🍲 Simple Sambar Rice (Easy One-Pot – No Vegetables)

🌼 Introduction

This Simple Sambar Rice is a comforting and easy one-pot South Indian meal made with rice, toor dal, and simple spices. With no vegetables and no sambar powder, this recipe is perfect for busy days when you want something soft, mildly spicy, and satisfying. It has a slightly watery consistency and tastes best with a spoon of ghee on top.

Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Serves: 4 people

Ingredients

• 1 cup rice

• ½ cup toor dal

• ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder

• 1½ tablespoons chilli powder

• 1 small onion (chopped)

• 1–2 tomatoes (chopped)

• Salt according to your taste

• 4 to 4½ cups water

For Seasoning:

• 1½ tablespoons oil or ghee

• ½ teaspoon mustard seeds

• ½ teaspoon urad dal

• ½ teaspoon Bengal gram dal (chana dal)

• 2 teaspoons garam masala

• 1 dried red chilli

• 1 sprig curry leaves

• A pinch of asafoetida (hing)

• 1 teaspoon ghee (optional, at the end)

Method

1. In a pressure cooker, add rice, toor dal, turmeric powder, chilli powder, chopped onion, chopped tomatoes, salt, and water.

2. Mix everything well.

3. Close the lid and pressure cook for 3 whistles.

4. Switch off the flame and allow the pressure to release completely.

5. Once cooled, open the lid and gently mix. The consistency should be slightly watery. If needed, add a little hot water and adjust.

Seasoning:

6. Heat oil or ghee in a small pan.

7. Add mustard seeds and let them splutter.

8. Add urad dal and Bengal gram dal. Fry until golden.

9. Add dried red chilli, curry leaves, and hing.

10. Add garam masala and sauté briefly on low flame.

11. Pour this seasoning over the cooked rice and mix well.

12. Finally, add 1 teaspoon ghee on top and mix gently.

🍽 How to Serve

• Serve hot with papad or pickle.

• Tastes delicious with extra ghee.

• Best enjoyed fresh and soft.