Recipe: Perfect Idli

Idli. Idli or idly (pronunciation (help · info)) (/ ɪ d l iː /) are a type of savoury rice cake, originating from the Indian subcontinent, popular as breakfast foods in Southern India and among Tamils in Sri Lanka. The cakes are made by steaming a batter consisting of fermented black lentils (de-husked) and rice. The fermentation process breaks down the starches so that they are more readily.

Making idli using rava is a breeze, we don't need to grind the rice to make the batter. The texture of the idly made using rava also turn out very soft and nice. Idli is a naturally vegetarian, vegan, gluten free and makes for one of the healthiest breakfast. You can cook Idli using 22 ingredients and 19 steps. Here is how you achieve it.

Ingredients of Idli

1. It's For of SAMBHAR:.
2. You need 2 tsp of oil.
3. It's 1 tsp of mustard seeds.
4. It's 1/4 tsp of methi / fenugreek.
5. It's pinch of hing / asafoetida.
6. You need Few of curry leaves.
7. You need 2 of chillies, slit.
8. Prepare 1 of tomato, chopped.
9. You need 1/2 of carrot, chopped.
10. You need 1 of potato, cubed.
11. You need 5 of beans, chopped.
12. Prepare 5 pieces of drumstick.
13. You need 1/2 of brinjal / baingan, cubed.
14. It's 1/4 tsp of turmeric.
15. You need 1/2 tsp of jaggery.
16. It's 1 tsp of salt.
17. Prepare 1 cup of water.
18. Prepare For of Idli Batter-.
19. It's 1 cup(200 grams) of urad dal.
20. It's 1 teaspoon of fenugreek seeds.
21. You need 4 cups( 800 grams) of idli rice.
22. You need 2 teaspoons of sendha namak, rock salt.

Firstly there are two ways you can make idli. With Idli Rice: Traditionally idli rice and urad dal are used to make the idli batter. Idli rice is parboiled rice and used specifically for making idli and dosa. Idli is considered to be one of the healthiest breakfasts in Indian cuisine.

Idli step by step

1. Rinse the urad dal under running water. Then soak the dal in enough water (2-3 cups) for around 5 to 6 hours. Add 1 teaspoon methi seeds to the dal while it's soaking..
2. Rinse the rice under running water until water turns clear. Then soak the rice in enough water for around 5 to 6 hours, same time as the dal. After 5 to 6 hours have passed, drain the water from the dal. Transfer the dal to the blender (or any grinder that you use)..
3. Add 1.25 (10 oz) to 1.5 cups (12 oz) ice-cold water and grind the dal to a fine paste. I use my blender and press the smoothie or soup button usually. Transfer the ground dal to the steel pot of your Instant Pot (if using IP to ferment the batter) or to any other large container..
4. Now drain the rice and add it to the same blender along with 1.5 (12 oz) to 2 cups (16 oz) ice-cold water. Grind rice to a smooth paste. The amount of water will depend on the type of rice/dal you use. So, start with a lesser amount and add more water as needed..
5. Now, transfer the ground rice to the same pot as the dal. Add sendha namak (rock salt) to the rice and dal mixture. Now, start using your hands and mix the salt and the batter together for 1-2 minutes using your hands. Mixing by hands help in the fermentation process. The consistency of the batter should be free-flowing, but it shouldn't be runny..
6. Now cover the pot with a glass lid (if using Instant Pot) or with any other lid if using regular container. The reason I use glass lid for fermenting the batter in Instant Pot and not it's regular lid is because the batter may overflow and that can lock the lid. So it's better to use a glass lid..
7. If using Instant Pot for fermentation, now press the Yogurt button. Increase the time to 12-14 hours. The time will depend on where you leave. Here it takes around 12-14 hours for the batter to ferment..
8. If not using an Instant Pot, cover the container and place in an oven with lights on (especially if you leave in a cold place). If you leave in a very warm place, then simply keep the batter on the counter to ferment..
9. After 14 hours, my batter was well fermented. It had increased in volume and was frothy and bubbly..
10. To check you can also drop a small drop of batter in a bowl with clean water. The batter should float which means it's fermented. If not then it needs more time for fermentation..
11. You can now use this idli dosa batter to make soft idli and crispy dosa!.
12. To make idli: Grease idli plates and then fill them with the batter. Steam in a steamer for 10 to 12 minutes on high heat or in an Instant Pot for 13 mins with pressure valve in venting position (with 1 cup water in the pot to generate steam). Please note that when IP is in the venting position, it doesn't display the time, so use an external timer..
13. Cool for a minute or two and take idlis out of plates. Serve with sambar and coconut chutney..
14. Firstly, in a large kadhai heat, 2 tsp oil and splutter tempering. add 4 shallots, 2 chilli and saute for a minute till it changes colour. further, add 1 tomato and continue to cook..
15. Now add mixed vegetables and saute for 2 minutes..
16. Further, add ¼ tsp turmeric, ½ tsp jaggery, 1 tsp salt and 1 cup water. mix well, cover and boil for 10 minutes. now add ¾ cup tamarind extract and mix well..
17. Cover and boil for 10 minutes. additionally, add 1 cup toor dal, water and mix well..
18. Add in 4 tsp of prepared sambar powder. boil for a minute, until the flavors are well absorbed. add in 2 tbsp coriander leaves and mix well..
19. Finally, enjoy idli sambar with hot steamed idli..

Although it is traditionally a South Indian snack, it has now become extremely popular all over the country - and with good reason too. Idli is a steamed food, made with with a fermented batter of rice, urad dal and fenugreek seeds. White and fluffy, it is a delight to bite into. High Protein Diet: How To Make Daliya Idli For Weight-Loss-Friendly Breakfast Protein is also called the building block of life. It helps build muscle, the more muscle you have, the less room there is for fat to accumulate.