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Tiffin Sambar
Binjal Pandya

Restaurant Style Tiffin Sambar

Restaurant Style Tiffin Sambar or Hotel Style Tiffin Sambar, Sambar is one kind of Indian dal or curry. This Restaurant Style Tiffin Sambar is a south Indian specialty and very easy super delicious perfectly goes with Idli, Dosa, Medu Vada as a side dish. This south Indian delicacy made with lentil, veggies and home grounded aromatic spices. Sambar is a staple part of most South Indian meals, every family has their own personal recipe with different combination of veggies and spices
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 3 -4
Course: Curry
Cuisine: Indian
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • ½ cup Tuvar/Arhar Dal Split Pigeon Peas
  • ½ cup Masoor Dal/Split Red Lentil)
  • ½ tsp Turmeric Powder
For Sambar Masala
  • 1 tbsp Chana dal
  • 1 tbsp Whole Coriander seeds
  • 1 tsp Cumin Seeds
  • 1 tsp Whole Black peppers
  • 8-10 Curry Leaves
  • 1-2 tsp Fenugreek Seeds
  • 4-5 Dry Whole Red Chilies
  • 1-2 tbsp Oil
Other Ingredients
  • 1 tbsp Oil
  • ½ tsp Mustard Seeds
  • ½ tsp Cumin Seeds
  • 1 tsp Split Black Gram/Urad Dal
  • Pinch of Asafoetida/Hing
  • 2 Dry Red Chiles
  • 4-5 Curry Leaves
  • 1 tbsp Grated Ginger
  • 2 Green Chilies Chopped
  • ½ cup chopped Onion
  • ½ cup chopped Baby Eggplants/Brinjal
  • ½ cup chopped Potatoes
  • 1 cup chopped Tomatoes
  • 1 medium sized chopped Carrot
  • 1-2 chopped Drumstick optional
  • ¼ cup chopped Pumpkin optional
  • 1-2 tsp Tamarind Pulp or Soaked Ripe Tamarind Juice
  • 1 tsp Turmeric Powder
  • Salt

Method
 

For Sambar Masala
  1. Heat oil in a small pan. Add cumin seeds, chana dal, fenugreek seeds and roast it for few seconds then add all dry masala ingredients like dry red chili, curry leaves, black pepper and roast it again for few minutes till aromatic.
  2. Let it be cool for few minutes then blend it into a blender or a mixer and make smooth dry powder form and keep aside.
For Sambar Dal
  1. Wash both dals 2-3 times then add turmeric powder, required water (almost 2 cups) and then pressure cook it till soft and mushy texture.
  2. In a deep pan, add oil, once oil heat, add cumin seeds, mustard seeds, dry red chilies, urad dal, curry leaves, pinch of hing and roast it for few seconds.
  3. Add dry red chilies, grated ginger, green chiles, chopped onion and stir fry till soft golden brown then add chopped tomatoes and stir it again till soft.
  4. Add chopped veggies, prepared sambar masala, salt, turmeric powder and mix it well.
  5. Add 1 or 1 ½ cup water, bring it to boil, cover it and cook it till veggies become tender.
  6. Once veggies cooked, add tamarind pulp, cooked dal and mix it well.
  7. Stir it and cook it till boiling point on medium flame, turn the flame on low level and cook it the boiled dal mixture for 3-4 minutes, our restaurant style tiffin sambar is ready.
  8. Add chopped coriander leaves and serve it with steamed rice, Dosa, Idli or any south Indian snack dish.

Notes

  • You can use any one dal instead of both dals.
  • You can use chopped pumpkin and drumstick veggie for more traditional taste.
  • Add or skip veggies as per your choice.
  • You can use readymade sambar powder instead of homemade.