Recipe of Sambar for Idli - How to Make Sambar at Home?

B) Ingredients for Tadka Used in Recipe for Sambar for Idli

1. White Cumin Seeds (Jeera) – 1/4^th teaspoon
2. Mustard Seeds (Sarson) – ½ teaspoon
3. Fenugreek Seeds (Methi) – 1 big pinch
4. Dried Red Whole Chili (Lal Mirch) – 2 in number
5. Oil – 1 tablespoon
6. Curry Leaves – 10 to 12 in number

C) Ingredients for Making Sambar Masala Powder Used in Recipe of Sambar for Idli

1. White Cumin Seeds (Jeera)  – ½ teaspoon
2. Coriander Seeds  (Saboot Dhaniya) – 1 ½ teaspoon
3. Dried Fenugreek Seed (Methi) – 1/4^th teaspoon
4. Asafoetida (Hing) – ½ teaspoon
5. Urad Dal (Split dehusked black gram lentils) – 1 teaspoon
6. Chana Dal (Split chickpeas brown) – 1 teaspoon
7. Mustard Seed (Sarson) – ½ teaspoon
8. Dry Garlic Cloves – 3 to 4 in number
9. Black Pepper (Kali Mirch) -  7 to 8 in number
10. Red Kashmiri  Chili (Dry whole Kashmiri Lal Mirch) – 2 in number
11. Curry Leaves – 9 to 10 in number
12. Bay Leaves (Tej Patta)  – 1 in number (Large Size)
13. Cloves (laung) – 4 to 5 in number
14. Poppy Seeds – 1/2  teaspoon
15. Black Cumin (Kalonji) – 1 big pinch

(Note – Here it would be important to mention that in Recipe of Sambar for Idli, used by most people in Indian homes involves using a readymade Sambar Masala Powder, that is readily available in all Indian cities. However, for the people searching for the method of how to make Sambar for Idli at home, we have described all the ingredients necessary to do the same.)

How To Make Sambar – The Steps of Preparation

A) Preparation of Sambar Masala Powder in Recipe of Sambar for Idli

• In a low flame burner, a dry pan is put.  The Chana dal, Urad dal, Garlic cloves are put on the pan (in amounts as mentioned in the ingredients) and stirred till its color starts changing. Then the mixture created is transferred to another plate and allowed to cool down at room temperature.
   
• Now in the same pan, the – Cumin seeds, Coriander seeds, Black Peppers, Bay leaves, Curry leaves, Cloves, Poppy seeds, Black Cumin and Kashmiri Whole Red Chilies are roasted together and stirred till its color starts changing and a nice aroma starts to come out. Then these are transferred into the same plate in which the previous roasted Dal mixture was kept.
   
• Next in the same hot pan on the low flame burner – Fenugreek seeds are put and roasted till the color is changed to a slight brownish look. Then Asafoetida is added to it and the mixture stirred for 1 minute. Next, the burner is switched off. Later this mixture is transferred to the earlier mentioned plate, containing previously prepared roasted ingredients and allowed to cool at room temperature.
   
• Now the whole mixture is transferred to a grinder and ground into a powder form and kept aside after covering it.

Preliminary Steps of Making Sambar for Idli

• The Toor Dal is changed into a coarse powder form by putting it in a grinder and later kept aside.
   
• Next Moong Dal is put on dry cooker placed on a low medium flamed burner. Next, this Moong Dal is stirred till a nice aroma starts to come out. However, it should be ensured that it doesn’t get burnt. Next 2 cups of water are added into this cooker followed by the powdered Toor Dal, 1/4^th teaspoon salt and 1/4^th teaspoon turmeric powder. It is allowed to boil in the cooker till the next 4 to 5 whistles.
   
• Later the burner is switched off and the cooker is allowed to cool. The dal content inside should be checked to ensure that it has got boiled properly. If it is boiled then it is kept aside. If for some reason it is not boiled then the procedure should be repeated. Finally, the cooker is kept aside to cool down.
   
• Now the vegetables mentioned in the ingredients (in the corresponding amount) are cut into medium-sized pieces.

Final Steps of How To Make Sambar For Idli

• A large non- stick pan (or karahi) is put on a medium flame burner. 1 Tablespoon edible oil is put on it and the pan is allowed to get warmed.
   
• Now all vegetables are put on this pan and fried for 2 to 3 minutes. It is also stirred a little.
   
• Now Sambar Masala powder previously prepared is taken and from it, 2 ½ tablespoons full of it is put over the vegetables on the pan and stirring continued for 1 to 2 minutes.
   
• Now 1/2 cup water is added to the pan and the lid of the pan is covered to allow the contents to boil. When the vegetables are half cooked then the previously prepared Dal mixture is added to the contents and the boiling continued till the vegetables are fully cooked.

• In between the tamarind previously mentioned in the main ingredient is taken and kept soaked in 1/4^th cup of hot water for 20 minutes. Later this is mashed properly and the liquid part of Tamarind is sieved and added to the dal and vegetable mixture being cooked on the pan. The contents are mixed properly and boiled for 2 minutes.
   
• The pan is later removed from the fire and kept aside.
   
• Now another dry pan is put over a low medium flame burner. For applying Tadka, 1 tablespoon oil is added to the pan. Then except curry leaves, all other ingredients mentioned earlier for “Tadka” are put on the oil. Once a typical aroma starts to be emitted from the preparation, then curry leaves are added to it and the contents transferred to the previously prepared dal mixture.
   
• The Dal mixture is again put on a pan over a medium flame burner and boiled for 1 minute. Making Sambar for Idli is complete now.
   
• The Sambar which has been made can be served along with Idli, to your guests or friends/family members. Coconut chutney, Peanut chutney, Red chutney, and  Green chutney can also be served along with the Idli Sambar for the best in taste.
   
• The Recipe of Sambar for Dosa,  the Recipe of Sambar for Vada or even the recipe of Sambar for Masala Dosa are also the same, as the Recipe of Sambar for Idli described above. Hence this preparation can also help those, who are searching for the perfect dish to savor along with simple dosa, masala dosa or even with Vada all of which are South Indian delicacies, which are popular all over India and in some other neighboring countries too.

Here you can check the Easy Step by Step Recipe of Upma