How Did The Sambar Curry Get Its Name?
There is an interesting story regarding the origin of the popular south Indian dish. Although there is no evidence to prove whether the story is real or not, it is believed that the curry was first made in the royal kitchen of a Marathi king, Sambhaji. It can come as quite a shock to foodies who love south Indian food but do not have a clue that the south Indian dish has ties to the land and the people of Maharashtra.
Sambhaji was a Marathi ruler and the descendant of Shivaji. One day when his loyal cook was on leave, he decided to try his hand at cooking. He wanted to make his own dal. Since he had never entered a royal kitchen before and had never cooked dal before in his life, he made the mistake of adding tamarind to the dal.
His attendants and other cooks in the kitchen told him that he has committed the mistake of adding tamarind wrongly, but the king was adamant that he liked the taste of the dal as it was, and the dal soon came to be known as sambar. But, the dish was not popular yet because the first dal made by Sambhaji was a dal overloaded with tamarind. The dish was made famous by Thanjavur brahmins, who made the dish flavorful and savory, and as history goes, the dish became a staple in every South Indian households.
Benefits Of The Dish
The dal has a lot of health benefits for you. If you add eggs and meat to the dal, it can serve as a great source of protein. Apart from the animal protein, since the main ingredients in the dish are vegetables and pulses, you get a lot of vegetable protein. The dish is also high in fiber which is excellent for people who have heart conditions or have high cholesterol or gut problems. Apart from that, the dish keeps you full for a long amount of time. You do not have to eat snacks in between to keep yourself full. It is a great way to keep your weight in check.
How Is The Dal Made?
The dal is made of local vegetables and pulses. Since local vegetables are used to prepare the dish, the taste of the sambar dal may differ from state to state. For example, in Tamil Nadu, they add coconut, brinjal, drumsticks, radish, etc., and in Kerala, they add potatoes and carrots since they are widely grown there. The dish may also be served differently in different states. In some states, the dal is served before the rasam, and in other states, rasam is served first. But no matter which state you are in, the curry remains flavorful. You can also add eggs and meat in the dish and make your own sambar recipe.
