Updated on by Raks Anand 115 Comments
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Learn how to make moong dal tiffin sambar, perfect to go with tiffin items like idli, dosa, pongal, upma etc. Step by step pictures post.
I make this very often and now hooked to this recipe,as my kid always wants sambar for idli/dosa.. I like it best with pongal.
The mild taste makes the sambar perfect for dunking the tiffin items in it and have generously. Check out my other idli sambar with toor dal, fresh ground spices.
Sambar powder
Roast in ½ teaspoon oil and powder coarsely :
Channa dal/kadalai paruppu - 1 & ½ tbsp
Coriander seeds - 1 & ½ tsp
Dry red chilli - 4
Fenugreek seeds - ½ tsp
Method
- Pressure cook dal for 3 whistles, mash and keep aside. Chop onion, vegetables, tomatoes, slit green chillies.
- Heat kadai/pan with oil/ ghee and temper with the items given under ‘To temper’ table in order.
- Add onion and fry till transparent. After that, add the vegetables and tomato together and fry in medium flame for 2 minutes. Add little salt while frying for easy cooking of the vegetables.
4. Then add required water and the tamarind and boil till the vegetables get cooked. Add the curry leaves,coriander leaves,salt, asafoetida and jaggery. Lastly add the sambar powder and bring to boil.
5. Add the cooked dal and mix well. Adjust water as needed to get a sambar consistency. Bring to boil and garnish with coriander leaves.
Serve with idli/dosa or pongal or you can have it with mini idlis as I did that day for dinner 🙂! Top with sesame oil or ghee if desired..
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5 from 5 votes
Tiffin sambar with moong dal recipe
Learn how to make moong dal tiffin sambar, perfect to go with tiffin items like idli, dosa, pongal, upma etc. Step by step pictures post.
Course Side Dish
Cuisine Indian, South Indian
Prep Time 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes minutes
Author Raks Anand
Servings 4 people
Cup measurements
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup Moong dal paasi paruppu
- 1 Onion chopped
- 1 Tomato
- 2 Green chillies
- 2 Brinjal small
- 1 potato
- 1 carrot small -.
- 1 tablespoon Tamarind extract
- ¼ teaspoon Turmeric powder
- ⅛ teaspoon Asafoetida
- ¼ teaspoon Jaggery
- 2 tablespoon Coriander leaves chopped
- Curry leaves - few
- ½ teaspoon Jaggery
- Salt and water - as needed
Sambar powder: Roast in ½ teaspoon oil and powder coarsely
- 1.5 tablespoon Chana dal
- 1.5 teaspoon Coriander seeds
- 4 Dry red chilli
- ½ teaspoon Fenugreek seeds
To Temper
- 1 tablespoon Ghee or oil
- ½ teaspoon Mustard
- 1 teaspoon Jeera
- 1 sprig Curry leaves
- ⅛ teaspoon Asafoetida
Instructions
Pressure cook dal for 3 whistles,mash and keep aside.
Chop onion, vegetables, tomatoes, slit green chillies.
Heat kadai/pan with oil/ ghee and temper with the items given under ‘To temper’ table in order.
Add onion and fry till transparent.
After that, add the vegetables and tomato together and fry in medium flame for 2 minutes.
Add little salt while frying for easy cooking of the vegetables.
Then add required water and the tamarind and boil till the vegetables get cooked.
Add the curry leaves, 1 tablespoon coriander leaves, salt, asafoetida and jaggery.
Lastly add the sambar powder and bring to boil.
Add the cooked dal and mix well.
Adjust water as needed to get a sambar consistency.
Bring to boil and garnish with remaining coriander leaves.
Notes
- The sambar is very mild, so perfect for kids,my son loves this!
- Add tamarind less as mentioned, that’s the speciality of this sambar..
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InstagramMention @rakskitchen or tag #rakskitchen if you have tried this recipe.
Other Side dish for Idli dosa
- Salna recipe | Empty salna for parotta
- Dangar chutney, Dangar side dish for idli dosa
- Red chilli chutney recipe, side dish for idli dosa
- How to make idli podi with mild dhaniya flavour
Reader Interactions
Comments
Nags
love the last picture raks! and that's the same bucket as mine, you were right!! 😀 i bought mine in trichy! nee?
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Gayu
The bucket is so cutee...love this Sambar..reminded of Indian weddings!!
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Priya
Woww super sambar, that bowl of mini idlies and sambar makes me hungry Raji..
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Kalpana Sareesh
wow i love those mini idlies n sambhar..
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Prathibha
Loved that bucket dear...very cute..:)
I do my tiffin sambar with a combination of moong and toor dal and I make sure that I add few selective vegetables get the flavor what we get in hotels...I just loved the color of sambar....loooks very tempting...Reply
notyet100
luv the bowl of mini idlis with sambhar,wish i could eat this now
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jeyashrisuresh
hot sambar with spongy idlis makes me drool.cute bucket and nice clicks.will try ur version of sambhar soon.
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RAKS KITCHEN
Me in SG,Jyothi stores Nags 🙂
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Sharmilee! :)
Sambar looks very tempting...luved the last pic very much! enaku cone dosai epo soli thara....supera iruku paaka oru flight anupu ipove varen sapida 😉
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vidhas
looks tempting, sambhar vali is very cute. Lovely presentation, lovely clicks ..... I also make this sambhar. It tastes good .
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sowmya's creative saga
nice one..should try making this one for my son with mini idlis..lovely clicks.
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Happy Cook
I have been seeing that bucket ( bowl in lots os blogs and i am in lovr with it, i am going to try this sambar soon.
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Gayathri Anand
wow ...lovely clicks I do the same way ..love all ur photos ..makes me hungry ..
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Divya Kudua
Love all the pics..sambar looks yum!
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Ramya
I keep cumg back to ur page to look at the last pic...:-) looks soo inviting...Drooling here...
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Shanthi
Lovely and cute bucket. Like the bucket more than the sambhar.
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Rekha shoban
wow raji!! superah irukku pics....sambharum idlyum haha nalla combo...
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Priti
All the pics looks so gud ... DH likes sambar idly than with idli with chutney ..will try this...
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Pavithra
I love Mooooooooooooong sambar so so much and this is the way exactly i too do and it tastes like hotel sambar. And the spice mixture which i make is also same of that 4 ingredients. Never tried with pongal..I used to make for idli and DOsa..next time i will try making this for pongal too.
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Nithya
Ada dhool.. andha bucket is becoming famous now 😉
Love the last pic and I am simply drooling 🙂
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Paaka Shaale
The moong dal sambhar looks yum. And as usual the presentation and the clicks are great 🙂
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Hamaree Rasoi
Moong sambar looks so tempting and delicious. Must have tasted yummy.
Deepa
Hamaree RasoiReply
The Foodie
WOW the sambar is looking so good... i would love to eat some of those drunken idlis 🙂
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Premalatha Aravindhan
Wow this yummy sambar,loved the presentation...Very nice!
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Laavanya
I make this often with ven pongal too - so quick and tasty.
Such fascinating pics Raks.Reply
Smitha
moong daal sambar is too good....I make it from time to time, as my hubby isn't that fond of it....but i surely love it!
Smitha
http://smithasspicyflavors.blogspot.com/Reply
Shama Nagarajan
too good..lovely click...so tempting
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uma shankar
The kutti bucket looks so cute and the picture is so good.great job!!!
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Sush
I too make something similar to go with my idli & dosas. Lovely bucket & great pictures.
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Vimitha Anand
Loved the last pic... Will tempt anyone who sees it..
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Suja Sugathan
Delicious sambar, healthy and inviting breakfast..Beautiful clicks dear.
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Shanavi
Killing me Raks...droolingggggg Delicious..Like the paper dosa..... 😉
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Akila
wow... you always rocks.... and its 2 am now and i am feeling hungry after seeing your idli sambar....
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Swathi
sambar looks delicious espcially dunken idly is perfect
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rekhas kitchen
Never made sambar with moongdal sounds very delicious and each and every picture of your made me hungry lovely post dear.
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divya
The sambar looks fantastic. Superb!!! 🙂
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Priya (Yallapantula) Mitharwal
wow, what a lovely looking sambhar, love the color and presentation. And, never used moong dal, so a great idea.
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Rachu
wow.. beautiful presentation.. feels like I just ate idlis and dosas with your yummy flavorful sambhar.!
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Padma
WOW tempting pictures.... love this sambar with idli/dosa ofcourse venpongal...
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kothiyavunu.com
Yummy!! Ur making me hungry..awesome clicks.
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Preety
looking so delicious..
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GEETHA ACHAL
எனக்கும் மிகவும் பிடித்த சாம்பார்...கத்திரிக்காய் சேர்த்து செய்து இருக்கின்றேன்...ஆனால் இதில் கேரட் எல்லாம் சேர்த்து செய்தது கிடையாது...பார்க்கும் பொழுதே பொங்கலுடன் சாப்பிட தோனுது...படங்கள் அழகு..
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Reshmi
hi rajeshwari,
first time here and it feels so good when you drop into such a wonderful blog with awesome collection of recipes and droolworthy pics.. appreciate your efforts.. love to follow u!
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Jaishree
Sambar looks very tempting..Lovely Presentation! Drooling pics.Awesome!
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Aruna Manikandan
love this sambar a lot..
looks perfect and delicious..
wonderful presentation with beautiful clicks dear:)Reply
Radhika
Raji the sambar in the bucket reminds of hotel sambar. Loved the clicks very much. keep rocking.
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swapna
Tempting and yummy sambar...love the bucket!!
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Plateful
Hi Rajeswari, that's one mouthwatering display of dishes. Loved the first pic and the one with the mini idlis soaked in sambar.
This is my first time in your space. I just glimpsed through a couple of recipes and I loved it. Very appealing pics too. Gonna follow you 🙂
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Kanchan
Sambhar in any form is welcome .. the hot vapours looks perfect ..
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Kurinji
wow Raji tasty sambar and beautiful clicks..(bucket also)...
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Mary
This really looks delicious. I hope you have a wonderful day. Blessings...Mary
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Anu
wow mouthwatering... yummmy..... Dosa , idly sambar kalakal... bucket looks cute...
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Cham
I never made sambar with moong dhal, hehe love the bucket like hotel 🙂
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Torviewtoronto
sambar looks delicious and healthy lovely picture
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SpicyTasty
Lovely sambar for breakfast.
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Kairali sisters
Wow.. Such a beautiful looking sambar, the pictures gorgeously tempting raks...
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LG
Tempting pictures Raks, especially sambar in bucket 😀
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kaveri
Hai Rajeshwari
Mouthwatering Sambar. Lovely pictures...
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Sushma Mallya
Looks Lovley Raji:)....what tempting pics:)
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Pari
I must try this, the pics are tempting me to do so.
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Lavi
Dosai nna, last pic la irukkarathu thaan! nanum podarenea;)
Hotel sambhar per la mattum illa, pics layum theriyuthu!!
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Jay
wanna taste now with my hot soft idlies..:)
love d awesome click Raks..
Tasty appetiteReply
Jaleela Kamal
super sambar
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aipi
The more I scroll through your pics the hungrier I get..awesome recipe n presentation 🙂
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Sarah Naveen
nice clicks raks...
I love sambar with moong dal...This looks so yummy and i wanna grab that bowl with idli..yumm!!Reply
Now Serving
Love the Sambar pail and the pictures as you've heard already SO many times are too tempting! Excellent post
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Priya's Feast
Nice idea of making the tiffin sambar with pasu paruppu and my DH luvs it so much... U r clicking the food in best angels...Ur photography skills r more much interesting day by day,Teach me some 🙂
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Sathya
Hi Raks..I tried this yesterday with dosa and it was awesome..the best part my husband loved it..Thanks u..
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RAKS KITCHEN
Thanks so much Sathya for trying and the prompt feedback! 🙂 Glad you both loved it!
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almostveg
Loved this recipe. My husband is a south Indian and he said it was superb. We had it with idli's for lunch. Better than my m-in-laws sambar. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
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NiVi
Hi Raks,
This recipe helped me a lot when my mixie went repair and this side dish amused my hubby very well. It is yummyReply
Sne
Hi Raks,
First, so glad I found your site for south indian recipes. LOVE the step by step pictures.
Noticed the sambhar powder ingredients in this recipe are with less ingredients (toor dal, pepper corns, jeera and turmeric powder are missing) than in your sambhar powder recipe on the side. Is that on purpose? Does this tiffin sambhar not need those other ingredients? Want to make some so wanted to find out before making.
Also, do you have a recipe for the red tomato chutney served in Tamilnadu with Dosa/Idli?
Thank YouReply
RAKS KITCHEN
Hi sne,
Yes the sambar powder in the side bar is for day to day use and is a tiny bit different, for freshly ground we add just these mentioned. Do try this way, it will be a hit for sure!
I have two chutneys :
Onion Tomato Chutney
Tomato chutney
Hope you like it.Reply
Divya Babrekar
Hi Raks,
Made this sambar it came out really well!!Reminded me of the smanbar that you get in saravana bhavan in chennai!!Sluurrp!!Thank you so much 🙂
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Divya Babrekar
Hi Raks,
Thank you so much for the recipe!!Made it with hot idlis..Came out very well!! 🙂
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Poornima
Hi, I made this sambar today with dosa and it was absolutely delicious. I recently came across your blog and tried some of your recipes, and none of them have gone wrong..Great job there! Keep it coming!!
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Rama
I made this sambar today. It was exceptional!!! Thank you so much for this recipe. The only mild modifications I made were the choice of vegetables (Skipped Eggplant) and I mixed Moong and Toor dal for the base. I loved the recipe and the others as well. Lovely step by step and final pictures too. Please keep them coming 🙂
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RAKS KITCHEN
Thank you so much Divya, poornima and Rama for your feedback 🙂
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Poornima Sundaram
Hi Raks
I tried this sambar today. It was too good and a Perfect combination for idli and dosai.
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ShaliniAnand
Hi Raks,
Was googling for Tiffin Sambar and i just loved this one. So tempting. Just a doubt not about the sambar but about the cone dosa. Can you share some tips about it? And is the glass bowl kept on stove.
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RAKS KITCHEN
Thank you 🙂
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RAKS KITCHEN
Hi, make thin dosa as you make regularly and once cooked, using a knife or kitchen scissor, cur halfway through the dosa like drawing a radius of a circle. Then Roll with the cut end to make cone dosa. I will soon update a video or pictorial for it. Thanks for asking.
Yes its glass corning ware. Its called VISIONS.
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syrilsudhan
Hi raks,
I tried the sambar ...it was really yummy.....my family enjoyed it ,,,thanks for the recipe...
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syrilsudhan
Hi Raks,
I tried the sambar...it was really yummy......my family enjoyed it....especially my son...thanks for the recipe....
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Preeti Chourishi
Instead of potato, pieces of 1 cup bottle gourd (lauki)can be added.Fry some 8-10 Whole green chilli - slit in little oil till it changes with white spots and add after STEP - 4 and bring it to boil.Instead of chopped onion long and thin onion pieces can be use. A spoon of sugar crystal too can be added. Whole this your recipe with above changes makes this SAMBHAR a famous kitty party recipe of my society. And it is always discussed in every Kitty party known as my Mammy's SAMBHAR.
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Vidya Vinod
I have to tell you that your webpage has become my "one stop shop" for all my cooking..all the reccipes are mouthwatering and their pictures are too good too..keep blogging..
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Lavanya Sriram
Hi raks,
I found you couple of weeks back and I am hooked. All your recipes look simple and delicious. I tried couple of your recipes and bothe came out well. Veg momos and veg fried rice. Thank you. Keep blogging new recipes.
Reg this sambar, I have a ques: you have mentioned jaggery in the ingredients list, but did you add it while cooking? Should we add or not?Will stay tuned to your posts.
Thanks
LavanyaReply
RAKS KITCHEN
Looks like I have missed it in the steps. Will edit to add, thanks for pointing out 🙂
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Satheesh Thomas
I tried the recipe yesterday.. And the taste was wonderfull. Thanks for the recipe.
Please change "To season" to "To temper".. I got confused when I read it first.You are maintaining the site very well with detailed picture. The effort must be appreciated.. Once again a big THANKS..
Nimmy Satheesh..
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Poornima Saminathan
Wowww...yummy recipe...gotta try it tomorrow, but could u pls tell how many servings is this recipe?
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Ayesha Vohra
Can you tell me what spice grinder you use and where I can get it in the US?
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Raks anand
I use Panasonic mixie in this post.
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LAKSHMI MOHAN
Hi raks
We have to use shallots or big onion??? We keralites use shallots for sambar..here which type of onion.we have to use??? Pls help..Reply
Raks anand
I this particular recipe, I have used big onion. But shallots works best and gives great flavor.
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Anusha Madhavan
Made this Sambar and loved it !
Thank you for sharing this simple and tasty recipe !!Reply
sudha m
I made this sambar today mng....simply superb....thnks 4 d recipe
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Sue Govender
Hi Raks been looking for a sambar recipe for ages with definitely make this for my family. Another treat for us South African Indians.
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Anonymous
Hi, thanks for the recipe. How many people does this recipe serve? I will be cooking for approx 20 people, and will proportion accordingly.
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Malarvizhi Muthu
Hi Raks, can we use sambar powder which is available in stores?
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Raks anand
Yes
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Raks anand
Serves 4
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Anju
Thanks so much for the recipe!! My husband is Tamil and I made sambar for the first time using this recipe and he loved it 🙂 Thanks!
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Renu
Thank you, Raks, for such a simple and delicious recipe. My husband, who is hard to please, just loves this sambar and is the ONLY thing he will eat with idlis 🙂 This has become a staple in our household. Thanks again and I love your blog.
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Achraj Singh
This is absolutely yummy.... Made this a few days back and it was such a hit in my house.... I must compliment you on how precise your measurements are... Keep them coming!!
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Achraj Singh
Best sambar I have tasted in a long long time... I actually love the moong dal version more than the toor dal one.... Thanks for the brilliant and precise recipes... Keep up the good work!!
Best wishes from Vancouver, CanadaReply
Raks anand
Thanks a lot 🙂
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Radhi S
Hi raks
U didn't mention the quantity of sambar powder for that sambar... Pls mention it in spoonReply
Raks Kitchen
Whatever we roast and grind as mentoined in the ingredients list, we are adding all the powder. It's given for single use.
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Nithya MA
I was searching for hotel style sambhar in your blog and I tried this recipe. Wow! Amazing. Nalla kozhachu adichen idli ellam.
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Raks Anand
Haha, thanks a lot 🙂
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Khansa Erooth
Love this ...Have been making this since a few years.
Thank you for the awesome recipe.Reply
Priya Anand
Made this again today after a few years. Was awesome. Having it for lunch also...:-)
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Raks Anand
Great to know 🙂 Thank you!
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Monica Sivamurthy
This sambar recipe is always a hit. I get a lot of compliments anytime I make this .
Thank you much for sharing this recipe!Monica
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Raks Anand
Thanks a lot 🙂
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