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Idli and Sambar By Chef Rakesh Raghunathan

Also known as - Idli Sambar

Idli Sambar is the staple diet of all south Indian households. Chef Rakesh Raghunathan shares the recipe in detail.

Serves4

Cooking Time25-30 Min

Preparation Time20-22 Min

DifficultyMEDIUM

Ingredients

  • For Idli

    • 2 cups boiled rice

    • 1 cup black gram

  • For Sambar

    • 1 tsp coriander seeds

    • 1 tsp Bengal gram

    • 1 tsp fenugreek seeds

    • 1 tsp cumin seeds

    • 1 tsp black peppercorns

    • 10 shallots

    • 1 tomato

    • ghee

    • jaggery

    • 1 cup tamarind water

    • few curry leaves

    • 1 cup freshly grated coconut

    • 5 dry red chillies

PREPARATION

  1. 1

    First, wash both idli rice and urad dal in water.
  2. 2

    Then soak rice for 4 hours and urad dal for 1 hour. Grind both using a grinding stone. Mix both batters and allow them to ferment for 7 to 8 hours.
  3. 3

    Pour the batter into the idli pan and let it steam for 15 minutes.
  4. 4

    Pour the batter into the idli pan and let it steam for 15 minutes.
  5. 5

    Heat sesame oil in a pan, add 1 tsp fenugreek seeds, 1 tsp cardamom seeds, 1 tsp cumin seeds, 1/4 tsp black peppercorns, ½ tsp Bengal gram, 5 dry red chilli and curry leaves, dry roast all the ingredients.
  6. 6

    Cool the mixture and make a fine powder.
  7. 7

    Heat oil in a pan, add 1 tsp fenugreek seeds, 1 cup shallots, curry leaves, 3 or 4 dry red chillies, roast it well, then add chopped tomato, 1 tsp salt and tamarind water, mix it well and let it cook.
  8. 8

    Later add 1 cup cooked green gram, a pinch of jaggery and let it boil.
  9. 9

    Add the ground masala and let it cook again.
  10. 10

    Heat a tsp ghee in a pan, add 1 tsp mustard seeds, curry leaves, 2 dry red chillies.
  11. 11

    Sauté until the red chilly turn crisp and add the tempering to the sambar. Sambar is ready to serve.

STEP BY STEP