Tiffin Sambar is also known as Idli Sambar, is a simple and delicious sambar made from lentils and vegetables. It tastes great with all south indian tiffin/breakfast items like idli, dosa and pongal. Typically, the sambar recipe from south india varies from home to home. There is no hard and fast rule here, you can prepare as you like if you understand the basics.

Sambar is simply a lentil stew. What lentil is used in the sambar or what vegetables are added in the sambar or what spices are used in the sambar, based on the answers to the above questions, the sambar has a different name.

Basically, the tiffin sambar/ idli sambar is a simple version of the meal sambar in South India. In tiffin sambar / Idli sambar, neither tamarind nor coconut masala is used when it's prepared in households because this sambar is usually served with idli/dosai which is made from the fermented batter. It has mild sourness already, so for the idli sambar, it doesn't need more sourness, so tamarind is usually avoided in tiffin sambar.

Again as I said earlier, it varies from person to person. If you like more sourness in your sambar, go ahead and add tamarind. That's the beauty of home made food, right? We can make as we like.

Related : How to make Sambar Powder

Toor dal or Moong dal

For idli sambar, you can use both toor dal and moong dal or combination of both dal. I prefer to make the tiffin sambar with the combination of both dals for its flavor and consistency. Moong dal for consistency and toor dal for flavor.

Vegetables in the sambar

Tiffin sambar can be made with onion and tomatoes also without any other veggies. Typically in our home, we like to add potato, carrot and beans for idli sambar. Brinjal, drumsticks and other indian country vegetables are mostly excluded in the tiffin sambar.

Sambar Powder

Let's break the common myth here, we South Indians(I'm from South Tamilnadu) don't always use sambar powder in the sambar. Sometimes, we make sambar with plain red chili powder for subtle flavor. But if you're so used to the sambar from Indian restaurants, then without sambar powder, you can recreate that taste in home. In conclusion, adding a bit of sambar powder truly enhances the flavor and taste for sure.

Idli Sambar/Tiffin Sambar

Preparation Time : 10 mins | Cooking Time : 20 mins | Serves : 2
Recipe Category: Sambar | Recipe Cuisine: Indian

Ingredients

Moong Dal - 1/4 cup

Toor Dal - 2 tbsp

Vegetables - 1/4 cup (chopped, i used carrot, beans, potato)

Pearl Onion - 5

Tomato - 1 medium size

Green chili -1

Asafoetida powder - 1/4 tsp

Turmeric Powder - a pinch

Red chili powder - 1/2 tsp

Sambar powder - 1 tsp

Salt - to taste

Coriander leaves - few

To Temper

Oil - 1 tsp

Mustard & urad dal - 1/4 tsp each

Curry leaves - few

Procedure.

In a pressure cooker, add the moong dal, toor dal, vegetables, green chili, onions & tomato along with asafoedita powser & 1 cup of water, cook it for 3 whistle or till it's mushy.

Once the pressure released, put the pan again in heat, add the spices(turmeric, red chili powder & sambar powder) & salt.Bring it to boil & keep it in medium flame for 5 mins. Temper the ingredients listed under "To Temper" & add into the sambar along with coriander leaves.