Idli Sambar aka Tiffin Sambar is a recipe from my Mom in law. This is a no-dal recipe and it is so easy to make. Let’s learn to make it.

Idli Sambar
As I said this is my MIL’s recipe. Before marriage for me, sambar means, only with dal. But this was new to me when I went to my husband’s home. This goes well with idli and dosa. I make it almost every other week now. This is so versatile and less work. So this tiffin sambar will be great for your busy weekday dinners.

How to make Tiffin sambar
As I said, this sambar needs less work though the ingredients list looks long. We have to grind the whole spices along with tomato and coconut. Then saute onions and add the ground coconut paste. Add 2 cups of water and required salt. Let the sambar boils till the raw smell of spices and tomato goes away. This sambar thickens as it boils, so we have to add water accordingly. Finally, finish it off with chopped cilantro. Serve with Idli or Dosa.
A short video
Ingredients used

More side dishes for Idli/ Dosa recipes for you

Tiffin sambar recipe with stepwise instructions
Ingredients
Onion – 1/2 cup chopped
Turmeric powder – 1/4 tsp
Salt – as required
Curry leaves – few
Coriander leaves – few
Mustard seeds – 1/2 tsp
Oil – 2 tsp
Water – 2 cups (adjust accordingly)
To grind
Coconut – 1/4 cup grated
Tomato – 1 medium-sized
Roasted chana dal/ pottu kadalai – 2 tbsp
Dry Red chili – 1
Coriander powder – 2 tbsp
Cinnamon – a small piece
Cloves – 2
Fennel seeds – 1/2 tsp
Jeera – 1/2 tsp
Khus khus – 1/4 tsp
Ginger – a small piece
Garlic – 3 pods
Method
- Grind all ingredients under ‘to grind’ except tomato to coarse.
- Then add tomato and grind to smooth.
- Heat oil in a pan and crackle mustard seeds.
- Add onions and sauté till golden.
- Then add ground coconut paste and around 2 cups of water.
- Add turmeric powder.
- Let it boil till the raw smell goes.
- Add the required salt.
- Add coriander leaves and switch off.
- Serve with idli or dosa.


Notes
- This sambar will thicken as boils, so add water accordingly.
- My dry red chili is very spicy, so adjust yours as required.
Idli Sambar – Tiffin Sambar
Ingredients
- 1/2 Cup Onion chopped
- 1/4 Tsp Turmeric powder
- Salt as required
- Curry leaves few
- Coriander leaves few
- 1/2 Tsp Mustard seeds
- 2 Tsp Oil
- 2 Cups Water add accordingly
To grind
- 1/4 Cup Coconut grated
- 1 Tomato medium-sized
- 2 Tbsp Roasted chana dal/ pottu kadalai
- 1 Dry Red chili
- 2 Tbsp Coriander powder
- Cinnamon a small piece
- 2 Cloves
- 1/2 Tsp Fennel seeds
- 1/2 Tsp Jeera
- 1/4 Tsp Khus khus
- Ginger a small piece
- 3 pods Garlic
Instructions
- Grind all ingredients under ‘to grind’ except tomato to coarse.
- Then add tomato and grind to smooth.
- Heat oil in a pan and crackle mustard seeds.
- Add onions and sauté till golden.
- Then add ground coconut paste and required water.
- Add turmeric powder.
- Let it boil till the raw smell goes.
- Add required salt.
- Add coriander leaves and switch off.
- Serve with idli or dosa.
Video
Notes
- This sambar will thicken as boils, so add water accordingly.
- My dry red chilli is very spicy, so adjust yours as required.
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This recipe was actually posted on August 22, 2016. Now updated with content, pictures, and video.




Thanks For Sharing this Amazing Recipe. My Family Loved It. I will be sharing this Recipe with my Friends. Hope They will like it.
Thank you.
This is a quick and easy sambhar recipe! Can I use ready made sambhar masala? Then will I have to grind the coconut with the sambhar masala and tomato? How do I go about it? Would love to try this !
I haven’t used ready made sambar masala… but if you are using grind along coconut and tomato… glad you like it… Thank you?…do let me know how it turns?
Definitely 🙂
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Thanks dear for your approval to showcase this on TRH Blog – I will schedule this one for release on Oct 13th
Thank you so much?
❤️
lovely post
Thank you?
I absolutely loved the recipe!
Thank you.. hope you will give a try?
Sure I will,I love any kinds of Sumber ,if I’m in a restaurant and having dosa or idly,I will ask for samber at least 3 to 4 times or until the person who is serving gets annoyed ..your Samber recipe is quite unique,loved it.?
?.. even me , when I have rice in home, I will eat sambar alone after finishing rice?
Wow this is even new for me. Till date i thought sambar means dal. Will definitely try this. Looks yummy?
? same like me… thank you dear..
Delicious! Love the plate ?
? thank you