Recipe- South Indian Style Idli Sambar

Idli Sambar is a famous divinely south indian breakfast combination. Idli Sambar is comforting and healthy making it the best and popular breakfast in India. Idli Sambar is an unbeatable combo sure a match made in heaven. Idli and sambar is a staple in South India and we enjoy idli sambar for both breakfast and dinner.

Ingredients

1/2 cup toor dal
1/8 cup moong dal
2 tsp oil
15 nos small onions
1 big tomato
2 small carrots cubed
1 no green chilli
1 tsp kashmiri red chilli powder
2 tbsp tamarind
a generous pinch turmeric powder
1 tbsp coriander leaves
water as required
salt to taste as needed to immerse

For Tadka

2 tsp oil
1 tsp mustard seeds
1/4 tsp urad dal
a generous pinch hing
a small sprig curry leaves
1 heaped tsp sambar powder

Method

- Take 1/2 cup toor dal along with 1/8 cup moong dal.Rinse it well.

- Add to cooker along with 2 cups water, 1/2 tsp oil and 1/2 tsp turmeric powder. Pressure cook for 5 to 6 whistles or until mushy.

- Let the pressure release by itself.

- Open and mash it well with a laddle. Set aside.

- To a bowl add 2 tbsp tamarind, soak in around 1/2 cup warm water. Crush it roughly and set aside for 15 mins.

- After 15 mins crush well to extract the pulp. Tamarind extract ready.

- Now to a pot heat 2 tsp oil – add around 10-15 small onion,1 big tomato ,1 long green chilli

- Saute for few mins until tomatoes turn mushy.

- Add cooked, mashed dal to it.

- Rinse the cooker with 1 cup water and add it. Mix it well.

- Cook covered for 10-12 mins for the veggies to get cooked. Open.

- Check if carrot is cooked. Prick with a spoon or fork if it easily goes through then its done else cook for few more mins.

- Strain and add tamarind extract.

- Add 1 tsp kashmiri red chilli powder.

- Mix well and let sambar boil. Meanwhile we can prepare the tadka.

- To a tadka pan – heat oil. add 1 tsp mustard seeds, 1/4 tsp urad dal, a generous pinch hing, few curry leaves and let it splutter. Finally add 1 heaped tsp sambar powder give a quick mix and switch off. Do not burn so switch off immediately.

- Add this to boiling sambar.

- Mix it well. Boil for 3-5 mins.

- Finally garnish with 1 tbsp chopped coriander leaves, 1 tsp sugar and switch off. Hot tasty idli sambar ready.

Idli:

- Take a ladle full of idli batter and add it to the idly pan and steam it for 10-12mins.

- Sprinkle little water and carefully slide around the edges using a spoon to take the idlis. Now idlis are ready.

Sambar Idli:

- Take 2 idlis in a plate. Pour sambar over it. Pour more till the idlis are fully covered with sambar. Drizzle ghee.

- Now sprinkle chopped raw onion and coriander leaves. Delicious Sambar Idli ready!