Sambar powder, also known as sambar podi, is a flavourful blend of spices that are roasted and ground to a fine powder. This aromatic spice mix is the base for preparing sambar, a traditional South Indian lentil-based gravy cooked with vegetables. While the core ingredients remain similar, there are countless variations across different regions and families, each adding its own unique touch.

A Cherished Family Recipe

The recipe I am sharing is very close to my heart. It is my grandmother’s recipe, lovingly passed down to my mother when she got married. My paati (grandmom) had handwritten her treasured recipes in a notebook, which my amma still preserves. Among those recipes, this sambar podi holds a special place. I grew up enjoying the rich aroma and authentic taste of this spice blend, and every time I make it, it reminds me of the traditional flavors from my childhood.

Ingredients

Special Touch in This Recipe

For this recipe, all the ingredients are dry roasted to bring out their aroma, but I use about 1 teaspoon of oil only while roasting the red chilies. This little tip not only enhances the roasting process but also prevents sneezing caused by chili fumes.

I prefer using a mix of two types of chilies:

  • Guntur Chilies – for spiciness and heat.

  • Byadgi (Bedigi) Chilies – for their vibrant red color and mild flavor.

This combination gives the perfect balance of color and spice to the sambar powder.

Storage and Freshness

Once ground, the sambar powder can be stored in an airtight container for up to six months. However, for the best taste and freshness, it’s always ideal to prepare the powder in small batches and use it within a few weeks. Freshly made sambar podi elevates the flavor of the dish, making your sambar more aromatic and delicious.

Sambar powder / Sambar podi_main pic

 

Some more Podi recipes to try from my blog

Veppampoo podi / Neem flower powder

Mangalore Rasam Podi

Garlic Paruppu podi

Vangibath powder

Bisi-bele-bath powder

Dosai milagai podi

Karuvepillai podi/Curry leaves powder

Rasam podi

Chutney powder

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Sambar powder / Sambar podi_pin
Sambar powder / Sambar podi_pin

Sambar powder / Homemade Sambar podi

Niranjana Sankaranarayanan
Sambar powder / Sambar podi is a blend of spices that are roasted evenly and ground to a fine powder. This powder is used to make a lentil based gravy with vegetables called sambar. There are so many versions of sambar powder / Sambar podi and each family has its own way of making it. The recipe that I am posting is my mom's mom's recipe. When my mom got married, my paati(grand mom) gave a hand written recipes by her to my mom. Amma still have it and there are so many traditional recipes in it.  Always I found it so flavourful and the sambar is so delicious with full of fresh flavours.
I have dry roasted all the ingredients, but used 1 teaspoon of oil to roast the red chillies. You can store this powder for about six months in an sir tight container. But if you are comfortable in making it frequently, then you get the fresh flavour. I have used the combination of Guntur and Bedigi Chilli. Guntur chilli gives the spiciness and Bedigi chilli gives the colour to the powder.
Some more Podi recipes to try from my blog
Veppampoo podi / Neem flower powder
Mangalore Rasam Podi
Garlic Paruppu podi
Vangibath powder
Bisi-bele-bath powder
Dosai milagai podi
Karuvepillai podi/Curry leaves powder
Rasam podi
Chutney powder
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Podi, Powder
Cuisine Indian, South Indian
Servings 500 gm

Equipment

  • Mixie

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup Coriander seeds
  • 1/3 cup Tur dal
  • 1/3 cup Channa dal
  • 1 tbsp Black peppercorn
  • 1 tbsp Cumin seeds
  • 2 tbsp Fenugreek
  • 2 cups Bedigi Chilli
  • 1 cup Guntur Chilli
  • 1 tsp Oil - 1 tsp
  • 1 tbsp Turmeric powder

Instructions
 

  • First weigh all the ingredients and keep aside.
  • Take a pan, add the coriander seeds and roast in medium flame until you get a nice aroma. Make sure the pan you use is devoid of moisture.
  • Once you start getting aroma, remove it from the pan and transfer it to a plate.
  • Then add the tur dal, saute until it turns light golden brown in colour. Then transfer it to a plate.
  • Following it, add channa dal, roast until it is golden brown in colour. Transfer it to a plate.
  • Add black peppercorn, roast it in low flame. While roasting it, slightly close it with a lid so that it will not splutter out.
  • Then add the cumin seeds, roast until you get aroma. This will get roasted fast, so make sure you remove it at the right time.
  • Now allow all the ingredients to cool down.
  • Finally add the red chilli, a tsp of oil and slightly heat it. If you are not comfortable roasting red chilli, you can wear a mask so that you wont start sneezing. Also using a tsp of oil will will help.
  • Now the ingredients are ready to grind.
  • Once the ingredients are cooled down, add the red chilli into a mixie jar and grind it to a powder.
  • Adding red chilli first will ensure that they are ground well.
  • Then add the other ingredients, turmeric powder and grind everything to a fine powder.
  • Sieve the ground powder to get a fine powder. And then grind the powder that remain on the sieve again.

Video

Keyword Homemade Sambar podi, Podi vagaigal, powder varieties, Sambar podi, Sambar powder

INSTRUCTIONS

  • First weigh all the ingredients and keep aside.
  • Take a pan, add the coriander seeds and roast in medium flame until you get a nice aroma. Make sure the pan you use is devoid of moisture.
  • Once you start getting aroma, remove it from the pan and transfer it to a plate.
  • Then add the tur dal, saute until it turns light golden brown in colour. Then transfer it to a plate.
  • Following it, add channa dal, roast until it is golden brown in colour. Transfer it to a plate.
  • Add black peppercorn, roast it in low flame. While roasting it, slightly close it with a lid so that it will not splutter out.
  • Then add the cumin seeds, roast until you get aroma. This will get roasted fast, so make sure you remove it at the right time.
  • Now allow all the ingredients to cool down.
  • Finally add the red chilli, a tsp of oil and slightly heat it. If you are not comfortable roasting red chilli, you can wear a mask so that you wont start sneezing. Also using a tsp of oil will will help.
  • Now the ingredients are ready to grind.
  • Once the ingredients are cooled down, add the red chilli into a mixie jar and grind it to a powder.
  • Adding red chilli first will ensure that they are ground well.
  • Then add the other ingredients, turmeric powder and grind everything to a fine powder.
  • Sieve the ground powder to get a fine powder. And then grind the powder that remain on the sieve again.
Sambar powder / Sambar podi_main

 

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15 Replies to “Sambar Podi”

  1. A traditional podi recipe that is handed down generation to generation, that’s really amazing. Undoubtedly, homemade spice blends are always the best. I don’t get guntur chillis so can I replace it with normal dry red chillis that we get here?

  2. Sambar podi is a must-have condiment in every Indian kitchen. Your powder looks very smooth and has good color as well. I also make this at home but never knew about Guntur chili and bedigi chili. It must be very aromatic and spicy. Will try to find these chilies next time when I make sambar powder. Great recipe.

  3. Home made spices are always best. This sambhar powder looks so flavorful and smooth. I always use packet sambhar powder now I am saving it.

  4. Home made sambar powder is so flavorful and fresh. Sambar with fresh masala is so aromatic. Recipes handed over from generations is always a keeper. Even i use two varieties of red chillies.

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