We got some beautiful Spinach at the Farmer's Market this past Friday perfect for crisp Spring salads, but the weather had other plans. Chilly temperatures meant the need for a warm comforting dish instead, so Spinach Sambar it is! 

Sambar is a lentil & vegetable stew, thicker than Rasam, from Southern India. It is usually served with rice as a main course or it can be served as a side dish for dosa or idli. It's a great quick and comforting meal for a chilly day.

Here's my recipe:

Instant Pot Spinach Sambar 

By Cooking for Kishore

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup Toor Dal (Pigeon Peas)
• 2 cups Water
• 1 Tbsp Sambar Powder
• 1 bunch Fresh Spinach, chopped
• 1 Small Red Onion, chopped
• 2 Tomatoes, chopped
• 1 small bunch cilantro, chopped
• 1 Tbsp Garlic Ginger Paste
• 1 Tbsp Tamarind Paste
• 2 green chillies, chopped
• 1/2 tsp Turmeric Powder
• 1/2 tsp Asafoetida powder
• 1 tsp Mustard Seeds
• 1 tsp Cumin Seeds
• 1 Red Chili, dried
• A few Curry Leaves
• Salt to Taste
• 1 tsp Ghee, or Butter

Instructions

1. Set your Instant Pot to the Sauté setting. Add Ghee, mustard seeds, cumin seeds, red chili, and curry leaves.
2. When mustard seeds start to sputter, add the onions and sauté till soft. Then add garlic ginger paste and sauté till fragrant.
3. Add the Tomatoes, Spinach, Cilantro, green chillies, Sambar Powder, turmeric, asafoetida, dal, and water. Put the lid on and change the setting of your Instant Pot to Manual, High Pressure for 12 minutes. Make sure the pressure valve on the lid is set to Sealing.
4. After pressure cooking is done, allow the pot to vent slowly. Carefully remove lid, stir in tamarind paste, and salt to taste.
5. Garnish with cilantro and Enjoy!

Yield: Serves 4-6
Prep Time: 10 mins.

Cook time: 15 mins.
Total time: 30 mins.
Tags: instant pot spinach sambar recipe, spinach sambar recipe, instant pot sambar recipe, south indian sambar recipe, south indian recipe,