Hearty Sambar ·

Butternut Squash - Butter beans Sambar Stew

Name: Butternut squash - butter beans Sambar Stew
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 3
Ingredients: 3 medium-sized tomatoes; 3 cups of butternut squash (chopped to 1/2 inch cubes); 1 cup of raw/uncooked butternut beans / 2 cans of cooked butternut beans; 1-2 carrots (chopped as 1/2-inch cylinders); 1 large onion (diced); 0.5-1 can of coconut milk (13 oz/400ml) - vary use based on spice tolerance; 5 garlic pods; 1-2 tbsp oil/butter; 1 Hearty Sambar Spice Kit pouch (includes tamarind); 1-2 tbsp brown sugar / jaggery

This perfect Autumn vegetable stew is an incredible balance of sweet, sour, spicy, tangy!

Butternut squash - butter beans Sambar Stew

Servings

Prep Time

15 minutes

Cook Time

45 minutes

This butternut squash sambar is the perfect Autumn stew: a beautiful balance of sweet, tangy, spicy.

Author:

Alak Nanda

Image of Butternut squash - butter beans Sambar Stew

Ingredients

3 medium-sized tomatoes
3 cups of butternut squash (chopped to 1/2 inch cubes)
1 cup of raw/uncooked butternut beans / 2 cans of cooked butternut beans
1-2 carrots (chopped as 1/2-inch cylinders)
1 large onion (diced)
0.5-1 can of coconut milk (13 oz/400ml) - vary use based on spice tolerance
5 garlic pods
1-2 tbsp oil/butter
1 Hearty Sambar Spice Kit pouch (includes tamarind)
1-2 tbsp brown sugar / jaggery

Directions

If using raw/uncooked beans, soak butter beans in hot water from the kettle for 1/2 hour. Boil beans on slow boil for 1 hour or until beans are al dente (firm to the bite).

If using cooked canned beans, empty beans into a bowl and soak in hot water from the kettle for 1/2 hour to remove any preservatives.
Chop butternut squash into 1/2 sized cubes. Chop carrot in 1/2 inch sized cylinders. (goal to keep squash and carrots in similarly sized pieces, so they can cook evenly in the oven)
Bring chopped carrots and squash into a oven-tray or baking friendly pan. Add 2-3 garlic pods. Drizzle some olive oil onto this vegetable medley, season with ~1-2 tsp of salt. Toss/mix to ensure salt and olive oil coat all pieces.
Place tray (with squash, carrot, garlic) into oven, cook for 40 mins, 475 F / 240 C.
Dice tomatoes and onions into 1/4 inch pieces.
To a big soup pot, add 1 tbsp olive oil/cooking oil/butter. Add tomatoes. Cook until tender.
Add onions. Cook for 2 minutes. Add boiled al dente beans.
Add 1 pack of Hearty Sambar Spice Kit pouch. Mix to coat cooked tomatoes, onions and beans with spices
Add 3 cups of water to the soup pot. Add 1.5 tbsp brown sugar/jaggery. Bring to slow boil / cook for 5 minutes. (tip: beans and onions should be soft, retain shape/firm, fully cooked and ready to eat at this point).
Add oven-roasted veggies to the stew pot. Slow boil for another 2-3 minutes so spices are fully incorporated. Taste for salt. Add salt as needed (tip: veggies should also be firm/retain shape/not mushy, but fully cooked)
Slowly add coconut milk to the stew, starting with adding 1/2 can and increase up to 1 can based on spice tolerance.
Boil for another 2-3 minutes and stir thoroughly. Add water if needed to dilute the stew, add salt as needed.
Finely dice 2-3 pods of garlic.
Make a garlic tempering: To a small sauce pan, add 1 tbsp cooking oil/butter. Roast garlic in the oil, until garlic turns a golden brown. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
Pour this tempering on the stew!
Serving suggestions: Serve stew with a side of fresh baguette, or enjoy over rice. Top with a fried egg if you'd like. A fried piment doux seasoned with some salt also makes for a great addition! Bon Appetit!

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