Coimbatore Annapoorna Hotel Sambar Recipe – Restaurant Style Idli Sambar Recipe

I make varieties of idli, dosa at least thrice in week. So I keep trying different side dishes, it may be either chutney or sambar. As a result of this, I could share a collection of South Indian style 50 chutney recipes and 30 idli sambar/Tiffin sambar recipes in my blog. In my idli sambar collection, I have already shared few hotel style sambar recipes like Saravana bhavan hotel sambar, Tamilnadu style hotel sambar ( Madurai, Tirunelveli), easy restaurant style sambar, Udupi hotel style sambar and AAB sambar recipes. But my collection won’t be a complete one without some of the most popular idli sambar recipes like Coimbatore Annapoorna Hotel Tiffin sambar and Madras Ratna Cafe Sambar. I have tasted this sambar only once from Hotel Sree Annapoorna Sree Gowri Shankar near Coimbatore Bus stand and that too before marriage. To be frank, I did not remember its taste at all.So I was hesitant to try this sambar recipe from other blogs. Recently my friend Sudha suggested me to try this sambar recipe from Kannamma’s blog.Thank you so much Suguna & Chef Mr.Palanisami for sharing this wonderful recipe with us . After seeing the excellent feedbacks from many readers of Coimbatore, I got the confidence to try it. Just like other hotel sambar recipes, this one also calls for roasting, grinding and adding freshly ground spices.But the ingredients for sambar powder is different. Actually my friend had advised me to use half the quantity of ingredients as the yield of this sambar will be more for a 2-3 members family. So I halved the quantity of sambar powder ingredients & dal, modified the cooking procedure slightly for ease. As per the original recipe, drumstick is one of the most important ingredients. But I have skipped it as the cost is very high in market ( Yes, Rs.15 per drumstick ). Still the sambar came out finger licking good. Raksha & Sendhil loved it a lot. Friends, do try this yummy hotel style sambar recipe at home (If possible with drumstick). Its one of the best side dish for idli/ mini idli, dosa, pongal and vada. You will love it for sure. Ok, Lets see how to make this yummy, Coimbatore special Annapoorna hotel sambar recipe with step by step photos and a video !! Don’t forget to go through the “Points to note” given below.

UPDATED :  Recently I tasted this sambar in Annapoorna hotel, Coimbatore. I felt the sambar was more sweet in taste and I could smell some ginger too. So I have updated this recipe based on the one I tasted. Also I tried this sambar with drumstick and updated a picture below. When I added drumstick, it tasted good with rice as well. So this sambar can be had with rice if you add drumstick. But reduce the quantity of jaggery if making for rice. Also see the actual color of sambar. I served it with brown rice idli below.

1. As per the original recipe, the quantity of drumstick should be twice that of toor dal. For this quantity, u should use 1 drumstick. Chop into small finger size pieces.Alternatively, you can use 2 brinjal, 1 medium carrot,1 medium sized potato. But flavor of the sambar may vary.
2. If you add drumstick, u can serve this sambar with rice too. Color of the sambar also varies.
3. This Sambar masala needs 12 ingredients. So please keep them ready in a plate before roasting. Roasting the spices perfectly is the key for this sambar.So do not burn them.
4. According to the original recipe, the quantity of tamarind and jaggery should be equal. But I reduced the jaggery as Sendhil doesn’t like the sweet taste in sambar.
5. I used long red chilli but original recipe called for using guntur chilli. So slight color deviation in the sambar was there. 
6. The original recipe called for pressure cooking tomato, onion and drumstick pieces separately for one or two whistles in high flame whereas I cooked them along with the dal by keeping them in a small box inside the cooker. Refer the pics and video for more detail. I did this to reduce the cooking time of sambar.
7. As a general rule of hotel sambar, it tastes the best when you give more standing time.So if you prepare this sambar for your guest, prepare it 3-4 hours in advance. Reheat it at the time of serving.
8. The yield of this sambar will be more as it thickens when cools down.So add little water at the end, mix well, check for salt and then serve.
9. If you want to make this sambar only for 2 people, use half of the quantity of ingredients mentioned.
10. Adding ghee at the end is a must. It gives awesome flavor to this sambar.
11. Garnish with coriander leaves without fail.