
I make this Tiffin sambar especially with Idly and hence the name Idly Sambar or Tiffin Sambar. This sambar goes very well with Idly/Dosa, even for Pongal / Upma. I use moong dhal (Payatham paruppu/Siru paruppu) for the preparation of this sambar. Usually for sambar we use Toor Dal but for Idli Sambar we use Moong Dal. The regular Sambar will also be a perfect side dish for any South Indian Breakfast. But this is a slight variation and it will be so yummy and tasty.
Tiffin Sambar with a dash of ghee is a perfect accompaniment for Idly/Dosa. It has a perfect blend of dal, the flavor of vegetables. With Moong dal, its so light and easy to digest, yet very tasty!
In addition to the variation of using moong dal in place of toor dal, we also add mixed veggies which are chopped finely in this Tiffin Sambar along with Green chili, tamarind and sambar powder. This same method can be used and instead of sambar powder, we can fry Bengal gram(Kadalaparuppu), Coriander Seeds and Red chili and add grind those fried ingredients to a paste and add it to the sambar. That is the Hotel Style Tiffin Sambar. That way we get more quantity. If I have guests or friends at home, then I prefer the Hotel Style Tiffin sambar. But if i'm making for my family then I will prefer this easier and quicker method of making Tiffin Sambar.
If you invite somebody for the breakfast/tiffen and you are making idly/dosa, then try Tiffin sambar instead of regular Sambar, next time to serve with Idly/dosa and i am sure your guest will like it and no wonder if they ask the recipe for idly sambar.

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Tiffin Sambar | Idli Sambar | Moong Dal Sambar
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 152kcal
Idli Sambar | MoongDal Sambar is a mixed vegetable moong dal based sambar which is a perfect Side Dish for Idli / Dosa / Upma / Pongal. A perfect side dish for any South Indian Breakfast
Print Recipe
Ingredients
- ⅓ Cup Moong Dal
- Tamarind Small Lemon Size
- ½ Onion Preferably Pearl Onions
- 1 Carrot Chopped to smal cubes
- 10 Beans Finely Chopped
- 1 Tomato Roughly Chopped
- 1 Brinjal Chopped to small cubes
- 1 Potato Cubed
- 2 Green Chili Slit
- 1.5 teaspoon Salt As Needed
- 1 tablespoon Sambar Powder
- Coriander Leaves For Garnishing
For Tempering
- 2 teaspoon Oil
- 1 teaspoon Mustard Seeds
- a Pinch Asafoetida (Asafetida / Hing)
- Few Curry Leaves
- ¼ teaspoon Fenugreek Seeds
Instructions
- Soak the tamarind in water for sometime and extract the juice and keep it aside
- Pressure cook the moong Dal and mash it and keep it aside. Chop the vegetables and clean it in water.
- Heat the oil in pan, and add mustard seeds when the oil is hot. Once the mustard seeds begins to sputter add the curry leaves and hing and fry for a minute. Add the green chilies
- First add the onion and fry it in the oil for about one minutes. Add Tomato and fry for another one minute. Now add the chopped vegetable along with turmeric and fry for a while. To this add water to cook the vegetables
- Allow the vegetables to cook for about 5-10 minutes in medium flame. When the vegetables are almost cooked, add the tamarind extract and salt and allow the tamarind juice to boil for 5 minutes till the raw smell goes off.
- Then add the sambar powder. Keep in medium flame and let the mixture cook for about 5 minutes.
- When the raw smell of sambar powder goes off, add the mashed Dal and stir well. Add ½ Cup of water to make the consistency a little thin. When the sambar starts to boil, garnish with coriander leaves and remove from flame
- The mouth-watering Tiffin Sambar(Gotsu) is ready for serving
Video
Notes
- To increase the taste, let's try to make the fresh sambar masala (instead of sambar powder) - Take 1 teaspoon of Chana dal, 1 tablespoon of Coriander Seeds, 5 to 7 Red Chili, 1 teaspoon Cumin Seeds and fry them in a 1 teaspoon oil and fry for a minute. Take them in a mixture, add 1 tablespoon of coconut and grind them into a fine paste and add it to the tamarind juice.
- We can add 1 tablespoon of grated jaggery but its optional.
- Finally add a 1 tablespoon of Ghee to enhance the flavor in the sambar
Nutritional Info
Nutrition Facts
Tiffin Sambar | Idli Sambar | Moong Dal Sambar
Amount Per Serving (1 Cup)
Calories 152
Calories from Fat 9
% Daily Value*
Fat 1g2%
Carbohydrates 25g8%
Protein 11g22%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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Method with Step by Step Pictures:
- Soak the tamarind in water for sometime and extract the juice and keep it aside
- Pressure cook the moong Dal and mash it and keep it aside
- Finely chop the vegetables and clean it in water. Chop the green chilli vertically and add it to the chopped vegetables. Heat the oil in pan, and add mustard seeds when the oil is hot. Once the mustard seeds begins to sputter add the curry leaves and hing and fry for a minute. Also add Green chili.
- Now add the chopped vegetable along with turmeric and fry for a while. To this add water to cook the vegetables
- When the vegetables are almost cooked, add the tamarind extract and salt and allow the tamarind juice to boil for 5 minutes till the raw smell goes off. Then add the sambar powder. Keep in medium flame
- When the sambar starts to boil and the raw smell of sambar powder goes off, add the mashed Dal and stir well. Add ½ Cup of water to make the consistency a little thin. When the sambar starts to boil, garnish with coriander leaves and remove from flame
- The mouth-watering Tiffin Sambar(Gotsu) is ready for servingServe this yummy Tiffin sambar with Idli/Dosa/Uthappam/Pongal and any upma varieties
You can try other Sambar Varieties