Idli Sambar

Recipe for making idli
Ingredients for idli :
1.)2 cups  rice

2.)1 cup udad dal

3.)1 cup powdered oats

4.)1 tsp salt

5.)Water( as per requirement)

6.)1 tsp soda

Method for making idli :

1.)Wash  rice & udad dal 2 to 3 times with water & keep aside .

2.)Now add all the above ingredients in a bowl & add 3 cups water and soak it for 2 to 3  hrs then grind it in a mixture or food processer.

3.)Now add all the mixer in a bowl & let the mixture  ferment for 8 to 10 hrs .

4.)Now your idli batter is ready .

5.)Now in a idli cooker add water & keep aside.Grease the idli plates with little oil .

6.)Now add a generous amount of batter and allow it to cook for 10 mins or until done .

7.)Serve it with chatni or sambar .

Recipe for making sambar :-
Ingredients (measuring cup used, 1 cup = 250 ml)

A.)For cooking the lentils:
1.)½ cup tuvar dal/arhar dal/pigeon pea lentils
2.)½ cup masoor dal/pink lentils
3.)¼ tsp turmeric powder/haldi
4.)2.5 to 3 cups for water for pressure cooking

B.)For sambar:-
1.)5 to 6 small brinjals, 100 gms
2.)1 medium potato
3.)1 large onion or 4 to 5 shallots, 90 to 100 gms
4.)3 medium to large tomatoes, 220 to 230 gms
5.)1 tbsp tamarind soaked in ¼ to ½ cup warm water
6.)1.5 cups water added later or add as required
7.)salt as required

C.)Tempering:
1.)2 tbsp oil
2.)4 to 5 curry leaves/kadi patta
3.)½ tsp asafoetida powder/hing - if you have a strong asafoetida, then add ¼ tsp
4.)½ tsp mustard seeds/rai or sarson
5.)1 tsp urad dal/husked and split black lentil.

Method:-
1.)Cooking the lentils:
rinse both the lentils well and then add them to the pressure cooker with 2.5 to 3 cups water and ¼ tsp turmeric powder.
pressure cook the lentils for 8 to 8 whistles or more, till they are soft and well cooked. mash the lentils and keep aside.

2.)Preparing the sambar:
1.)soak the tamarind in warm water for 25 to 30 mins.later squeeze the tamarind pulp. strain and keep aside.
2.)chop all the vegetables. quarter the onions. peel and dice the carrots and potatoes.
3.)dice the brinjals and add them in water to prevent discoloration. chop the tomatoes in small pieces.
4.)in a pot, heat oil first. add the mustard and urad dal. let the mustard crackle and the urad dal turn into a maroonish color.
add quartered onions or shallots, curry leaves and asafoetida. stir and and saute for 2 minutes.
then add the veggies and saute for 4 to 5 minutes.
5.)add the tomatoes, salt and continue to saute for 6 to 7 minutes more.
pour water. then add the strained tamarind pulp and stir well.
simmer until the raw aroma of the tamarind goes away. about 8 to 9 minutes.
6.)if the vegetables are not cooked, then continue to simmer till they get cooked.
now add the ground sambar masala which we have already prepared. stir.
add the mashed lentils. stir and simmer sambar for about 6 to 7 minutes. add hot water if required depending on the consistency you want. the sambar which is served in the hotels is on the thinner side.
7.)check the taste and add more salt if required.
8.)garnish with coriander leaves and serve the tiffin sambar hot with idli, medu vada or dosa.

*notes:-
you can add your choice of vegetables.