Sambar powder is an essential spice blend used in South Indian cuisine to prepare the popular dish, sambar. This flavorful blend is a combination of several spices that are roasted and ground together to create a unique taste and aroma. While sambar powder can be purchased ready-made, making it at home using fresh ingredients ensures its quality and taste.

To make sambar powder, you will need a mix of spices such as coriander seeds, cumin seeds, mustard seeds, fenugreek seeds, dried red chili peppers, turmeric, and asafoetida. These spices are first roasted in a pan until they turn golden brown and release their aroma. They are then cooled and ground to a fine powder using a spice grinder or mortar and pestle.

The flavor and aroma of sambar powder vary depending on the proportion of each spice used. Some people prefer their sambar powder to be more spicy, while others like it to be mild. By making it at home, you can customize the spice blend to suit your taste preferences.

Apart from using it in sambar, sambar powder can also be used in various other dishes such as rasam, kootu, and poriyal. It adds a unique flavor and aroma to these dishes and enhances their taste. Sambar powder is also known to have several health benefits. It is rich in antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties that help boost immunity and reduce inflammation in the body.

When buying sambar powder, it is important to choose a high-quality blend made using fresh ingredients. Look for brands that use organic and non-GMO ingredients to ensure that you are getting a healthy and safe product.