Sambar

/ˈsɑːmbɑːr/ noun

Definition

A type of large Asian deer with antlers, found in India and Southeast Asia; also a spiced lentil soup popular in South Indian cuisine.

Etymology

For the deer: Sanskrit origin from 'sambara.' For the soup: From Tamil 'sambar,' which may derive from the same Sanskrit root or be named after the deer, though the soup's exact etymology is debated among food historians.

Kelly Says

Sambar deer can jump over 6 feet high and have become rare due to hunting, so when you order sambar soup at an Indian restaurant, you're eating something named after an endangered animal most people have never seen!

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