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Idli sambar recipe | How to make idli sambar (Tiffin sambar recipe)

By swasthi , on November 25, 2019, 49 Comments, Jump to Recipe

Idli sambar recipe made with dal, quick cook veggies, spices and herbs. This is my version of the quick tiffin sambar that goes good with most South Indian breakfasts. You can serve this flavorful & delicious tiffin sambar with Soft idli, Instant Rava idli, medu vada, khara pongal, Crispy dosa, masala dosa and most other tiffins.

idli sambar

On most weekdays, we eat the typical South Indian breakfast like idli, dosa and pesarattu since they are high in protein and healthy as well.

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Sometimes I make mini idli for dinner when the kids ask for it. This sambar along with the mini idli and ghee is one of my kids’ favorites.

There are few different ways a sambhar is made, one of them is this South Indian sambar which I shared earlier.

But today’s recipe is made in a very simple method using quick cooking veggies like shallots, carrots and beans. Hence it doesn’t take much time to prepare and can be made even in the early morning.

I am also sharing how to make instant sambar powder just enough for this recipe. I always make this tiffin sambar with homemade powder. If you are new to making Indian food, then do check out the tips below.

idli sambar tiffin sambar

Preparation idli sambar recipe

1. Add ¾ cup dal to a pressure cooker and rinse it very well a few times. I use ½ cup toor dal and ¼ moong dal as moong dal gives a nice texture. Hotels use masoor dal instead of moong dal. Then pour 2 cups water and pressure cook for 2 to 3 whistles until soft. You can also add a piece of red pumpkin to the dal.

cooking dal in pressure cooler

2. When the pressure releases naturally, open the lid and mash it well to very smooth texture. If using red pumpkin, mash that as well to smooth. That lends a unique sweet flavor that we often find in South Indian Hotels.

mashed dal in cooker

Making spice powder

3. While the dal cooks, make the sambar powder if you don’t have. On a medium to low flame, dry roast the following until light golden.

  • 3 to 4 dried red chilies
  • 1 tablespoon chana dal
  • ½ tablespoon urad dal
roasting dal for idli sambar recipe

4. When the dal turns light golden add 1 tablespoon coriander seeds. Dry roast until they begin to smell good. Remove to a plate. Then add ¼ teaspoon methi seeds. Roast until the methi seeds turn slightly dark. Then add ½ teaspoon cumin seeds. If using coconut you can add it now and saute for a minute. This time I did not have so i skipped it. Cool this and make a fine powder.

roasting coriander seeds for sambar powder
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5. Soak 2 tablespoons tamarind in hot water. You can also use tamarind paste as needed.

tamarind paste for tiffin sambar recipe

How to make idli sambar

6. Heat 1 tablespoon ghee or oil in a pot. Add ¾ teaspoon cumin seeds, ¾ teaspoon mustard seeds and 1 pinch of methi seeds. When the seeds begin to splutter, add 1 sprig curry leaves and 1 broken red chilies. Saute until the red chilies turn crisp. Add 1 pinch hing. I set aside half of this tempering to add at the end.

tadka for making idli sambar recipe

7. Add 12 to 15 shallots (or 1 medium diced onion), 1 medium sized carrot diced and 6 to 8 french beans (chopped to ¾ inch).

sauteing veggies in idli sambar recipe
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8. Saute all of them for 3 minutes.

carrots shallots in south Indian tiffin idli sambar

9. Add 1 large chopped or mashed ripe tomato, 1/8 teaspoon turmeric and ¾ teaspoon salt.

addition of mashed tomatoes in idli sambar recipe

10. On a slightly high heat, saute until the tomatoes turn mushy. Since they are fine chopped they get cooked fast.

Saute

11. Add sambar powder, saute for a minute without burning. this brings out the aroma of sambar powder.

Add sambar powder

12. Pour 4 to 4½ cups water and add a bit of jaggery. It is optional to use jaggery. Adjust the quantity of water as needed. Since I use moong dal I add more water. With only toor dal or masoor dal, you will need less water.

addition of water jaggery for tiffin sambar recipe
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13. Cook until the veggies are soft cooked. Filter tamarind to the pot. If you do not like the flavor of tamarind, you can boil the sambar for a while before adding the dal.

cooked veggies

14. Add mashed dal to the pot. Dal must be mashed completely. Mix and allow to bubble. Taste test and add more salt, tamarind & jaggery as needed.

addition of dal

15. Add chopped coriander leaves. Optionally you can make a fresh tempering the same way I showed in step 6. I added the tempering that was set aside. When the sambar begin to bubble, switch off the stove.

bubbling tiffin sambar
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I usually make mini idli or the regular idli to go with this sambar. But this also goes well with other breakfasts like pongal, dosa, uthappam , vada .

idli sambar recipe

You may want to check this detailed recipe of soft idli.

mini idli sambar

Place the idlis in a deep serving bowl or plate. Add ghee and then pour the sambhar. Serve hot.

idli sambar tiffin sambar

Tips to make idli sambar

  • The taste and aroma of a sambhar depends on the powder used. So if you like to use a ready powder, use one that has a good aroma. You can also make the powder from this sambar powder recipe.
  • To make tiffin sambar avoid using veggies like brinjal, and bhindi as they lend a different flavor that doesn’t go well with idli or any breakfasts.
  • Most hotels use pumpkin to make tiffin sambar as it lends a unique sweet flavor & thickens the sambar. If you have golden pumpkin just go ahead and add few cubes along with the dal to pressure cook. Mash them up very well along with dal.
  • Most tiffin centers use a mix of tuvar and masoor dal to make idli sambar. I prefer to use toor dal and moong dal. You can experiment with these 3 kinds of lentils.
  • I make the sambar powder the previous night as it saves some time in the morning.
  • This idli sambar can be prepared just under 35 mins including cooking dal, making sambar powder and making the sambar. If you add veggies like drumsticks it will take longer.

More similar recipes
Drumstick sambar
Andhra pappu chaaru

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idli sambar

Idli sambar recipe | How to make idli sambar | Tiffin sambar

Make delicious and easy Idli sambar at home. This is a delicious stew made with lentils, spice powder, quick cook veggies & herbs. Serve it with idli, dosa or vada. This Idli sambar tastes delicious & is super aromatic!
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For best results follow the step-by-step photos above the recipe card

Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Servings5 to 6 people
AuthorSwasthi

Ingredients (1 cup = 240ml )

  • ¾ cup dal (lentils) (refer notes)
  • 2 cups water to cook dal
  • 2 tablespoon tamarind (use as needed)
  • Salt as needed
  • 12 to 15 shallots or 1 medium onion diced
  • 6 to 8 french beans (green beans)
  • 1 medium carrot diced
  • ½ cup pumpkin cubed (optional)
  • 1 large tomato chopped or mashed
  • ⅛ teaspoon turmeric
  • 2 tablespoons coriander leaves with stalks (chopped finely)
  • 4½ cups water (adjust depending on quality of dal)

Tempering

  • 1 tablespoon oil or ghee (adjust to taste)
  • 2 sprigs curry leaves
  • 1 dried red chili broken
  • ¾ teaspoon cumin seeds
  • ¾ teaspoon mustard seeds
  • 1 pinch methi seeds (fenugreek seeds)
  • 1 pinch hing (asafoetida)

for idli sambar powder (or use 1 to 1½ tbsps store bought)

  • ½ tablespoon urad dal (skinned black gram)
  • 1 tablespoon chana dal (bengal gram)
  • 3 dried red chilies (adjust to taste)
  • 1 tablespoon coriander seeds
  • ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
  • ¼ teaspoon methi seeds (fenugreek seeds)
  • 2 tablespoon coconut grated fresh (optional)
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Instructions

Preparation for idli sambar

  • Rinse and pressure cook dal with 2 cups of water for 2 whistles or until soft.
  • Or alternately cook in a pot until soft. If using a Instant pot, pressure cook on high pressure for 10 mins & wait for natural pressure release.
  • Mash it and set aside. If you like the hotel style tiffin sambar, you can also add pumpkin to the dal for cooking. 
  • Mash everything together and set aside.
  • Soak tamarind in little hot water, squeeze and extract the pulp. Keep this aside.

making tiffin sambar powder

  • In a pan, dry roast red chilies, chana dal and urad dal on a medium flame until lightly golden. 
  • Next add coriander seeds and roast all of them until a nice smell comes. 
  • When the dals turn deep golden remove to a plate.
  • Next in the same pan saute methi seeds until slightly dark then add cumin. 
  • When the cumin turns aromatic remove to a plate. Cool these completely and make a fine powder.

How to make idli sambar

  • Add oil to a pot and heat up. Throw in the cumin, mustard and methi. 
  • When they pop, add red chilies, curry leaves and hing.
  • When the leaves turn crisp, set aside half the tempering if you wish to add at the end.
  • Add veggies and saute for 2 to 3 minutes. Add tomatoes and saute until soft.
  • Sprinkle sambhar powder and saute for a minute without burning. 
  • Pour water and cook until the vegetables are soft cooked.
  • Next pour filtered tamarind and then the mashed dal. Stir and bring the idli sambar to a boil.
  • Taste test and add more tamarind or salt as needed. Add the rest of the tempering and coriander leaves. 
  • When it begins to bubble. Switch off. You can also make a fresh tempering but I don’t do.
  • Serve idli sambar hot with soft idli, dosa, uthappam, pongal & vada.
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Notes

Recipe notes for idli sambar
You can make this recipe using toor dal alone or ½ cup toor dal ,¼ cup moong dal. Hotel style sambar is made using masoor dal. You can use whatever you like.

Alternative quantities provided in the recipe card are for 1x only, original recipe.

For best results follow my detailed step-by-step photo instructions and tips above the recipe card.

NUTRITION INFO (estimation only)

Nutrition Facts
Idli sambar recipe | How to make idli sambar | Tiffin sambar
Amount Per Serving
Calories 458 Calories from Fat 18
% Daily Value*
Fat 2g3%
Sodium 1219mg53%
Potassium 1697mg48%
Carbohydrates 87g29%
Fiber 32g133%
Sugar 19g21%
Protein 27g54%
Vitamin A 3635IU73%
Vitamin C 190mg230%
Calcium 144mg14%
Iron 10.5mg58%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Mention @SwasthisRecipes or tag #swasthisrecipes!

© Swasthi’s Recipes

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About swasthi

I’m Swasthi shreekanth, the recipe developer, food photographer & food writer behind Swasthis recipes. My aim is to help you cook great Indian food with my time-tested recipes. After 2 decades of experience in practical Indian cooking I started this blog to help people cook better & more often at home. Whether you are a novice or an experienced cook I am sure Swasthi’s Recipes will assist you to enhance your cooking skills.
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Comments

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  2. Lakshmi Bhat says

    January 15, 2021

    5 stars
    All recipes and their measurements are perfect. I love your recipes very much.

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      January 16, 2021

      Thanks Lakshmi
      🙂

      Reply
  3. Vinod raji says

    July 25, 2020

    5 stars
    We had tried the above recipe with masala dosa.. super and excellent recipe I had ever in my life….thanks you….

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      July 26, 2020

      Welcome! Glad to know it turned out good.
      Thank you

      Reply
  4. Srilakshmi says

    June 8, 2020

    5 stars
    Such a lovely recipe! I did tweak the number of dry red chillies used in the sambhar powder since I love my food on the spicier side. But the sambhar was overall so tasty and comforting! Thank you for the detailed explanation!

    Reply
  5. Amitha Arvind says

    May 29, 2019

    5 stars
    Very tasty. It’s better than hotel Sambar. Yummy

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      May 30, 2019

      Hi Amitha,
      Thank you so much for trying the recipe. Happy to know you liked it.
      🙂

      Reply
  6. Laura says

    February 11, 2019

    5 stars
    Yummyest sambar ever

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      February 11, 2019

      Thank you Laura

      Reply
  7. Jyoti says

    November 27, 2018

    5 stars
    Tried this today for the first time. I usually make plain moong dal sambar without sambar powder for tiffin. But this tasted awesome just like restaurant sambar. Awesome recipe. I will prepare this more often. Thank you!

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      November 29, 2018

      Welcome Jyoti
      Thanks for the comment. Happy to know it turned out good.
      🙂

      Reply
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  9. Maria says

    October 20, 2017

    5 stars
    Which red chilly is used to make sambar powder . Is it Kashmiri

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      October 20, 2017

      Maria,
      I use kashmiri red chilies. Even byadgi or any other less spicy one is better to get a good color yet taste very mild and not very hot

      Reply
  10. Risa says

    August 26, 2017

    5 stars
    I tried the Kerala rasam without powder recipe, it turned out great. Then I tried this Sambhar recipe – my husband and I enjoyed it very much. Satisfied my pregnancy cravings 🙂

    Thanks!!

    Reply
  11. Mahesh kumar says

    July 30, 2017

    5 stars
    I like it

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      August 2, 2017

      Thank you

      Reply
  12. Sohana says

    June 9, 2017

    5 stars
    good combination for breakfast ..yummy button idlis

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      June 25, 2017

      Thank you Sohana

      Reply
  13. Seema says

    April 14, 2017

    5 stars
    Best tiffin sambar recipe ever…family loved it.making it again today.thank you

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      April 19, 2017

      Welcome seema
      Glad to know you all liked it.
      Thanks for writing

      Reply
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  15. Bindu saravanan says

    April 11, 2017

    5 stars
    Superb taste, i have tried it and my husband likes it very much. Thank u for the recipe

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      April 19, 2017

      Welcome Bindu
      Glad to know you liked it

      Reply
  16. Natesan says

    March 29, 2017

    5 stars
    Use full nice idea

    Reply
  17. Nicholas says

    January 27, 2017

    5 stars
    Very delicious food

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      January 27, 2017

      Thank you

      Reply
  18. MAHALAKSHMI says

    January 1, 2017

    5 stars
    Where to get mini idli mould? I need 3 for 54 idlies? Are they stackable? I saw separate without stick….shall we cook in indelium idli steamer pot?

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      January 7, 2017

      Hi Mahalakshmi
      You will get mini idli mould in most places in south India, especially in bangalore. I bought mine in singapore. I think if you get the plates you can stack them on any other idli stand. Indelium is not good for health, so I do not use it.

      Reply
  19. sagar says

    December 3, 2016

    5 stars
    We made this sambhar yesterday and it went wonderful.. tastes yummy.. Thanks swasthi

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      December 27, 2016

      welcome

      Reply
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  21. Farhana s says

    October 11, 2016

    5 stars
    Hai swasti,
    how r u?I have tried u r recipes its really good n my family also loved it thanks a lot may God bless you.

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      November 15, 2016

      Hi Farhana
      I am really sorry. Don’t know how I missed to reply your comment. I am fine. Thank a ton for the wishes. Glad to know you all loved the food.

      Reply
  22. Far haha s says

    October 11, 2016

    5 stars
    Hai swasti,
    how r u?I have tried u r recipes its really good n my family also loved it thanks a lot may God bless you.

    Reply
  23. Ranju says

    July 26, 2016

    5 stars
    Hi Swasti,
    All the recipes I’ve tried from your blog have turned out too good.
    Keep posting new recipes

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      July 28, 2016

      Hi Ranju
      Thanks for trying. Yes will surely keep posting
      🙂

      Reply
  24. Ana says

    June 28, 2016

    5 stars
    Useful & well explained

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      June 28, 2016

      Thank you

      Reply
  25. Arshi says

    March 24, 2016

    5 stars
    Hello swasthi ma’am how r u? Thank u soo much for ur sambar recipe …I tried it nd it was awesum my son liked a lot …….thanxx for sharing ……nd keep on posting ur wonderful recipes have a wonderful week ahead …..may god bless u

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      March 28, 2016

      Hi Arshi,
      I am fine. Thanks for asking. You are welcome. So happy to know your son liked it. Its my kids favorite too. Will surely keep posting more. Thanks for the wishes and you too have a great week ahead.
      🙂

      Reply

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