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Lathi's Kitchen

Easy recipes with simple ingredients.

Home » Curries » Easy Idli Sambar – Tiffin sambar( no-dal)

Easy Idli Sambar – Tiffin sambar( no-dal)

By Lathiya Shanmugasundaram 19 Comments
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5 from 2 votes
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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.

Bowl of tiffin sambar with a spoon on side and cilantro leaves.
Idli Sambar
Table Of Contents
  1. Idli Sambar
  2. How to make Tiffin sambar
  3. More side dishes for Idli/ Dosa recipes for you
  4. Tiffin sambar recipe with stepwise instructions
  5. Idli Sambar – Tiffin Sambar
  6. Pin this to your favorite board

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. 

Close up of Idli Sambar.

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

Ingredients to make Idli sambar.

More side dishes for Idli/ Dosa recipes for you

Coconut Chutney

Onion Tomato Chutney

Coriander Chutney

Varutharacha Sambar

Tomato Thokku

close up of Idli Sambar.

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.
Step wise instructions to make Idli Sambar.

Notes

  1. This sambar will thicken as boils, so add water accordingly.
  2. My dry red chili is very spicy, so adjust yours as required.
Bowl of tiffin sambar with a spoon on side and cilantro leaves.

Idli Sambar – Tiffin Sambar

5 from 2 votes
Tiffin Sambar or Sambar for Idli and dosa 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.
Print Recipe
Course
Side Dish
Cuisine
Indian
Keyword
How to make no dal idli sambar
,
Idli sambar
,
Tiffin sambar
Prep Time15 minutes minutes
Cook Time15 minutes minutes
Total Time30 minutes minutes
Servings4 people
Calories
AuthorLathiya
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Equipment

  • Blender
  • Pan

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
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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.
Love it? Then just share it

Pin this to your favorite board

This recipe was actually posted on August 22, 2016. Now updated with content, pictures, and video.

Filed Under: Curries June 9, 2025 - Post originally published June 9, 2025 - Post last modified

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. rubby says

    September 7, 2021 at 4:03 am

    Thanks For Sharing this Amazing Recipe. My Family Loved It. I will be sharing this Recipe with my Friends. Hope They will like it.

    Reply
    • Lathiya Shanmugasundaram says

      September 7, 2021 at 4:36 am

      Thank you.

      Reply
  2. Freda @ Aromatic essence says

    October 9, 2016 at 6:50 pm

    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 !

    Reply
    • Cook with Smile.. says

      October 9, 2016 at 8:02 pm

      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?

      Reply
      • Freda @ Aromatic essence says

        October 11, 2016 at 10:01 pm

        Definitely 🙂

      • Cook with Smile.. says

        October 11, 2016 at 10:45 pm

        ?

  3. cookandenjoyrecipes says

    September 28, 2016 at 4:12 pm

    Thanks dear for your approval to showcase this on TRH Blog – I will schedule this one for release on Oct 13th

    Reply
    • Cook with Smile.. says

      September 28, 2016 at 4:32 pm

      Thank you so much?

      Reply
      • cookandenjoyrecipes says

        September 28, 2016 at 5:20 pm

        ❤️

  4. marigoldhemlata.com says

    September 2, 2016 at 6:49 am

    lovely post

    Reply
    • Cook with Smile.. says

      September 2, 2016 at 2:13 pm

      Thank you?

      Reply
  5. payel says

    August 31, 2016 at 8:21 pm

    I absolutely loved the recipe!

    Reply
    • Cook with Smile.. says

      August 31, 2016 at 8:23 pm

      Thank you.. hope you will give a try?

      Reply
      • payel says

        August 31, 2016 at 8:28 pm

        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.?

      • Cook with Smile.. says

        August 31, 2016 at 8:33 pm

        ?.. even me , when I have rice in home, I will eat sambar alone after finishing rice?

  6. healthyindiankitchen says

    August 23, 2016 at 2:23 pm

    Wow this is even new for me. Till date i thought sambar means dal. Will definitely try this. Looks yummy?

    Reply
    • Cook with Smile.. says

      August 23, 2016 at 2:25 pm

      ? same like me… thank you dear..

      Reply
  7. Priya@MasalaVegan says

    August 23, 2016 at 10:47 am

    Delicious! Love the plate ?

    Reply
    • Cook with Smile.. says

      August 23, 2016 at 1:25 pm

      ? thank you

      Reply
5 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

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