idli sambar

Idli Sambar Recipe (Tiffin Sambar)

By Swasthi on May 5, 2023, Comments, Jump to Recipe

Idli Sambar is a South Indian breakfast meal where soft fluffy steamed cakes known as idli are served with sambar, a vegetable lentil stew. Idli Sambar is made with lentils, plenty of spices, mixed vegetables and herbs. Make this amazingly delicious and easy Idli Sambar at home for a hearty, protein packed and flavorsome meal. It is also known as tiffin sambar & is served with South Indian tiffins/breakfasts such as Soft Idli, Rava idli, Crisp medu vada, khara Pongal, crispy dosa, masala dosa and bonda.

idli sambar

About Idli Sambar

This is my version of the quick Tiffin Sambar made with dal, quick cook veggies, spices and herbs. 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.

On most weekdays, we eat the typical South Indian breakfast like idli, dosa, pongal and pesarattu since they are high in protein and healthy as well. This tiffin sambar goes so well with just anything.

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.

hotel style idli sambar

More similar recipes
Drumstick sambar
Andhra pappu chaaru

How to make Idli Sambar (Stepwise photos)

Preparation

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

Make 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

5. Soak 2 tablespoons tamarind in hot water. You can also use tamarind paste as needed.

tamarind paste for tiffin sambar recipe

Tempering

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

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

Make Idli Sambar

11. Add sambar powder and red chilli powder if using. 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

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

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 recipe

Pro Tips

  • 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.

Related Recipes

Recipe Card

idli sambar tiffin sambar

Idli Sambar Recipe (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!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Jump to Comments

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 (US 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
  • â…› teaspoon turmeric
  • ¼ to ½ teaspoon red chilli powder (optional, for heat)
  • 2 tablespoons coriander leaves with stalks (chopped finely)
  • cups water (adjust depending on quality of dal)

To Temper

  • 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)


Instructions

Preparation

  • 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.

Make 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 red chilli powder if using. 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.


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 (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

Idli Sambar Recipe (Tiffin Sambar)

About Swasthi

I’m Swasthi Shreekanth, the recipe developer, food photographer & food writer behind Swasthi’s 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. More about me

Follow Swasthi’s Recipes

Comments

Recipe Rating




84 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

I am an Australian woman who loves Indian spices and Indian cooking … Swasthi’s recipes work like no other and her collection is all you need …they are the best I have found over years and years of searching and I have found she keeps it healthy … which is super important

5 stars
What a fantastic recipe! As someone who loves sambar but just couldn’t cook it right all my life – this is the best I’ve ever had! Perfect every time.

5 stars
Delicious Idli Sambar!!! Turned out very good. The only change was to make a second tadka. Thank you

5 stars
I have made tiffin sambar all my life from a cookbook. It was our favorite. But this recipe surpassed that and this is so easy to make. Delicious with your soft 1:2 fluffy idlis. My kids are addicted to this. Thank you.

5 stars
Great work and looks so good. I am starting to learn how to cook south indain food that I enjoy. I will keep in touch and inform you of my progress. Thank you so much?

5 stars
These recipes are time tested and comes out really well. Very well designed website. Provides everything that is required ,detailed and no need to refer to other websites. The language is so precise ,hence does not lead to any confusion.Excellent??

5 stars
first time in my life I managed to make yummy sambar so quickly. My MIL was surprised and she loved this very much.

5 stars
Very tasty recipe. Thank you

4 stars
Reciepe is good
For spicy flavour can we add chilli powder???only three red chilli enough?

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

Great job. I love it.

How much sambar powder do you add?

Idli sambar was a great success. I followed your recipe step by step but did not use hing as my husband doesn’t like it.

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

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!

I’m so excited to try this recipe for Diwali potluck at my neighbor’s home this weekend. Thank you for demystifying the dish!

I didn’t have tomatoes but still this came out so yum! And the sambar masala measurements were just perfect for one time, I don’t have to save my leftover masala now! I also followed your idli recipe, again perfect for just one meal and it was all light and fluffy despite the unpredictable weather here in Perth!

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

5 stars
Yummyest sambar ever

5 stars
How do I print your recipes?

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!