Slow-Cooker Sambar with Eggs and Lentils

Serves 6 · 15 min prep · 390 min cook

Ingredients

• 1½ cups toor dal (split pigeon peas) or red lentils
• 6 cups water or low-sodium vegetable broth
• 1 large yellow onion, diced
• 1 large tomato, chopped
• 1 carrot, diced
• 1 cup drumstick vegetable pieces or green beans, cut
• 3 tbsp sambar powder
• 1 tsp ground turmeric
• 1½ tsp kosher salt
• 2 tbsp tamarind paste
• 1 tsp jaggery or brown sugar
• 2 tbsp neutral oil or ghee
• 1 tsp mustard seeds
• 2 dried red chiles
• 10 curry leaves
• pinch asafoetida (hing), optional
• 6 large eggs
• ⅓ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
• 4 cups cooked basmati rice or idli, for serving

Instructions

1. 1Rinse the lentils until the water runs clearer. Add them to the slow cooker with water or broth, onion, tomato, carrot, drumstick or green beans, sambar powder, turmeric, and salt.
2. 2Stir well, cover, and cook on Low for 6 to 7 hours or on High for 3 to 3½ hours, until the lentils break down into a thick, pourable stew.
3. 3About 30 minutes before the end, dissolve tamarind paste in a splash of hot water and stir it into the pot along with the jaggery. Taste; the broth should be tangy, earthy, and lightly sweet.
4. 4In a small skillet, heat oil or ghee over medium-high until hot. Add mustard seeds and wait until they pop and sputter.
5. 5Add dried red chiles, curry leaves, and asafoetida if using; fry just until the leaves crisp and the oil smells fragrant, about 30 seconds. Pour this tempering straight into the slow cooker and stir.
6. 6Meanwhile, bring a saucepan of water to a gentle boil. Lower in the eggs and cook 7 minutes for jammy yolks or 9 to 10 minutes for firmer set. Transfer to an ice bath, peel, and halve.
7. 7Ladle the hot sambar into shallow bowls. Nestle egg halves on top so the yolks mingle with the lentil broth.
8. 8Scatter cilantro over each bowl. Serve with basmati rice or soft idli on the side for scooping.
9. 9Stir before each bite so the tempering oil and tamarind stay evenly distributed; leftovers thicken beautifully overnight.