Saravana bhavan style Mini tiffin, with mini idli, sambar, masala dosa, upma, kesari and chutneys. How to plan and prepare this special breakfast at home.

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I had a long time wish ever since I started my breakfast menu series, but some how it took me so long to make this. This is what Vj orders when we go to Saravana Bhavan mini tiffin here in Singapore.
Though the name is Mini tiffin and sounds kind of easy to say, this is definitely a time consuming spread with many items to prepare. If you have any day special, you can prepare this as brunch and treat someone.
I would say potato masala, upma, kesari and mini idli does not consume much time as we are making very little portion only. But the chutneys and sambar is bit time consuming when you do along with such elaborate menu.
Just make sure you prepare everything in less quantity, it not only saves your time but also prevents from leftovers. Here I have mentioned for 3-4 people. Let's see how plan and make this mini tiffin (south Indian tiffin thali/ spread). I have used unrefined sugar for kesari, so the color might be different.
This is just a post on how to plan and prepare this thali, for individual recipes of the items, please check the below links for the recipe post with step by step pictures!
Recipe links
Idli batter recipe | Soft idli recipe
Mini idli sambar recipe
Masala dosa recipe
Rava Upma recipe
Rava kesari recipe
Easy onion tomato chutney recipe
Coriander coconut chutney recipe
Best Coconut chutney recipe
Recipe Cuisine: Indian | Recipe Category: Breakfast/ Brunch
Prep Time: 30 mins | Cook time: 1 & ½ hrs | Serves: 3-4
🥘 Ingredients
- Idli dosa batter
- Onion
- Tomato
- Potato
- Coriander leaves
- Coconut
- Semolina/ rava/ Sooji
- Sugar
- Ghee
Apart from other dry ingredients like toor dal (for sambar), oil, tempering items, cashews.
Prepare
- Chopping work :
*Onion for sambar (I used small onion), red chutney, upma, potato masala.
*Tomato for sambar, red chutney
*Coconut for chutneys (I grate in bulk and freeze)
*Coriander for chutney, sambar, curry leaves for all items, green chillies for sambar, upma, potato masala, chutneys. - Now on to the stove work. First pressure cook toor dal (I keep tamarind inside too for easy extraction of pulp) and potato, placed in two different vessels.
- While the you can prepare kesari and upma. You can make kesari the before day itself and reheat to serve. But I did the same day. Kesari takes less time than upma. So prepare first kesari and then upma.
- Set both in hot pack or keep covered aside.
- By now, cooker should be ready to open. Prepare sambar let it boil in one stove, while you make ready the potato masala for masala dosa.
- Lastly grind chutneys and temper (together) for the chutneys. After you take some tadka for coconut and coriander chutneys, you can prepare the red chutney in it (as it needs a boil).
- Once all are ready, Make idli and dosa hot to serve.
I took some video while preparing the menu, so could not note down the time exactly. I am sure this would take around 2 hours to get the plate with the spread ready.
How much quantity for 3-4 person?
⅓ cup toor dal for sambar, ½ cup rava for upma, ¼ cup rava for kesari, ¾ to 1 cup coconut for chutneys. 1 small sized onion and tomato for red chutney, 2 potatoes for masala dosa.
Happy Sunday 😊
Thava
Superb Raji...
Raks anand
Thanks 🙂
Subashini Natarajan
Perfect menu spread Raji..so much of planning and work..hats off:)everything in the plate looks tempting..esp that upma and the colorful chutneys...
Kalpana Sareesh
Perfect HSB Quantity too Raks.. just kidding.. lovely meal, btw dosai perfect hsb eh dhaan..
GirlGoneWife
I can imagine the hard work behind this perfect image. Everything looks so perfect and your family must have had a great breakfast today:)
Great work,
Love,
Swati@ girlgonewife.com
Andhraman
Can you post the recipe for Komala Vilas restaurant Sambar?
Raks anand
Yes Sathya, here it is because of unrefined sugar. But if you don't add any food colour and only sugar, the sugar in kesari caramelizes and gives you golden colour too.
Raks anand
I will sure try
Raks anand
Thank you Suba
Deepthy Anoop
I am a regular reader of your space. As an above reader said,behund your every picture perfect food pics I can imagine your hard work and dedication towards your blog and family. Kudos to you!! Great work. Keep it up!!
Durga Karthik.
I did this few weeks ago Raks.Yes it is really time consuming.And yes chutney and sambhar take a lot of time.but worthy. And all recipes from ur blog only. Coincidence that u planned such a series
Raks anand
Oh glad to know 🙂 Thank you
Raks anand
Thanks a lot Deepthy 🙂
Shyamala Mani
Great Spread mam.. Is unrefined sugar and cane sugar are same?
Raks anand
This is deep in colour than cane sugar.
Unknown
super tempting tiffin ......
Unknown
Awesome recipes . I always love your style & taste
Angai Appavoo
Hi, Your recipes are obsoletely amazing!! Incredible tasty! And where did you purchase that severing plate?
Angai Appavoo
Hi, this is incredible awesome! Your recipes are so taste!! Where did you get that serving plate?
Angie