Ingredients & Ayurvedic Properties
| Ingredient | Weight | Ayurvedic Profile |
|---|---|---|
 Toor dal | 180 g | Sweet, Astringent · Heating |
 Bottle gourd, diced | 360 g | Sweet · Cooling |
 Tomato, chopped | 100 g | Sour, Sweet · Heating |
 Tamarind pulp | 20 g | Sour, Sweet · Heating |
 Coriander seeds | 7 g | Astringent, Bitter, Sweet · Cooling |
 Cumin seeds | 3 g | Pungent, Bitter · Heating |
 Fenugreek seeds | 1.5 g | Bitter, Pungent · Heating |
 Turmeric | 2 g | Bitter, Pungent, Astringent · Heating |
 Mustard seeds | 3 g | Pungent · Heating |
 Curry leaves | 3 g | Bitter, Pungent · Heating |
 Ghee | 14 g | Sweet · Cooling |
 Rock salt | 5 g | Salty · Cooling |
| Water | 1400 g | Whole culinary ingredient |
Step-by-Step Preparation
- Rinse and soak the toor dal for 25 minutes, then simmer it with turmeric until collapsing-soft.
- Toast the coriander, cumin, and fenugreek gently; cool and grind them to a coarse sambar spice.
- Cook the diced bottle gourd and chopped tomato in the tamarind water until just tender.
- Whisk the dal, combine it with the vegetables and ground spice, add salt, and simmer for eight minutes.
- Warm the ghee, pop the mustard seeds, and crisp the curry leaves; fold this tempering through and serve while the vegetables still hold their shape.
Dosha Modifications & Seasonal Guidance
Vaidya Culinary Note (South Indian sambar tradition)
Bottle Gourd Sambar combines soft toor dal, vegetables, tamarind, and a freshly toasted spice blend. Vata: serve with soft rice and a little more ghee. Pitta: use less tamarind and fenugreek. Kapha: favor a vegetable-heavy bowl and reduce ghee.
USDA Nutrition Facts for Bottle Gourd Sambar
| Nutrient | Per 100g | Per Serving (1 serving (524g)) |
|---|---|---|
| Energy (Calories) | 44 kcal | 229 kcal |
| Protein | 2.2 g | 11.4 g |
| Total Carbohydrates | 7.2 g | 37.6 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 1.7 g | 8.9 g |
| Total Sugars | 0.5 g | 2.6 g |
| Total Fat | 1.0 g | 5.0 g |
| Calcium | 24.4 mg | 128.1 mg |
| Iron | 0.76 mg | 4.00 mg |
| Magnesium | 22.2 mg | 116.5 mg |
| Phosphorus | 39.5 mg | 207.5 mg |
| Potassium | 173 mg | 910 mg |
| Sodium | 98 mg | 513 mg |
| Zinc | 0.41 mg | 2.14 mg |
| Copper | 0.11 mg | 0.59 mg |
| Manganese | 0.21 mg | 1.08 mg |
| Selenium | 1.2 µg | 6.0 µg |
| Vitamin C | 2.5 mg | 13.2 mg |
| Vitamin A (RAE) | 8.0 µg | 41.8 µg |
| Vitamin E | 0.07 mg | 0.37 mg |
| Vitamin K | 1.6 µg | 8.3 µg |
| Thiamin (Vitamin B1) | 0.07 mg | 0.36 mg |
| Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) | 0.02 mg | 0.13 mg |
| Niacin (Vitamin B3) | 0.38 mg | 1.99 mg |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.04 mg | 0.20 mg |
| Folate (DFE) | 41.3 µg | 216.7 µg |
| Choline | 0.9 mg | 4.6 mg |
