this one, tomamto sambhar & drumstick sambhar all look equally delicious….
Hi Aruna, I never tried this with toor dal. So no idea about that. If you want to try something tomorrow my 1st choice is drumstick sambar and then tomato sambar. Happy cooking. Have a nice weekend.
thanks
-JJ
April 6, 2007 at 1:00 pm
Hi Jaspa, ridge gourd sambhar looks fantastic! I will try that when I get a nice looking ridge gourd. I agree with Aruna — all of your sambhar recipes sound delicious! Love the new slide show, too
Linda
Hi Linda, Sambar’s are my all time fav. Surely try this if you get this veggie.
One pic. is better than 1000 words. So I decided to add slides. Hope this helps many newbies
thanks
-JJ
April 6, 2007 at 8:34 pm
Sambhar looks great!. Nice presentation. Viji
Thanks Viji
-JJ
April 7, 2007 at 7:54 am
Hi Just for fun,
Good picture with nice sambhar recipe.
Enjoy your weekend.:))
Hi Kajal, Thank you so much and have a nice weekend to you too.
-JJ
April 8, 2007 at 4:19 am
Wow jasu that is a very nice way of presentation with slideshow.
Thanks Roopa, nice to know that u like this slide.
-JJ
April 8, 2007 at 9:13 pm
My mother makes a ridgegourd + moong dal combo …but its more a dal than sambar, will try your version next
and lovely slideshow…looks like something I could find on food TV Great job
Hi Priya, I too make this like kootu with moong dal , but this is sambar and it is good. try this version
thanks
-JJ
February 20, 2009 at 6:12 pm
Hi,
I prepared this sambhar ….it tastes delicious… Thanks for sharing your recipie
May 21, 2009 at 10:18 pm
Hi,
I wanted to try a different sambar and i had perkankai at home .goggled for a recipe and came here. tried your recipe and it turned out tasty.thank you
sema