How to Make Idli

Learn how to make Idli. A very well known and ideal recipe for break fast. It can be known as small Indian rice cakes or steam idali also. It's a low cal recipe for health conscious people. If better is ready it is easy to make for breakfast or snack, in that case it is served with coconut chutney only. Even in my home we prefer to have idli for dinner with sambhar and coconut chutney. Normally we are making this homemade recipe in steamer - idli cooker. But I makes them in microwave also. It takes hardly 5 minutes to make 8 idlies. 

Soaking time - 2 to 3 hours
Preparation time - 10 to 15 minutes minutes 
Fermenting time - 6 to 7 hours (overnight)
Cooking time - 25 to 30 minutes
Makes - 35 to 40 idlies approx.


Ingredients to make Idli:


4 cups rice
1 cup urad dal - split black lentil
1 cup curd
Salt to taste
1 tea spoon dry fenugreek seeds
Fruit salt as needed
Oil for greasing


To serve with:


Sambhar
Coconut chutney

Method to make Idli:

• Soak rice with fenugreek seeds and urad dal separately in luke warm water for 2 to 3 hours.
• Drain excess water and grind to a smooth paste. Add some salt and curd to it and mix properly. Keep aside for fermentation for 6 to 7 hours or overnight. (fermenting time can be differ as per the season.)
• Grease microwave proof idli stand. Pour sufficient water to micrwave proof idli maker.
• Mix the better properly and add fruit salt to small quantity of it, beat properly. 
• Pour better to greased idli stand and steam for 3 to 4 minutes as mentioned.
• When ready remove and let it cool at room temp. for 2 to 3 minutes.
•  Remove idlies from stand and repeat the same for remaining.
• Piping hot Idli is ready to serve, serve it with sambhar and coconut chutney.

Tips:

• Steaming can be done on gas also. In that case pour water in steamer and let come to boiling temp. Then pour better to stand and again steam for 15 to 20 minutes or till idlies are ready.