Sambar Idly (How to make Ratna Cafe style Sambar Idli?)

This legendary sambar idly dont need introduction at all. Shiva and I used to visit Balaji temple in Venkatnarayana Road often when we were in Chennai and after darshan we head over straight to Ratna Cafe near that temple. Whoever visits that restaurant the first order will be their sambar idli. First they serve the idlis in plate, then the waiter would bring a stainless steel container full of piping hot Sambar & pour it over those two idlies. That fresh aroma of coriander seeds will hit you and you cannot just stop with just two idlies. Also they serve generous mugs of sambar unlike Saravana Bhavan 😝😝

Started missing home very badly and this Saturday thought of preparing some comforting breakast. Nothing screams comfort better than this idli & sambar.

I tried various combinations & followed various recipes to achieve that exact consistency. It took a while to achieve that. Not sure if its the authentic one but trust me it tastes exactly the same as that hotel’s sambar.. More or less it is similar to Tamil brahmin style Arachuvitta Sambar recipe with few changes here and there.

I used my mom’s sambar powder. In case if you don’t homemade have sambar powder try replacing it with 1/2 tbsp Chilli Powder + 1/2 tbsp Coriander Powder. Hopefully it should work. The veggies I use to prepare this sambar are shallots,drumstick & tomato. However you can replace it with Raddish or carrot or anyother veggies of your choice. The following measurement yields sambar which is sufficient for atleast 4-5 people 😬😬

Print Recipe

Ratna Cafe style Sambar Idly

Course

breakfast

Cuisine

south indian, tamil, tamilnadu

Prep Time

10 Minutes

Cook Time

25 Minutes

Servings

People

Ingredients

• 10 Shallots chinna vengayam
• 1 drumstick
• 2 Tomatoes
• 3 cups Thin Tamarind Pulp
• 1 tbsp Sambar powder
• 11/2 cup Toor Daal
• 1/2 tsp Turmeric Powder
• 1/2 Tbsp Salt
• 1/2 tbsp Oil
• 1/2 tbsp ghee
• 1/2 tsp Mustard Seeds
• 1/2 tsp Jeera Seeds
• Few Curry leaves
• Few Coriander Leaves

For Roasting and Grinding

• 1 tbsp Fenugreek Seeds
• 1/2 cup Shredded coconut
• 1/2 cup Coriander Seeds
• 1/2 tbsp Hing
• 1 green chilli

Course breakfast Cuisine south indian, tamil, tamilnadu Prep Time 10 Minutes Cook Time 25 Minutes Servings People Ingredients 10 Shallots chinna vengayam 1 drumstick 2 Tomatoes 3 cups Thin Tamarind Pulp 1 tbsp Sambar powder 11/2 cup Toor Daal 1/2 tsp Turmeric Powder 1/2 Tbsp Salt 1/2 tbsp Oil 1/2 tbsp ghee 1/2 tsp Mustard Seeds 1/2 tsp Jeera Seeds Few Curry leaves Few Coriander Leaves For Roasting and Grinding 1 tbsp Fenugreek Seeds 1/2 cup Shredded coconut 1/2 cup Coriander Seeds 1/2 tbsp Hing 1 green chilli

Instructions

1. Heat 1/2 tsp oil in pan and add all the ingredients mentioned in Roasting & Grinding session one by one
2. Roast until the coconut turns golden brown. Roasting brings lot of flavor to the dish. Ensure you roast them well
3. Grind them to a smooth paste by adding water
4. In the same pan heat remaining oil and add the veggies
5. Add sambar powder and saute in low flame for upto 3 to 4minutes
6. Add salt,turmeric powder and add the turmeric pulp
7. Simmer the flame and let the veggies get cooked in tamarind water
8. This step will take approximately 10-12 minutes
9. Once the veggies are cooked add pressure cooked toor dal, coconut coriander paste to the pan
10. Mix everything well. Add 1/4 cup of water (if you feel that sambar is thick), adjust salt
11. Let the whole mixture boil for 10 minutes
12. Stir them once or twice inbetween
13. The consistency of sambar is your preference. So add water depending on it
14. Once its ready switch off the flame
15. Prepare tadka with 1/2 tsp ghee, curry leaves, jeera and mustard seeds
16. Add this to sambar and garnish it with coriander leaves

Assembling the Idlies :

1. Take a deep plate or bowl, so that you can add sambar generously
2. Place idlies & pour a gallon of sambar 😂
3. Top it with raw chopped onions, drizzle generous dose of ghee and serve them hot

   
4. I believe this method yields sambar which is as good as Ratna Cafe's. Try it and let me know how you liked it. Love to hear from you