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Idli is a traditional breakfast eaten in South India and neighboring countries like Sri Lanka. Although the savory dish was first fried in ancient times, it is now more commonly steamed. Learn how to steam idli at home for a delicious and inexpensive Indian breakfast!
Ingredients
- Soaked rice 2 cups (1.2 kg)
- Urad dal 1/2 cup (300 g)
- Fenugreek seed 1/2 teaspoon
- salt as needed
Steps
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1Soak the rice and urad dal in separate bowls for at least 4 hours. These will be later ground together to make a batter which ferments for 6 hours or more.[1]
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2Grind the soaked items separately. This is best done with a stone grinder, but a high powered blender can also do the job (although the batter will be somewhat more coarse in texture).[2]
- Grind the soaked rice.
- Grind the soaked urad dal.
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3Mix the ground rice and urad dal together.
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4Set aside in a warm place to ferment for 8 hours. Use a crock pot on the "keep warm" setting or an oven on the "proof" setting if you live in an area where the ambient temperature is below 75 °F (24 °C).[3]
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5Add salt.
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6Oil the idli steamer plates.
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7Spoon the batter into the plates.
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8Set the idli steamer into a large, pre heated pot with water in the bottom for steaming.
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9Steam the batter for 5-10 minutes or until fluffy.
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10Remove the idlis from the steamer and serve warm with Chutney, or Sambhar.[4]
Community Q&A
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QuestionDo I have to add baking powder?
Community AnswerNo, you don't. The fermentation process causes the idli to rise. -
QuestionWhat can I do if the Idlis are stuck?Community AnswerGrease some oil on the idli plates. This should unstick them.
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QuestionWhat kind of rice should I use for Idli?
Community AnswerI generally use raw/basmati rice, but you could also use other types of rice like jasmine.
References
- ↑ https://www.indianhealthyrecipes.com/soft-idli-recipe-using-idli-rava/
- ↑ https://www.vegrecipesofindia.com/idli-recipe-how-to-make-soft-idlis/
- ↑ http://foodviva.com/south-indian-recipes/idli-recipe/
- ↑ https://pipingpotcurry.com/instant-pot-idli/
- ↑ https://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/what-makes-idli-the-healthiest-snack-we-know-1828798
About This Article
To begin preparing idli, soak 2 cups of rice and 1/2 cup of urad dal in separate bowls for 4 hours. Then, grind the rice with a stone grinder or a blender, and repeat with the urad dal. Once they are finely ground, mix the two ingredients together, and set them aside in a warm place to ferment for 8 hours. After 8 ours, add salt for flavor, pour the batter into plates, and steam in an idli steamer for 5-10 minutes, or until fluffy. For getting the most out of your idli steamer, read on!
