Idli

Idli is a soft, steamed rice cake popular in South Indian cuisine, made from a fermented batter of rice and urad dal (black gram). Light and fluffy, it's typically served with sambar (a lentil-based vegetable stew) and coconut chutney, making it a nutritious and easy-to-digest breakfast.

Idli offers several health benefits:

1. Easily Digestible: Since it's steamed and fermented, idli is light on the stomach and promotes gut health.

2. Rich in Nutrients: It provides a good balance of carbohydrates and protein from rice and urad dal.

3. Low in Fat: Made with only minimal oil, it's a low-calorie food ideal for weight management.

4. Vegan: Idlis are made without any dairy or ghee so making it vegan friendly option for people with dairy allergies.

   
   

   

   
   

Ingredients -

• Rice, Rinsed and soaked, 2 cups

• Split Urad dal, Rinsed and soaked, 1 cup

• Poha, Rinsed and soaked

• Methi seeds (fenugreek seeds), 2 tbsp

• Salt, 1 tsp

• Oil, 2 tbsp (For greasing idli moulds)

• Water, 2 cups

Recipe -

1. Rinse thoroughly and soak 2 cups rice and 1 cup urad dal atleast 6 hours in 2 separate bowls.

Also, rinse and soak 1 cup poha, 2 tbsp methi seeds (fenugreek seeds) in rice bowl.

2. Add urad dal to a blender and make a smooth paste. Add 1/2 cup water while blending to make a smooth paste.

   
   

3. Similarly blend rice, methi seeds and soaked poha together and make a paste of smooth consistency. You can add 1/2 cup water while blending to make a smooth batter.

   
   

4. Now ,mix both the blended mixtures together and let it sit to ferment overnight or at least 8 hours. Then, Add 1 tsp salt and mix the batter well.

   The batter will increase in volume once fermented overnight and so make sure to place the batter in a large bowl with enough space in bowl for the batter to rise.

   Note - Add ½ cup water or as much needed if the batter is too thick and mix well.

   
   

5. To make steamed idlis, grease the idli moulds with oil and pour the batter in. Steam in idli steamer or you can also use pressure cooker to steam (without whistle) for about 10 minutes.

   
   

6. Once done, remove the idli stand from the steamer and place it aside to cool for 10-12 mins before removing the idlis from the mould.

   
   

   Serve them hot with some sambhar or chutneys and enjoy a hearty and delicious meal.

   

   
   

Happy Eating :D