Soft Idli with Sambar
Idli with sambar is one of the most nutritious and kid friendly recipes in Indian cuisine, loved by children for its soft texture and mild flavors. This simplified kid friendly recipe uses a shortcut batter so parents can make this iconic breakfast quickly any day.
Fluffy steamed rice cakes served with a mildly spiced lentil vegetable soup kids slurp up happily.
Nutrition per serving
Ingredients
idli
sambar
seasoning
cooking
Instructions
Steam the Idli
Grease an idli mold with a little oil. Pour store bought batter into each mold filling three quarters full. Place in a steamer or large pot with an inch of boiling water. Cover and steam for 12 to 15 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
Cook the Lentils
While idli steams, add rinsed lentils, frozen vegetables, and water to a medium pot. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer for 12 minutes until lentils are completely soft and mushy.
Season the Sambar
Add sambar powder and salt to the cooked lentil mixture. Stir well and simmer for another 5 minutes. Heat oil in a small pan and pour it into the sambar for extra flavor and richness.
Serve Together
Remove idlis from molds using a wet spoon. They should come out cleanly and look puffy and white. Arrange on plates and serve with warm sambar for dipping. Kids love dunking soft idli into the flavorful soup.
Substitutions
Common mistakes
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