Chhava aka Sambhaji's influence on Sambar dal

Chhava aka Sambhaji’s Influence Behind Naming Sambar Dal

02/24/2025 Oishee Chattejee

From Battlefields to Bowls

Image of Vicky Kaushal as Chhava aka Sambhaji Maharaj sitting on his throne — Image credit: Business Today https://goto.now/FLHXE

It was last week only, when I went to watch the movie Chhava. It is a bollywood movie based on the life of the great Indian emperor and warrior Sambhaji Maharaj.

Table of Contents

There’s already a lot of talks going on about the movie right now.
But this post is not about the movie.

There’s something very interesting related to the name of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, aka Chhava. That is, a very famous south Indian dish is named after him.

Are you still guessing what it is?
Okay, it is the very famous tangy dal called Sambar dal.

Chhava’s Foodie Legacy

Back in the day, Chhava visited Tanjore (now known as Thanjavur) in South India.

The locals, wanted to impress him, so they made a special lentil stew with veggies, tamarind, and spices.

He loved it so much, that he took the recipe home.
Over the period of time, it got the name Sambhaji Aahar– which later became Sambar

. So cool, isn’t it?

Why Sambar Rocks

In today’s date, sambar is an absolute superstar among dishes. It is perfect to have with idli, dosa, or even rice.
It is healthy and is packed with so many flavors.

Now that you know the history of this recipe, remember from the next time you eat it, you are tasting a dish fit for the taste of a king.
Chhava might have been known to be a lion on the battlefield, but his legacy still lives on in this humble stew.

Chhava’s Recipe Vibes

You wana try to make sambar?

All you got to do is, cook toor dal, add some veggies, tamarind and add maybe some sambar powder to make it taste more authentic.

You can finish with some mustard seeds, curry leaves, and chilies.
And Boom! That’s how the royalty in a bowl is ready to be served.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you buy Valeria through the link, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting the blog