Idli and sambar can make a breakfast. How substantial it is depends on the portions and the recipe, especially how much cooked dal is in the sambar. Look at the bowl you are served and what else you usually have with it.
Look beyond the idli count
Idli batter commonly includes rice and urad dal. Sambar commonly includes a pulse, vegetables and liquid. Ratios and portion sizes differ from kitchen to kitchen. Two idlis with a few spoonfuls of thin sambar are a different meal from two idlis with a bowl of sambar that contains a generous share of dal and vegetables. There is no single protein figure for every idli plate.
Compare two canteen orders
One canteen serves sambar in a small cup to dip the idli. Another lets you order a full bowl. If you regularly feel hungry before lunch, ask whether a larger bowl or a side you already enjoy is available. At home, use the amount of dry dal in the recipe and the number of portions to get a rough comparison across your own batches.
Keep the next choice simple
Make a note of what comes with breakfast, how much you eat and whether you need another snack before lunch. If your care team has given you meal advice, use that when deciding portions. The raw and cooked food weight guide explains the batch arithmetic. The Indian breakfast guide gives alternatives when idli is off the menu.
Related reading · Indian breakfast and blood sugar: practical changes to familiar meals.