Sambar (dish)
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Sambar or sambhar is a South Indian dish, made of lentils and vegetables in a spicy tamarind base. Sambar is usually eaten with steamed rice. Several minor variants exist depending on the meal of the day, region, and the vegetable used. Sambar without significant vegetable content is called Saru in Karnataka. Saru without lentils is called hunise saru (tamarind saru), which becomes menasina saru (pepper saru) if pepper is added. Sambar without lentils (but with vegetables or fish) is called Kozhambu in Tamil Nadu. There are major and minor variants of kozhambu (mor kozhambu, vetha kozhambu, rasavangi etc). Note that there are minor but subtle differences in preparation between all the variants (for instance, whether the vegetables are added to the tamarind water or vice versa, which does make them taste different).
Sambar with rice is one of the main courses of both formal and everyday south Indian cuisine. It is also served with idly, dosa and vada. It is not uncommon to eat sambar rice with appalam (papad).