Degchi
Idli Sambar
Serves 4 · Total 760 min · Prep 720 min · Cook 40 min
Steamed, fluffy rice-and-lentil cakes served with a tangy, vegetable-studded lentil stew and coconut chutney. Light, fermented and gently sour, idli-sambar is South India's gentlest, most everyday breakfast.
Quick answer: 760 min in total · serves 4 · main ingredients: Rice, Split black lentils, Salt, Split pigeon peas · amounts in metric and US
Ingredients
- 250 g 9 oz Rice, idli rice, soaked 6 hours
- 100 g 3.5 oz Split black lentils, whole, soaked 6 hours
- 1.5 tsp 1.5 tsp Salt, to taste
- 150 g 5.3 oz Split pigeon peas, for sambar
- 2 pc 2 pc Tomato, chopped
- 2 tbsp 2 tbsp Tamarind, pulp, soaked in water
- 1 tsp 1 tsp Mustard seeds
- 0.5 tsp 0.5 tsp Turmeric
- 2 tbsp 2 tbsp Cooking oil
- 0.5 tsp 0.5 tsp Fenugreek seeds (Optional)
- 1 pc 1 pc Bottle gourd, cubed, for sambar (Optional)
- 10 pc 10 pc Curry leaves (Optional)
Steps
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- Soak rice and whole urad lentils separately for 6 hours, then grind into a smooth, thick batter and combine. Stir in the 1.5 tsp salt by hand at this point, before fermenting (salt added after the batter has risen can slow the bubbles).⏱ Soaking rice and urad · 360 min
- Cover and ferment overnight in a warm place until the batter rises.⏱ Fermenting batter · 480 min
- Pour the batter into greased idli moulds and steam over a steady rolling boil, with the water below the stand, for 12 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. Do not open the lid during the first 10 minutes.⏱ Steaming idli · 12 min
- For sambar, pressure-cook the lentils with turmeric and pumpkin until soft.⏱ Cooking sambar daal · 15 min
- Mash the cooked lentils, add chopped tomato and tamarind pulp, and simmer for 10 minutes.⏱ Simmering sambar · 10 min
- Temper mustard seeds and curry leaves in hot oil and pour over the sambar.⏱ Tempering sambar · 1 min
- Serve the hot idlis with sambar and coconut chutney.
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Frequently asked questions
How long does Idli Sambar take?
760 minutes in total: about 720 minutes of prep and 40 minutes of cooking.
Is Idli Sambar hard to make?
Degchi rates it medium. The method has 7 steps, and 6 of them have a timer you can start on this page.
How many people does Idli Sambar serve?
This recipe serves 4. Use the toggle above the ingredient list to see the amounts in metric or US measures. For more or fewer portions, scale every amount in the same proportion, or use the servings control in the Degchi app.
Is Idli Sambar halal, vegetarian or eggless?
It is marked halal in our recipe data. It is vegetarian. It has no egg. It has no beef. Check the labels on any packaged ingredients for your own needs.
What will I probably need to buy for Idli Sambar?
Everyday staples that Degchi counts as pantry basics: salt, turmeric, cooking oil. Spice-box items: tamarind, mustard seeds. Fresh items you will probably need to buy: tomato. Lentils, grains and other dry goods: rice, split black lentils, split pigeon peas.
Any tips for making Idli Sambar?
A pinch of fenugreek seeds in the batter not only helps fermentation but also gives idli its classic mild aroma. Salt goes into the batter once, after grinding and before the overnight rest. Steam on medium-high heat; the steamer should already be producing steam when the moulds go in, and wait 2 to 3 minutes after switching off before unmoulding.
Notes and questions
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Cooking terms in this recipe: Curry leaves · Methi (fenugreek)
