Here's a simple recipe for idli:

Ingredients:

2 cups rice
1 cup split black gram (urad dal)
1/2 cup methi seeds (optional)
1/4 teaspoon active dry yeast (optional)
Water as needed
Salt to taste

Instructions:

1. Rinse rice, urad dal, and methi seeds. Soak them in water for 5-6 hours or overnight.
2. Grind the soaked mixture into a smooth paste.
3. Add yeast (if using) and mix well.
4. Ferment the batter for 12-24 hours.
5. Steam the batter in idli molds for 10-15 minutes.
6. Serve hot with sambar and chutney.

Tips:

Use a mixture of rice and urad dal for the perfect texture.
Adjust water and fermentation time based on your climate.

Enjoy your homemade idlis!

Here's a simple recipe for Sambar

Ingredients:

1 cup split red gram (toor dal)
2 cups water
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 carrot, chopped
1 potato, chopped
1 drumstick, chopped
1 cup mixed vegetables (such as bell peppers, zucchini, and green beans)
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1/2 teaspoon red chili powder
Salt, to taste
2 tablespoons tamarind paste
2 tablespoons sambar powder (available at Indian grocery stores)
Fresh cilantro, for garnish

Instructions:

1. Cook the toor dal in water until soft and mushy.
2. Heat oil in a pan and saute the onion, garlic, carrot, potato, drumstick, and mixed vegetables.
3. Add cumin, coriander, turmeric, chili powder, and salt. Mix well.
4. Add the cooked dal, tamarind paste, and sambar powder. Mix well.
5. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10-15 minutes or until the vegetables are tender.
6. Garnish with cilantro and serve with idli, dosa, or rice.
Sambar masala is a blend of spices used to make sambar, a popular South Indian lentil-based vegetable stew.

Here's a simple recipe to make sambar masala at home:

Ingredients
2 medium sized onion
2 tablespoons coriander seeds
1 tablespoon cumin seeds
1 tablespoon cinnamon sticks
1 tablespoon cardamom powder
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1/2 teaspoon red chili powder
1/2 teaspoon garam masala
1/4 teaspoon fenugreek seeds (methi seeds)
1/4 teaspoon mustard seeds (rai)
Salt, to taste

Instructions:

1. Dry roast coriander seeds, cumin seeds, cinnamon sticks, and cardamom powder in a pan until fragrant.
2. Grind the roasted spices into a fine powder.
3. Add cayenne pepper (if using), turmeric, red chili powder, garam masala, fenugreek seeds, and mustard seeds to the powder.
4. Mix well and store in an airtight container.

Tips:
if you want to store then use dry onion
Sambar masala powder can be used to make various South Indian dishes like sambar, rasam.