Idli & Sambar

Idli (Steamed Rice-Lentil Cakes)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup urad dal (split black gram)
• 2.5 cups idli rice (or regular rice)
• 1 tsp fenugreek seeds
• Salt to taste
• Water as needed

Steps:

1. Soak: Soak the urad dal and fenugreek seeds in water for 4-6 hours. Separately soak the rice.
2. Grind: Grind urad dal into a smooth batter and rice into a coarse batter. Mix both with salt.
3. Ferment: Leave the batter in a warm place overnight to ferment.
4. Steam: Pour the batter into greased idli molds and steam for 10-15 minutes.

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Sambar (Spiced Lentil Soup)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup toor dal (pigeon peas)
• 1 tbsp tamarind pulp
• 2 cups vegetables (carrot, beans, drumstick, etc.)
• 2 tbsp sambar powder
• 1 tsp mustard seeds
• Curry leaves, dried red chilies
• Asafoetida (hing), turmeric, and salt
• Water as needed

Steps:

1. Cook Dal: Pressure cook toor dal until soft and mash it.
2. Prepare Vegetables: Cook vegetables in water with turmeric and salt.
3. Tamarind & Spices: Add tamarind pulp, sambar powder, and cooked dal to the vegetables. Simmer.
4. Temper: Heat oil, splutter mustard seeds, curry leaves, and red chilies. Add this to the sambar.