Idli (Steamed Rice Cake)

Idli is a steamed rice cake and a traditional South Indian breakfast.I made my Idlis with left over fermented dosa batter. Idli is usually served with sambhar,coconut chutney and other side dishes.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups Dosa/Idli Rice (uncooked,raw rice)- 24 oz
• 1 cup Urad Dhal (spilt black gram)- 8 oz
• 1/2 teaspoon Methi seeds (fenugreek seeds)
• 2-3 tablespoons of cooked white rice 
• 2 tablespoons of beaten rice or poha (optional)
• Salt to taste

Method :

1. Wash and soak the dosa rice, urad dhal and fengreek seeds in plenty of water for 5 hours ( or overnight)
2. Drain all the water that the rice and dhal was soaking in overnight.
3. Grind the mixture to a fine paste using little water.
4. While grinding the mixture add 2-3 tablespoons of cooked white rice and salt to taste.
5. The consistency of the batter should be such that it thickly coats a spoon dipped in it. 
6. Keep the Idli batter aside in a warm, dark spot, covered with a muslin cloth, for 8-10 hours (if its the thick of winter,then it will take longer to ferment)
7. After this fermentation (your batter would have doubled,thats how you know that your batter has fermented).
8. Do not stir the batter (for fluffy Idlis,scoop the fermented batter from the side)
   
9. Place enough water in the steamer,and bring the water to a boil.
10. Grease each idli holder on the idli stand.
11. Pour batter into them ( 1/2 or 3/4th full) 

12.Steam the Idlis for 12 minutes.
13.Carefully remove the idli stand from the steamer and let it cool
14.Take a spoon and slowly slide the idlis from the stand and enjoy!

Step 1 - Fermented Batter
Step 2 - Batter filled 3/4th in the Idli stand
Step 3 - Steamed Idli ( after 12 minutes of steaming)

Tip :

• You can add active dry yeast if you want your Idli batter to ferment quickly.If you are adding yeast,the batter will ferment quicker than the natural fermentation process.(I follow the instructions on the bottle,which is stir 2 and 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast into 1/4 cup warm water (100-110 degree F).To proof (foam) yeast,stir in 1 teaspoon sugar,let stand for 10 minutes.If mixture doubles in volume,yeast is active)
• You can also add 2 tablespoons of Beaten rice,while grinding the batter.