Idli

 

 

 

 

 

Ingredients

 

Boiled Rice - 3 cups
Udit dal - 1 cup
Salt

 

Method

 

1. Wash well and soak the rice and udit dal separately overnight or 8/9 hours.

 

2. Next morning drain the water it is soaked in.

 

3. While grinding, first grind udit dal to smooth paste.

 

4. Then grind the rice. But dont grind the rice too smooth. If its too smooth it does not give nice bubbly idlis.

 

5. Then mix the ground dal and rice and salt and set aside this mixture to ferment for 8/9 hours. Dont add too much water while grinding.  The batter should be thick.

 

6.  While making the idli just add enough water to make the batter fall smoothly but not wattery(should be thicker than dosa batter).

 

7.  Keep a little water in the cooker and heat it. Wipe clean the idli stand and pour the batter.*   Keep the stand in the cooker and steam for 15/17 minutes.  Lower the gas and open the lid of cooker immediately.  Take out the idli stand from cooker and let to cool for few minutes before taking out the idlis. **

 

8. Take out idli carefully from the stand and put in a box or vessel depending on when you want to serve it. The idli can be reheated later in microwave.

 

9.  Serve hot with mulgapodi, chutney,  sambar...

 

Notes

a)The entire process of making idlis needs about 20 hours. So if you want to serve idlis for breakfast soak the rice & dal previous morning, grind in the evening / night and leave overnight to ferment.

b)If you want to serve in the evening then soak previous night , grind in morning and leave to ferment during the day.

c) The point about idli dough is it should never be cold. If it is cold then the idli does not rise while cooking.

d) * Some people prefer to put oil on the stand so as help the process of taking out the idlis. I have never done it. Never felt the need. Instead use a bowl of water and keep dipping the spoon in it before taking off each idli.

e) ** Dont leave the cooker/ steamer lid on once you lower the flame or switch off the gas as the idlis will fall flat .. it will lose the volume it has achieved in the process of steaming. Then you will get flat and rubbery idlis.