Instant Bombay Sambar-Kadalai Maavu Sambar-Bombay Chutney Recipe

Bombay Sambar or besan sambar is a quick and instant sambar prepared with gram flour or besan. It is a very simple and tasty sambar and needs very less ingredients. All you need is just 15 minutes to make this sambar. It is a perfect side dish for idli , ven pongal and dosa.

If you are looking for more side dishes for idli and dosa, then do check our collection of side dishes for idli dosa.


Watch the full video of making Instant Bombay Sambar (Bombay chutney)

How to make Instant Bombay Sambar (Serves -2)

Ingredients needed 

Pearl Onions – 10
Tomato – 1
Green chilli – 2 finely chopped
Ginger – 1 inch piece
Garlic – 5 cloves
Gram flour (kadalai mavu, besan) -1 heaped tbsp
Jaggery – 3/4 tsp
Water – 1 1/2 -1 3/4 cup
Salt needed

Spice Powder 

Turmeric Powder – 1/4 tsp
Chilli Powder – 1 tsp

For the Seasoning 

Oil – 2 tbsp
Mustard seeds – 1 tsp
Urad dal – 1 tsp
Fenugreek seeds – 1/4 tsp
Cumin seeds – 1 tsp
Asafoetida/hing – a generous pinch
Red Chilli – 1
Curry leaves – a sprig

For Garnishing 

Finely chopped coriander leaves

Preparation for Bombay Sambar

1.Peel and finely chop onion, ginger and garlic. Finely chop chillies and tomato.

2.Mix gram flour or besan with little water first without lumps. Then add 1 1/2 cup of water and mix well. Keep this aside.

Method

3.Heat 2 tbsp of oil and add mustard seeds followed by urad dal, cumin seeds, fenugreek seeds, red chilli and hing.

4.When mustard seeds start spluttering, add finely chopped pearl onions (shallots), ginger , green chillies, garlic and curry leaves.

5.Saute until onions turn transparent.

6.Once it turns transparent, add the chopped tomatoes, turmeric powder, salt and chilli powder.


7.Cook until tomatoes turn mushy. If you feel the tomatoes are dry, you may add a tbsp of water.

8.Once the tomatoes are cooked well, add the gram flour mix.

9.Mix well. Once it starts boiling, reduce the heat and simmer for 4-5 minutes. Keep stirring in between.

10.Once done, garnish with finely chopped coriander leaves.

11.Serve bombay sambar piping hot with idli, dosa or pongal.

Note – The sambar should be watery. If it becomes too thick, add more water and simmer for few minutes.

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Recipe Card for Bombay Sambar

3.43 from 7 votes
Bombay Sambar- Instant Sambar for Idli Dosa
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
15 mins
 

Bombay Sambar or besan sambar is a quick and instant sambar prepared with gram flour or besan. It is a very simple and tasty sambar  and needs very less ingredients.It is a perfect side dish for idli and dosa.

Course: Side Dish, Side Dish for Idli
Cuisine: South Indian
Keyword: Bombay Sambar, Instant sambar for idli dosa
Servings: 2 persons
Ingredients
Ingredients needed for Bombay Sambar
  • 10 Pearl Onions /shallots (finely chopped)
  • 1 Tomato (finely chopped)
  • 2 Green chilli (finely chopped)
  • 1 inch Ginger
  • 5 Garlic cloves (finely chopped)
  • 1 tbsp Gram flour (kadalai mavu, besan) (heaped)
  • 3/4 tsp Jaggery
  • Salt needed
  • 1 1/2 cup Water
Spice Powder
  • 1/4 tsp Turmeric Powder
  • 1 tsp Chilli Powder
For the Seasoning
  • 2 tbsp Oil
  • 1 tsp Mustard seeds
  • 1 tsp Urad dal
  • 1 tsp Cumin seeds
  • 1/4 tsp Fenugreek seeds
  • 1 Red Chilli
  • 1 pinch Asafoetida (hing)
  • 1 sprig Curry leaves
For Garnishing
  • Coriander leaves (finely chopped)
Instructions
Preparations
  1. Mix gram flour or besan with little water first without lumps. Then add 1 1/2 cup of water and mix well. Keep this aside

  2. Finely chop ginger, green chillies, garlic, shallots and tomato.

Method
  1. Heat 2 tbsp of oil and add mustard seeds followed by urad dal, cumin seeds, fenugreek seeds, red chilli and hing.

  2. When mustard seeds start spluttering, add finely chopped pearl onions (shallots), ginger, green chillies, garlic and curry leaves.

  3. Saute until onions turn transparent.

  4. Once it turns transparent, add the chopped tomatoes, turmeric powder, salt and chilli powder.

  5. Cook until tomatoes turn mushy. If you feel the tomatoes are dry, you may add a tbsp of water.

  6. Once the tomatoes are cooked well, add the gram flour mix.

  7. Mix well and simmer for 4-5 minutes. Keep stirring in between.

  8. Once done, garnish with finely chopped coriander leaves.

  9. Serve bombay sambar piping hot with idli, dosa or pongal.

Recipe Notes

Note - The sambar should be watery. If it becomes too thick, add more water and simmer for few minutes.

You may adjust seasoning according to your taste.

Check more delicious Sambar Recipes.

View Comments (2)

  • Hi padhu, I keep going through your blog for simple and easy and quick recipes. Being a working woman, I should really thank you for sharing your experiences in cooking along with the recipes. Being a vegetarian, I used to think it's so difficult to try new recipes ya. But seeing your blog has changed my view point and I simply enjoy cooking and my family too loves all the recipes I try from your blog
    Regards,
    Kusuma