Idli Sambhar

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Ingredients

For idli
2 cups sona masoori rice
1 cup urad gota
1/8 tsp methi seeds
3/4 cup thick poha

For Sambhar

 1 cup toovar dal soaked for an hour in 3 cups of water
1 red onion finely chopped/7-8 pearl onions
2 medium tomatoes
veggies of your choice: I used french beans,carrots,pumpkin cubed
1 tbsp tamarind concentrate
1 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp chilli powder
2 tbsp sambhar powder ,recipe here
salt
1 tsp oil
a small ball of jaggery
fistful cilantro finely chopped

For tempering :

1 tbsp oil
1 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp cumin seeds
pinch of hing
10 curry leaves
1 red chili slit
1/4 tsp methi seeds

1 1/2 cups chilled water(optional-helps if you are using a blender to make the batter)

Method

For idlis

  • Wash and soak rice,urad gota,and methi seeds together in 6 cups of water for 6-7 hrs or overnight.
  • Wash the poha well and add them to the soaked rice, dal mixture 30 mins before grinding.
  • Grind the ingredients in batches with enough chilled water to a smooth batter.Add little water at a time and do not run the blender continuously for more than a minute.Grind,stop,gather the ingredients in the blender with a spoon,add adequate water and grind again.
  • The more bubbles you see in the ground mixture the more soft idlis would turn out to be.Remove this batter in a large bowl.
  • Mix the batter with your hands for 2-3 mins.The heat of your hand will faciliate fermentation.
  • Ferment in a warm spot for 10-12 hours.
  • During winter-Switch on the oven bulb and place the batter atleast for 12 hrs.

While preparing idlis add salt to the batter and mix.Grease the idli stands drop in small amount of batter in each mould and steam the idlis for 15 mins.

For sambhar

  • Add the onion and tomatoes, turmeric,oil to the toovar dal and cook for 4-5 whistles.
  • Add the veggies in a pot and add 1 1/2 cups of water and cook until they are almost done.
  • In a kadhai,add oil,tempering ingredients,veggies along with the water they are cooked in, sambar powder,chili powder,tamarind,salt jaggery and cook for 3-4 mins covered.
  • Add the cooked dal,a cup of water, and cover and simmer for 10 mins.
  • Adjust the consistency and garnish with cilantro.

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