Sugar-Free Sambhar Idli

Delight in the wholesome flavors of South India with our Sugar-Free Sambhar Idli recipe, a nutritious twist on the classic comfort food. This recipe combines soft, fluffy idlis made from a perfectly fermented blend of rice, urad dal, and fenugreek seeds, paired with a vibrant, sugar-free sambhar. Crafted with protein-packed toor dal, tangy tamarind, and an assortment of fresh vegetables, the sambhar bursts with bold, aromatic spices like curry leaves, asafoetida, and sambhar powder. Perfect for health-conscious food lovers, this dish is completely free of refined sugar while offering an authentic taste that’s rich, satisfying, and heartwarming. Ready in under an hour of active time, Sugar-Free Sambhar Idli is an ideal breakfast, lunch, or dinner option that’s as nutritious as it is flavorful.

Nutriscore Rating: 78/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:45 mins

Total Time:65 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 cup raw rice
• 0.5 cup urad dal (split black gram)
• 0.5 teaspoon fenugreek seeds
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons tamarind pulp
• 1 cup toor dal (pigeon peas)
• 1 cup mixed vegetables (carrot, beans, potato)
• 2 tablespoons sambhar powder
• 0.5 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
• 0.25 teaspoon asafoetida
• 10 leaves curry leaves
• 2 dried red chilies
• 2 tablespoons oil
• 1 teaspoon salt (for sambhar)
• 4 cups water

Directions

Step 1

Soak raw rice and urad dal together with fenugreek seeds for a minimum of 4 hours.

Step 2

Drain the soaked rice and dal, and grind them in a blender until you reach a smooth batter, adding water as necessary. The batter should have a flowing consistency.

Step 3

Add a teaspoon of salt to the batter, mix well, cover, and allow it to ferment in a warm place for 8 hours or overnight.

Step 4

Prepare the sambhar by washing toor dal thoroughly. Pressure cook with 2 cups of water and a pinch of turmeric for 3 whistles. Let it cool and then mash.

Step 5

In a pot, heat oil and add mustard seeds. When they start popping, add cumin seeds, asafoetida, curry leaves, and dried red chilies.

Step 6

Add chopped mixed vegetables to the pot and sauté for 5 minutes.

Step 7

Next, add turmeric powder, sambhar powder, and the cooked, mashed toor dal, tamarind pulp, remaining water, and salt. Mix well.

Step 8

Bring the sambhar to a boil and let it simmer for 15-20 minutes until the vegetables are cooked and flavors meld.

Step 9

For the idlis, grease idli molds with a small amount of oil. Pour fermented batter into the molds.

Step 10

Steam the idlis for about 10-12 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Step 11

Serve hot idlis with the sugar-free sambhar.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1799.1g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2328.2

Total Fat 38.3g	0%
Saturated Fat 3.9g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 4504.0mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 407.4g	0%
Dietary Fiber 70.3g	0%
Total Sugars 21.8g
Protein 94.4g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 536.1mg	0%
Iron 25.7mg	0%
Potassium 5370.3mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 14.7%

Protein: 16.1%

Carbs: 69.3%