Indian Culture

Sambar

Sambar is a watery South Indian stew of lentils, tamarind and vegetables, seasoned with sambar powder.1,2 It is eaten with rice, idli and dosa.1,3,4

Also known as Sambhar

Sambar is a watery stew of lentils, tamarind and vegetables eaten all over southern India.1,2,5,6 It is seasoned with sambar powder, also called sambar podi or sambar masala.2,7 It contains red chilli, coriander, cumin, fenugreek, turmeric and black pepper, plus, unusually for a spice mix, a little dal.2,7,8 In the south, rice is the staple food and is eaten with sambar; sambar also goes with idli and dosa, often for breakfast.1,3,4 According to Britannica, each region of southern India cooks sambar differently.1

Why is it called sambar?

Tamil cāmpār comes from Marathi sāmbhār, a seasoning of pulses and spices dried and ground to powder, from Sanskrit saṃbhāra, materials. The story that a cook in Thanjavur invented it for the Maratha prince Sambhaji is a popular legend without documented proof; the dish's exact origin is unclear.8,9,10,11

What is sambar called in English?

Simply sambar or sambhar; dictionaries describe it as a spicy South Indian dish of lentils and vegetables. Britannica calls it a watery stew of lentil, tamarind and vegetables.1,5,6

Related products in our shop

All prices incl. VAT, plus €4.90 shipping, free for orders from €49.00.

View all products

Sources

  1. Pai Raikar, S. (2026). Indian cuisine. In Encyclopaedia Britannica.
  2. Davidson, A. (2014). sambar. In The Oxford Companion to Food. Oxford University Press.
  3. Britannica Editors. (2025). curry tree. In Encyclopaedia Britannica.
  4. Davidson, A. (2014). dosa. In The Oxford Companion to Food. Oxford University Press.
  5. Oxford University Press. (n.d.). sambar. In Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  6. Cambridge University Press. (n.d.). sambar. In Cambridge Dictionary. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  7. Indian Culture: MDH Sambhar Masala: ingredients on the pack.
  8. Molesworth, J. T. (1857). sāmbhāra. In A Dictionary, Marathi and English (p. 823, 847). Digital Dictionaries of South Asia, University of Chicago.
  9. University of Madras. (n.d.). cāmpār. In Tamil Lexicon (p. 1375). Digital Dictionaries of South Asia, University of Chicago. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  10. Shekar, A. (2021). How Thanjavur Maratha cuisine found favour in the south. The News Minute.
  11. Prakash, P. (2025). Did Maratha Ruler Sambhaji Invent The Sambar We Love Today? SheThePeople.

Cite this entry

MLA

“Sambar.” Indian Culture Glossary, Indian Culture, https://www.indian-culture.de/en/glossar/sambar.

Chicago

Indian Culture Glossary, s.v. “Sambar,” https://www.indian-culture.de/en/glossar/sambar.

APA

Indian Culture. (n.d.). Sambar. In Indian Culture glossary. https://www.indian-culture.de/en/glossar/sambar