Instant Pot Vegetable Sambar (South Indian Lentils)

Name: Instant Pot Vegetable Sambar (South Indian Lentils)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: Asian, Indian
Ingredients: 1/2 cup Split Pigeon Pea (Toor dal) (washed); 1 tablespoon Oil; 1/2 Onion (medium size, about 3/4 cup, sliced); 2 Tomato (medium size, chopped about 1 cup); 1-2 tablespoon Sambar masala; 1 teaspoon Salt; 1 tablespoon Tamarind (Imli) (paste); 4 cup Water; Cilantro leaves (finely chopped, to garnish); 1/2 teaspoon Mustard Seeds (Rai); 12 leaves Curry Leaves (Kadi Patta); 1 pinch Asafoetida (Hing) (optional, skip for gluten-free); 1 cup Pumpkin (about 120 grams, cut in medium sized pieces); 1 Carrot (cut into small pieces); 2-3 Baby Eggplant (cut into 4 pieces each); 8 pieces Drumsticks (Beans) (2-inch pieces*, use fresh or frozen)

Instructions

Prep:5minCook:25min

This Instant Pot Sambar is my go-to homestyle version — easy, comforting, and made all in one pot. It’s how I grew up eating sambar, and it’s the version my kids love the most. Perfect for busy days when you want something nourishing without extra effort.

Updated at: Tue, 27 Jan 2026 00:13:20 GMT