Sambar or sambhar (Kannada: ಸಾಂಬಾರà³â€, Tamil சாமà¯à®ªà®¾à®°à¯ (சாமà¯à®ªà®¾à®±à¯ in Sri Lanka),Telugu: సాంబారà±), pronounced "saambaar", is a dish common in southern India and Sri Lanka, made of lentils (usually red gram, also called toor dal in North India, and Thuvaram Paruppu in Tamil Nadu, South India) and vegetables in a spicy tamarind and lentil flour soup base. Sambar is usually poured over or alongside steamed rice. In the south of India, Vada sambar and Idli sambar are popular breakfast foods.