Idli

Idli is the main South Indian breakfast / dinner recipe. Some are struggling to get soft idlies. if you use good quality urad dal in a correct ratio, I am sure that you will get soft idlies. This post is purely for bachelors and beginners.

 In childhood days,i was an enemy to Idli. I hate idly and sambar. My mom used to struggle a lot to feed idly to me. She used to run behind me for making  me to eat idli. Now I changed a lot and taking idli frequently. After marriage I am making idli at least once in a week. because:

1. It is easy to make. We can refrigerate the batter and  make idlies  in  a tight morning schedule.

2. It is a steam boiled food and contains no oil .

 Okay.. Okay ... my stories are  over...  Here is the recipe...

Ingredients:

Urad dal    -    1 cup

Idly rice    -    4 cups

Water    -    as needed

Salt    -    as needed

Method:

1. Soak urad dal and idly rice separately for 3 hours.
2. Grind urad dal first and collect it and then grind  idly rice.
3. Use the large container for collecting batter .Add salt and mix well with clean hand or you can use spatula.(mixing with hands helps for fermentation of batter)
4. Allow the batter to rest in the warm place for 12 -14 hours.
5. The fermented batter will be raise in quantity and it looks like this:
      
6. The batter is now ready for  making idli. The consistency of the batter should be like this:
   
   
        
   
   
7. Pour the batter in the idli plates. Grease the idli plates with oil before pouring the batter. You can also spread the white cotton cloth over the idli plate and pour the batter.
   
   
   
   
   
8. Now cook the idlies. it will take only 10 - 15 minutes. Switch off the flame wait for 5 mins and take  idlies from the idli plate with help of spoon. 
   
   
   
   
   
9. Serve with chutney or sambar
   
   
   Here is the soft delicious idlies with  peerkangai chutney
   
   
   
   
   

   Note:

   
   
   • Use any cup of your choice. I used 180 grams as 1 cup.
   • The ratio purely depends on the quality of urad dal. So use good quality urad dal. If your idly turns hard then increase the quantity of urad dal than the mentioned ratio. 
   • After switching off the flame wait for 5 mins and take idlies from idli plate. If u don't wait , then idli will  stick to the plate.