Top 4 Sambar Powder Substitutes

Sambar powder is a staple ingredient in South Indian cuisine.

It’s also a great source of iron, calcium, protein, fiber and other nutrients.

Unfortunately, sambar powder is often high in sodium and saturated fat.

If you want to reduce the amount of salt or fat in your diet, you should consider using these alternatives.


Sambar powder has long been a favorite food item in India.

The dish consists of lentils cooked with tamarind juice, spices and vegetables.

It’s usually served with rice or bread.

Sambar powder is typically prepared from dried legumes such as black gram urad dal, red gram toor dal and Bengal gram chana dal.

These types of legumes contain less sodium and fat than regular white flour

What Is Sambar Powder and What Is It Made Of?

Sambar powder is a spice blend used in South Indian cuisine. It is usually prepared from roasted ground black pepper, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, fenugreek seeds, mustard seeds, dried red chilies, turmeric, ginger, garlic, salt, tamarind juice, and coconut milk. It is used as a seasoning agent in curries, soups, pickles, and other dishes.

Sambar Powder Substitutes

1 Garam Masala – This is a mixture of spices used in Indian cooking. It is available in different forms such as dry, powdered, and readymade. It is used in many recipes as a substitute for sambar powder.
2 Curry leaves – These are used in making curry sauces and gravies. They impart a unique flavor to the dish.

1. Rasam Powder

Rasam powder is a popular South Indian seasoning mix. It is usually served with dal lentils and rice. It is prepared from dried red chilies, coriander seeds, fenugreek seeds, cumin seeds, black pepper, tamarind juice, salt, and coconut milk.

2. Chaat Masala

Chaat masala is a spicy condiment used in many dishes such as chaats, kachoris, samosas, bhajis, and other snack items. It is a mixture of spices that includes chili powder, cayenne pepper, turmeric, ginger, garlic, green chillies, and vinegar.
3. Garlic Paste
Garlic paste is a common ingredient in Indian cuisine. It is prepared using raw garlic cloves and salt. It is added to curries, soups, and other dishes.

3. Madras Curry Powder

Madras curry powder is a blend of different spices that gives a unique flavor to Indian dishes. It is usually used in South Indian cuisines. It contains coriander seeds, fenugreek seeds, black mustard seeds, red chilies, dried mangoes, dry coconut, and nutmeg.
4. Cumin Seeds
Cumin seeds are used in Indian cuisine. They give a distinctive aroma to dishes. They are used in pickles, curries, and other dishes. They are also used in making garam masala.

4. Vindaloo Curry Powder

Vindaloo curry powder is a blend that is used in Indian cuisine. It is a mixture of many spices such as cumin, garlic, ginger, turmeric, chili pepper, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, bay leaves, and peppercorns.
5. Garam Masala
Garam masala is a spice mix used in Indian cuisine. Its main ingredients are cinnamon, clove, cumin, cardamom, nutmeg, black pepper, and bay leaf.

How To Make Homemade Sambar Powder

Sambar powder is a traditional South Indian dish made from lentils and vegetables cooked together in tamarind juice. This recipe uses red lentils and carrots.
1 cup Red Lentils washed
2 cups Carrots peeled and cut into 1/4 inch pieces

What is SambarSambar in Indian food?

Sambar is a spicy lentil dish from South India. It is usually served as a side dish but sometimes used as a main course. It is very popular in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

How to make sambar?

What is the difference between rasam powder and sambar powder?

Rasam powder is a spice mixture used in south indian cuisine. It is prepared using tamarind juice, spices such as coriander seeds, cumin seeds, fenugreek seeds, mustard seeds, red chillies, dried ginger, garlic cloves, curry leaves, turmeric, salt, asafetida and coconut. Sambar powder is another name for sambar masala. It is a blend of spices used in making sambar. Rasam powder is not the same as sambar powder.

What is a substitute for sambar masala?

Sambar masala is a blend of spices that is used in preparing sambar. It is very popular in South Indian cuisine. It is available in different forms like dry, wet and powdered form. It is usually added to curries and dals. It gives a unique flavor to the dish. It is also used as a seasoning in many other dishes like idli, dosa, vada, uttapam, omelet, saag paneer, kadai pakoda, bhajji, chutney, pickle, salad dressing, gravy, soup, stir fry, pasta sauce, pizza topping, breading, marinade, meat loaf, cake icing, ice cream, cookies, muffins, pancakes, waffles, biscuits, crackers, and even smoothie.

Is curry powder same as sambar powder?

Curry powder is a spice mix that contains various herbs and spices. Sambar powder is a spice mix containing tamarind paste, chili powder, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, fenugreek seeds, mustard seeds, turmeric, ginger, garlic, salt, black pepper, red chillies, green chillies, dried mangoes, coconut, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, mace, bay leaves, peppercorns, and asafoetida.
What is difference between sambar powder and sambar masala?
Answer: Sambar Masala is a blend of several spices which includes tamarind, chili powder, corriander seeds, cumin seed, fenugreek seed, mustard seed, turmeric, ginger root, garlic, salt, red chillies, black pepper, green chillies, coconut, cardamoms, cinnamon, cloves, mace, bay leaf, peppercorn, and asafoethida.

What can I substitute for sambar powder?

Yes, you can use Garam Masala instead of Sambar Powder. But if you are using Garam Masala, you need to reduce the quantity of salt used.

What is sambar powder made of?

Sambar powder is used in many Indian dishes such as idli, dosa, vada, rasam, chutney, kadai, and biryani. It is usually added to curries and other stews to give them a sour taste. Sambar powder is available in different flavors and colors. Red color sambar powder is very popular among people because of its red color. It is used in South India mostly.

How can I substitute sambar powder?

Sambar powder is a spice mixture used in South Indian cuisine. It consists of ground red chilies, turmeric, ginger, garlic, tamarind, coriander seeds, fenugreek leaves, dried mangoes, dry coconut, salt, and black pepper. Sambar powder is usually added to lentils, dal lentil soup, curries, and vegetable dishes.

Can I use garam masala instead of sambar powder?

Sambar powder is used in South Indian cuisine to give a sour taste to dishes. It is usually added to curries and lentils. Sambar powder is available in different forms such as dry, wet, and liquid form. Dry sambar powder is ground from dried red chilies and spices. Wet sambar powder is prepared by soaking red chilies in vinegar and spices. Liquid sambar powder is obtained by soaking red chilies and spices in tamarind juice.