Tiffin Sambar, A popular, tasty South Indian gravy made by simmering lentils and
shallots along with tamarind extract. Tiffin Sambar or Idli Sambar is a popular side dish
recipe for idli or dosa in many hotels in South India, which is made by replacing yellow
moong dal instead of the usual toor dal. I adapted this recipe from my mother who always
makes this version of sambar to pair with Pongal or idli or dosa. We make the usual toor
dal version to pair with rice. Moving on to the recipe of hotel style tiffin sambar. Look out
for my restaurant style Sambar Vadai recipe for an interesting variation.
shallots along with tamarind extract. Tiffin Sambar or Idli Sambar is a popular side dish
recipe for idli or dosa in many hotels in South India, which is made by replacing yellow
moong dal instead of the usual toor dal. I adapted this recipe from my mother who always
makes this version of sambar to pair with Pongal or idli or dosa. We make the usual toor
dal version to pair with rice. Moving on to the recipe of hotel style tiffin sambar. Look out
for my restaurant style Sambar Vadai recipe for an interesting variation.
Tiffin sambar recipe
- Recipe Cusine: Indian
- Prep Time: 10 Minutes
- Cook time: 30 Minutes
- Serves: 3-4
- Author: Jeyashri
- Recipe Category: Breakfast| Dinner
- Description: Tiffin Sambar, A popular, tasty South Indian gravy made by simmering lentils and shallots along with tamarind extract.
Small onion | Shalltos 10-12
Tomato 1
Tamarind a small gooseberry size
Yellow moong dal 1/4 cup
Sambar powder 1 tsp
Turmeric powder 1/4 tsp
Salt to taste
Oil 1 tsp
Curry leaves few
Asafoetida a pinch
To roast and grind
Coriander seeds | dhaniya 1/2 tsp
Red chili 2
Channa dal 1/2 tsp
Cumin seeds 1/4 tsp
Coconut 1 tblsp
Oil 2 tsp
Method with step by step pictures :
- Peel the skin of the small onions and chop the tomatoes finely.
- Pressure cook the dal till 3 whistles by adding enough water and a pinch of turmeric powder to it.
- In a pan, add oil and temper with mustard seeds and a red chili . When it splutters add the onions and saute in a low flame, without getting it burnt.
- When it is done add the tomatoes.
 |
 |
- When the tomatoes become mushy add the tamarind extract(soak a small gooseberry sized tamarind in hot water and extract juice adding a cup of water to this)
- Add sambar powder, turmeric powder and salt to this.
- Let this boil in a low flame.
- Take another pan and add few drops of oil and throw in the coriander seeds, chana dal, and red chili.
- Saute till they gives a nice brown colour.
- When it cool,grind this into a very smooth paste along with coconut and cumin seeds.
 |
 |
- Add the cooked moong dal to the boling tamarind extract, along with the ground paste.
- Add enough water as per your desired consistency. I added a cup of water.
- Boil nicely and add chopped coriander leaves and curry leaves.
 |
 |
Note:
- Big onions can be replaced instead of shallots.
- Even toor dal can be used instead of moong dal to make tiffin sambar.
Sambar looks delicious and tempting…
kurinjikathambam
Perfect with idlies! 😛
I too make this often and like you J,I had never been able to click the recipe so far.. Planning to click it the next time. Lovely presentation.
perfect tiffin sambhar..yummy..
Looks flavourful and yummy…..am feeling hungry
Lovely presentation. Looks flavourful and delicious
this is my fav sambhar..my mil makes the same but we add toor dal ..ur clicks made me drool..
Yummy sambar ….looks so gud
Very flavorful and yummy sambar..just love it
love this sambar…I use half toor dal n half moong dal for this recipe
I love these small onions in sambar…Looks yummy and beautifully presented
Deepa
Hamaree Rasoi
This looks awesome dear…you have made it perfectly..
Aarthi
https://yummytummy-aarthi.blogspot.com/
Can have anything with this sambar,definitely a fingerlicking side dish.
Mmmm…flavorful and aromatic samabr…looks appealing n tempting!!
Sambar looks totally delicious
Aromatic, homestyle sambhar..Perfect with idlis!!
Prathima Rao
Prats Corner
Yummy tiffin sambar…my fav recipe..
Slurppppp…..its yummy 🙂
very flavourful and delicious sambhar..
Different version of sambar looks delicious.
Yummy looking sambar.. me too love sambar with moong dhal….
Hi jeyashree I made this..it came out yummy…thanks.it s very tasty.
Hi Jeyashri,
I prepared this dish with Toor dal this morning. This came out well & it was simply delicious with vada. My hubby complimented me alot for this, which i wanted to share with you.
that's great to know. Thank you so much for trying out
Thanks for this recipe, I tried and it came out really tasty.
Excellent Presentation. I am very new to cooking, just followed the ratios mentioned in this blog, it came up very well… Thankyou very much.
Kindly continue this fantastic help.
-Bala
Hi Jeyashri, I was lucky enough to live in the home of an older Sourashtra couple in Madurai off and on for a couple of years. I grew especially fond of Kanchana Ma, the kind, patient lady of the house. I'm back in the US now, and today I've been thinking of her a lot and missing her. I am partial to one of the sambars she would make, and this one is similar to hers (moong dal, no chunks of veggies bobbing around). Thank you so much for posting this recipe! My roommate has asked me to make it tomorrow, so she's happy as well. Your blog looks great and I'm sure I'll be visiting it again.
Trudy
Can you post the recipe of sambar which is made in restaurants to go with idly and dosai.
Hope it will tasty, I am going to try today. Thanks for the receipe.
hi jaishree,
i came US last month..basically i luv cookin and while searchin fr varieties i saw ur blog.. it was too good.. i have tried many dishes from ur blog.. tday i tried ur tiffn sambar with onion rava uthappa,.. it was delicious.. my husband lovd it.. and i have tried ur mushroom pulao with palak kofta gravy… keep posting.. -Yurekha
Hi how many red chillies should I use for grinding??
Hi vandana i used 2 red chilies mentioned in the ingredients list too
Helo jaisree.. thanks a lot for the recipe, its a big help for me to learn indian cookings becouse my husbnd is indian so its really a joy for me to cook something that he love to eat.. thanks again 🙂
Mam the above recipe for how many persons.
This serves for 3-4 persons