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Hotel Idli Sambar Recipe | Tamil nadu Tiffin Sambar – Side Dish For Idli Dosa Pongal

Chitra

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Hotel sambar

I think most of you would have tried varieties of Tamil nadu hotel style idli sambar recipes at home. Even I too posted an idli sambar with toor dal long time back which learnt from my MIL. It tastes similar to the hotel ones. But I should say this is the exact recipe for restaurant style sambar. I got this recipe from Aval vikatan’s supplementary.

Yesterday I tried this for my guests. My guests liked it so much, I was showered with compliments and they were asking for the recipe. Thanks to Mrs. Revathy shanmugam for this yummy hotel kind of recipe. It tastes mildly tangy with more of dal, less spicy and you can even drink this sambar.
 
You can use this as basic Tiffin sambar recipe for making sambar vada,Mini idli sambar etc. It’s a great side dish for Idli, dosa recipes. My friend Jayarani gave me a tip recently. She told me to add pumpkin instead of jaggery and she also suggested me to use drumstick.

 Yes, as she told adding pumpkin gave a mild sweetness and drumstick gave a nice flavour. I have updated the recipe adding them. Do try this, I am sure you’ll get the exact taste as in most of the restaurants. It goes well with idli , dosa , Venpongal and vada. 

Check out this recipe for another version of hotel sambar if interested.


Check out my MINI IDLI SAMBAR RECIPE too.


Hotel idli sambar



Hotel Idli Sambar Recipe

Hotel Idli Sambar Recipe Hotel Idli Sambar Recipe – Restaurant style Tiffin Sambar Recipe

Cuisine: Indian
Category: Side dish
Serves: Serves 4
Prep time: 15 Minutes
Cook time: 15 Minutes
Total time: 30 Minutes

INGREDIENTS

1 cup – 250ml

  • Toor dal OR Moong dal – 1/3 cup
  • Turmeric powder – 1/2 tsp
  • Cooking Oil – A drop
  • Pumpkin – 4-6 pieces ( cube sized)
  • Drumstick – 1 no ( Chop into small pieces)
  • Vegetables ( Carrot & potato) – If needed.
  • Tamarind – 2 seeds (approx. small gooseberry size)

To roast and grind

  • Cooking Oil – 1 tsp
  • Dhania / Coriander seeds – 1 tbsp
  • Chana dal – 2 tbsp
  • Red chillies – 6 nos
  • Methi seeds – 1/2 tsp

To temper & saute

  • Mustard seeds – 1 tsp
  • Urad dal –1tsp
  • Jeera / cumin seeds – 1/2 tsp
  • Red chillies – 2 nos (pinched)
  • Curry leaves – a few
  • Asafetida/Hing – few pinches
  • Small onion – a cup
  • Tomato – 1- 2 nos
  • Sambar powder – 1/2 tsp
  • Coriander leaves – to garnish
  • Jaggery – 1 tsp ( Add if you don’t use pumpkin)
  • Ghee – 1 tbsp
HOW TO MAKE HOTEL IDLI SAMBAR – METHOD


  • Soak tamarind in warm water for 20 minutes and take the extract. Set aside.
  • Peel the onions and chop the tomatoes. Pressure cook the dals with turmeric powder, pumpkin pieces and a drop of oil. Mash and set aside. Cook drumstick and other vegetables separately and set aside
  • In a kadai roast all the above said ingredients and make it a fine powder.
 

  • In the same kadai , add oil and temper all the items in the same order. Now add the sambar onions and saute till transparent. Then add the tomatoes ( crush it with your hands before adding , this makes the sauting process faster ) and required salt. Saute till tomatoes turn mushy and juicy. Add the tamarind extract , raw pinched curry leaves , hing, sambar powder and turmeric powder.
  • Allow to boil till the onions get cooked. Now add the mashed dal,cooked vegetables ( if using) and the ground powder. Mix well so that there are no lumps.
  • Boil for few minutes. It will thicken. Add more water if necessary. Switch off the flame add garnish with coriander leaves.
  • Last but not the least, don’t forget to add a tbsp of ghee & Cover it with a lid until you serve.. 

Enjoy with idli, dosa and pongal!

Note
  • U can use the combination of moong dal and toor dal in equal quantities and make this sambar.
  • Adding pumpkin gives a sweetness to the sambar. So no need to add jaggery or sugar. If you don’t add pumpkin use either jaggery or sugar while sambar boils.
  • Make this sambar atleast 3-4 hours before serving because all the tastes blends well. U can reheat it while serving.
  • For variations, you can add a tbsp of grated coconut while roasting the powder ingredients and powder them.
  • Tastes great the next day with full aroma !!
ENJOY THIS SAMBAR WITH SOFT IDLIES.CRISPY DOSA & VEN PONGAL !!


, , , ,

Chitra

53 responses to “Hotel Idli Sambar Recipe | Tamil nadu Tiffin Sambar – Side Dish For Idli Dosa Pongal”
  1. Vimitha Durai Avatar
    Vimitha Durai

    Love this yummy combination anytime… Looks so perfect

    Reply
  2. Recipe world Avatar
    Recipe world

    Sambar looks delicious n aromatic..nice recipe dear 🙂

    Reply
  3. Sumi Avatar
    Sumi

    I make it the same way to. looks delicious.I can smell the flavour here

    Reply
  4. Lifewithspices Avatar
    Lifewithspices

    aromatic n yummy combo!!

    Reply
  5. Indian Khana Avatar
    Indian Khana

    Yum …looks so gud and those idly are looking so soft …

    Reply
  6. Suparna Avatar
    Suparna

    wow chitra,
    sambar looks tasty and comforting….
    yummm with idlis..
    tc

    Reply
  7. Jeyashris Kitchen Avatar
    Jeyashris Kitchen

    Tempting and inviting sambar, loved ur version

    Reply
  8. Unknown Avatar
    Unknown

    Idli sambar looks yummy..

    Cuisine Delights
    My Monthly Event – Spotlight : "Lunchbox Ideas".

    Reply
  9. Shobha Avatar
    Shobha

    I have always made sambar with only toor dal…will try this one..looks just like the hotel sambar.

    Reply
  10. lubnakarim06 Avatar
    lubnakarim06

    I am a huge fan of tiffin samabhar…love to try this version…looks yum….

    Reply
  11. Prema Avatar
    Prema

    Very nice recipe chitra,luks perfect with idly…

    Reply
  12. Gayathri NG Avatar
    Gayathri NG

    Simply tempting n aromatic sambar…

    Reply
  13. PrathibhaSreejith Avatar
    PrathibhaSreejith

    Very aromatic and yummy Sambhar recipe. best combo ever 🙂

    Reply
  14. Unknown Avatar
    Unknown

    Looks so flavourful and aromatic..yummy sambar

    Reply
  15. Suja Manoj Avatar
    Suja Manoj

    Aromatic and tasty sambar,thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  16. Priya Suresh Avatar
    Priya Suresh

    I can have two more idlies with this sambar, my fav..

    Reply
  17. Vikis Kitchen Avatar
    Vikis Kitchen

    Thanks for the recipe dear. That idly sambar click makes me drool:)

    Reply
  18. Laavanya Avatar
    Laavanya

    That looks so delicious… i would love mini idlis dunked in this.

    Reply
  19. Jayanthy Kumaran Avatar
    Jayanthy Kumaran

    my tummy is rumbling now…:PP

    Tasty Appetite

    Reply
  20. Home Cooked Oriya Food Avatar
    Home Cooked Oriya Food

    i love sambar, my favorite comfort food…
    yummy!

    Reply
  21. Amina Creations Avatar
    Amina Creations

    sambar looks delicious… will try this version soon..

    Reply
  22. turmericnspice Avatar
    turmericnspice

    idli sambhar is like comfort food !!! bliss 🙂

    Reply
  23. notyet100 Avatar
    notyet100

    Sambhar looks yum,..:)

    Reply
  24. Gayathri NG Avatar
    Gayathri NG

    Dleicious sambar…

    Reply
  25. Parita Avatar
    Parita

    seriously looks so so delicious!

    Reply
  26. Recipeswap Avatar
    Recipeswap

    Perfect. Looks exactly like the holet sambar.

    Reply
  27. Raks Avatar
    Raks

    I too make the same way,love it a lot with idly! 🙂

    Reply
  28. www.mahaslovelyhome.com Avatar
    www.mahaslovelyhome.com

    Wow delicious..can just imagine the taste..yummy.
    maha

    Reply
  29. Kalyani Avatar
    Kalyani

    Perfect combination … Delicious !!!

    Reply
  30. Santosh Bangar Avatar
    Santosh Bangar

    my fav like in any form love ur recipe

    Reply
  31. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    hi chitra,
    i tried this sambar last week and it came out really well. Tasted exactly like hotel sambar. My hubby liked it very much. We had it with pongal, dosa and vada. Tasted even better the second day. thanks for the post.

    I would appreciate if u add a seperate section for "Festival Sweets" (hindu festivals and the sweets – naivedyam we make for it). It will help the people living in abroad like me a lot.

    Thanks,
    Radhu.

    Reply
  32. Chitra Avatar
    Chitra

    Thanks radhu . I am glad u all liked it. I'll sure start a section for sweets..Thanks again 🙂

    Reply
  33. Meenu Avatar
    Meenu

    Yummy Sambar.

    Reply
  34. Unknown Avatar
    Unknown

    Hi,I tried sambhar today and got appreciated for that thanks for the recipe ,

    Reply
  35. Unknown Avatar
    Unknown

    HI, I tried this sambar today and I got appreciated by my husband thanks for the recipe chitragaru

    Thanks
    Vijj

    Reply
    1. Chitra Avatar
      Chitra

      Thanks a lot for the feedback ,i am glad u all liked it 🙂

      Reply
  36. சாரதா சமையல் Avatar
    சாரதா சமையல்

    Idli sambar seymurai super.

    Reply
  37. Unknown Avatar
    Unknown

    Chitra love u ragi idli came out very soft n prepared hotel style sambar which u had posted,my hubby n kids were very happy tnx a lot.

    Reply
    1. Chitra Avatar
      Chitra

      Thanks a ton Swathi for trying and the feedback:)

      Reply
  38. Saravana Avatar
    Saravana

    We prepared this sambar today and it was absolutely delicious. We totally loved it. It tasted great with dosa. We felt that the taste was excellent than the restaurant ones. We will make this often for sure. Thank you so much sharing this recipe and for your help in my queries to try this recipe.

    Reply
    1. Chitra Avatar
      Chitra

      Thank u so much Saravana.I am glad u liked my recipes 🙂

      Reply
  39. Unknown Avatar
    Unknown

    thnk u chitra for this wonderful recipe..i jus loved it

    Reply
  40. Unknown Avatar
    Unknown

    thnak u chitra for this wonderful recipe..we loved it..better than restaurant

    Reply
  41. Chitra Avatar
    Chitra

    Thank u so much Neha Srivatasa 🙂

    Reply
  42. Agila Avatar
    Agila

    Hi Chitra I had tried this Sambar in this week….we liked it very much…Thanks for this recipe….

    Reply
    1. Chitra Avatar
      Chitra

      Happy to know.Thank u so much 🙂

      Reply
  43. mani Avatar
    mani

    Hi Chitra.. I tried the Sambar and pongal receipe.. it came out superb.. I prepared the same dish earlier,but this is best.. Thanks for this wonderful receipe..My wife is very much impressed ����

    Reply
  44. mani Avatar
    mani

    Hi Chitra.. I had tried the pongal and sambar recipe.. It came out really superb.. Thanks for the wonderful recipe.. My wife liked it very much. Keep up the good work 😊

    Reply
    1. Chitra Avatar
      Chitra

      Glad to see your positive feedback 🙂 Thank you so much !

      Reply
  45. Vanithasiva Avatar
    Vanithasiva

    I tried this sambar today. Came out very well. My son told "super ma" thanks for recipe.

    Reply
    1. Chitra Avatar
      Chitra

      Happy to know that. Thank you so much 😍

      Reply
  46. Vanithasiva Avatar
    Vanithasiva

    I tried this sambar today. Came out very well. My son told "super ma" thanks for recipe.

    Reply
    1. Chitra Avatar
      Chitra

      Thanks a lot for your feedback 🙂

      Reply

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