Thursday, February 12, 2009

Idli

Idli a favourite among many people, unfortunately was always hated by me. I also believed that I would never make idli's at home. The day we had idli for breakfast I would always look out for some other options for breakfast. Such was my hatred towards these white beauties. After marriage I was in surprise when I found that my in-laws and hubby loved idli. I slowly started eating Idli but was still not fond of it. I would just eat to fill my tummy or my MIL would make something else for me when it was idli for breakfast. It all changed when I came here. I did not even think of buying idli stand but hubby dear who came here before me (I joined him 3 months later) was craving for homemade food and steaming hot idli's. I did not have even pressure cooker or steamer. Finally, when we saw a steamer we bought it. I called up amma to ask her how to make idli's. Then finally on the D day we made idli's in deep steel plates and we got square idli's instead of round ones. But I liked the taste. I never imagined that I would make idli successfully and also like it. It was not that I loved it but I was and still am comfortable with having them for breakfast or dinner occasionally. During my last visit to India, I bought an idli stand. From then on, we regularly made idli's until the winter made its appearance. I had made idli when the winter was first making its appearance and my idli's were rock hard. I had to take care that it would not fall on my leg and hurt me (Ok.. not that hard ;) ). We were disappointed and I vowed that I would not make idli until winter was over. But one fine day both me and hubby felt that we were missing idli. So finally I googled and got a lot of suggestions. One suggestion said to use poha and it actually worked. So here is what I did for soft and fluffy idli's.
Idli rice - 2 cup
Urad Dal - 1 cup
A generous fistful of poha
1 tsp of Jeera (Optional)
Salt to taste

Procedure:
1)Wash and soak urad overnight. In another vessel soak poha and rice overnight.
2)Next morning grind urad to a fine paste with sufficient water until smooth and frothy. Do not add too much water. Add only if required. Keep aside. Grind rice and poha until rice becomes like coarse rava.
3) Mix ground Urad dal and rice. Add salt to taste. Let it ferment for 8-12 hrs. In winter I heat water in microwave for a min and keep the batter inside it. It takes more than 12 hours for me (some times 18-20 hrs).
4) Before making idli's I add Jeera to the batter. Since Urad dal creates gas in tummy, jeera is used to nullify the effect. Grease idli moulds and pour batter till 3/4. I usually fill little water in my cooker and pressure cook without whistle for 8-10 mins.
Cool for a min or two before removing them from mould sand serve with Chutney or piping hot sambar. I use readymade sambar powder from Udupi Diana hotel.

19 comments:

Varsha Vipins said...

Drool..drool..drool..U knw wat..just like u ,me too used to throw so much tantrums when my mom made Idli's n now am missing it like nything..we don hav idli cooker here..your post is nudging me now to go for one..pair it with some coconut chutney,,drizzled by sambar n ...aaah..heaven..!!.I want it now..:((((

Varsha Vipins said...

Also..keeping the batters in a preheated conventional oven will do wonders even in winter days..like preheat n after 30 mins or so when you can keep ur hands inside comfortably(that level of hotness..don touch tho..:D),place the batter bowl in a oven proof sheet,inside the oven..I do like that for appam n all which needs ferementation..:)

Unknown said...

i make this very rarely..now am planning to make it regularly as my 2 year old has started liking it..looks perfect..

Unknown said...

love the idea of adding jeera to the batter..

Cham said...

R u using a blender to make ur idli ? The ratio is very amazing and soaking overnight for urad dhal everything is quiet different. We soak the dhal less than 1 hour but we use wet grinder, the fermentation is all depend of "luck" that is what I can say. I never had any problem, in deep freezing winter days also! Adding poha & cumin re totally new. They look really great!

VG said...

Your idli looks perfect!

Raaga said...

these look so yummy... I've yet to attempt making idlis myself

FH said...

I made Idlis too y'day again with that ULTRA grinder, so soft!!
Adding Poha is great, never thought of that. Thanks girl, I will next time. idlies look so yummy, never get tired of looking at them! :)

Namrata Kini said...

Ujwal you belong to my hubby's category..i mean in the idli haters list. You wouldn't believe that I haven't made idlis in the last 1 yr. Few days back I thought of giving it a try but hubby refused to eat it. Finally i made dosa from that batter.Your idlis look nice and fluffy.

Finla said...

I always love idlies. But i have never made them at home, so the last time i had idlies were wheni was in India. These look really yumm.

Ashwini said...

wow my mom used to say I was the only one who does not like idlis..Hey i have got company..My mom used to make dosa out of the idli batter for me..At my in -laws..I used to eat 1 or 2..Now I make them along with sambar and vadas..so will eat 1 or 2..Idli looks soft and yum with sambar..:-))

Deepa Hari said...

Idlis look fluffy UJ....adding jeera is a nice thought...will try it when i make it.

Yasmeen said...

Fluffy Idlis always great with sambhar\chutney.Please trail back for my
token of gratitude

Dershana said...

Jeera in idlis is something new!

Usha said...

The idlis look soft, fluffy and perfect...I am more of a dosa person than idli person, though I make idlis occasionally for family...the idea of adding poha and jeera to the batter sounds neat!

Nithya Praveen said...

Aww i can totally relate to u Ujwal.I always cribbed when mom made idlies,but now i am craving for it so badly.For proper fermentation,u dont even have to heat the oven,jes keep the batter inside the oven and keep the lights switched on inside the oven, thats good enough.

Suganya said...

This is my all time fav. Lovely picture... YUM@

Belated Valentine's Day Wishes!!!!!

Suparna said...

I echo your thoughts...ditto ditto ditto!! ..lol I too used to hate idlis and amma used to make something else especially or me. But things changed after marriage...my hubby too loves idlis..making them atleast once is a fornight has made me like them. Infact, the other options with left over idlis are just so tempting...shallowing frying the idlis (slicing them into two)or making upma out of idlis( powdering them) it tastes so yummy!!

Lakshmi said...

Great looking idlis Ujwal.