Sambar and Idli
Soft steamed idli cakes served with a warm, spiced lentil-vegetable sambar, finished with a swirl of coconut milk for richness. A comforting South Indian breakfast that's surprisingly quick to assemble.
- Total time
- 20 min
- Servings
- 2
- Calories
- 320
- Protein
- 12g

Ingredients
- 4 pieces idli
- ½ cup toor dal
- 1 cup mixed vegetables
- 2 tbsp sambar powder
- ¼ cup coconut milk
- 1 tsp salt
Instructions
- 1
Rinse the 0.5 cup toor dal and pressure cook with 1.5 cups water until soft, about 10 minutes. Mash lightly.
- 2
In a pot, add the cooked dal, 1 cup mixed vegetables, 2 tbsp sambar powder, 1 tsp salt, and 2 cups water. Simmer until vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes.
- 3
Stir in the 0.25 cup coconut milk and simmer for 2 minutes until heated through. The sambar should be slightly thick and fragrant.
- 4
Steam the 4 idli pieces according to package instructions, about 5 minutes, until soft and fluffy.
- 5
Serve the hot sambar over the warm idli, with an extra swirl of coconut milk if desired.
Tools you’ll need
- pressure cooker
- pot
- steamer
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