Ingredients & Ayurvedic Properties
| Ingredient | Weight | Ayurvedic Profile |
|---|---|---|
 Toor dal | 180 g | Sweet, Astringent · Heating |
 Spinach, chopped | 300 g | Astringent, 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 chopped spinach 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)
Spinach 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 Spinach Sambar
| Nutrient | Per 100g | Per Serving (1 serving (509g)) |
|---|---|---|
| Energy (Calories) | 46 kcal | 234 kcal |
| Protein | 2.6 g | 13.0 g |
| Total Carbohydrates | 7.3 g | 37.3 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 2.0 g | 10.1 g |
| Total Sugars | 0.6 g | 2.9 g |
| Total Fat | 1.0 g | 5.3 g |
| Calcium | 35.1 mg | 179.0 mg |
| Iron | 1.15 mg | 5.86 mg |
| Magnesium | 32.5 mg | 165.8 mg |
| Phosphorus | 45.6 mg | 232.5 mg |
| Potassium | 234 mg | 1193 mg |
| Sodium | 112 mg | 571 mg |
| Zinc | 0.37 mg | 1.91 mg |
| Copper | 0.13 mg | 0.67 mg |
| Manganese | 0.33 mg | 1.69 mg |
| Selenium | 1.3 µg | 6.6 µg |
| Vitamin C | 4.9 mg | 25.2 mg |
| Vitamin A (RAE) | 77.2 µg | 393.6 µg |
| Vitamin E | 0.40 mg | 2.03 mg |
| Vitamin K | 72.7 µg | 370.5 µg |
| Thiamin (Vitamin B1) | 0.08 mg | 0.39 mg |
| Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) | 0.05 mg | 0.25 mg |
| Niacin (Vitamin B3) | 0.44 mg | 2.24 mg |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.06 mg | 0.31 mg |
| Folate (DFE) | 70.0 µg | 356.8 µg |
| Choline | 3.7 mg | 19.1 mg |
