Soft Idli Recipe
Idli is popular and healthy South Indian breakfast recipe
Ingredients
Instructions
Prep Work
- Rinse urad dal 3-4 times or until the water runs clear.
- Add fenugreek seeds along with 3 cups water and soak for 6-8 hours or overnight.
- Rinse Idli rice (or idli rava) 3-4 times or until the water runs clear. Soak seperately in 4-5 cups of water for 6-8 hours or overnight.
- Rinse and soak poha 5-10 mins before blending.
To make idli batter
- Drain the water completely and transfer urad dal, fenugreek seeds and poha to a grinder or blender along with 1¼ cups of ice-cold water. Grind the urad dal to the light fluffy batter. Test by adding a drop of the urad batter to a bowl of water. It should float. This indicates the right batter consistency.
- Transfer the urad dal batter to a large pot/bowl or Instant Pot steel pot. Make sure the bowl/pot has enough room for the batter to rise.
- Makes rest of the batter using either idli rice or idli rava
- Using Idli Rice Drain the water completely and transfer the rice to the blender (or grinder). Add 1½ cups ice-cold water and grind rice to a slightly coarse batter. Transfer the rice batter with the urad dal batter. Add salt and mix well using a spatula or preferably by hand until well combined. The batter must be pouring consistency (not runny).
- Using Idli Rava Drain the water completely. Squeeze out all the excess water by pressing the idli Rava between your palms. Apply pressure to drain maximum water. If there is water left it will make the batter runny. Add to the urad dal batter. Add salt and mix well using a spatula or preferably by hand until well combined.
Fermenting Idli batter
- You can ferment idli batter the traditional way, in oven or use Instant Pot. Depending on where you live it can take anywhere from 8-15 hours.
- After fermentation, the batter will double, rise and turn light, fluffy and bubbly. It will also have a slightly sour aroma.
- Gently mix the batter 1-2 times to even it out. Do not over mix as that will cause the idli to rise and go flat after steaming.
- This recipe makes about 8 cups of batter and depending on Idli mold size can give 32-36 idlis.
How to make Idli
- Grease idli plates lightly with oil or ghee. Mix the batter once and fill the idli mold with batter.
- steam for 10-12 mins on high heat.
- Remove the idly stand out, cool for 2-3 mins. Insert a knife in the center of the idli, it should come out clean without any batter stuck to it. This indicates idli is done! Using a wet spoon, remove the idli.