How to make a perfect batter for fluffy idli – south indian delicacy

“IDLI MAKES YOUR DAY LIKE NOTHING ELSE COULD, CALL IT FOR A BABY OR FOR GROWN UPS “

Here is a quick recipe card for you… Idli can be had with coconut chutney or tomato chutney or Sambar. we south indians especially Tamilian have this idli with meen kolambu (Fish curry) or an overnight leftover Puzhi kolambu (Spicy curry prepared with tamarind juice). either way it is satisfactory , eat it for breakfast or for dinner. this is a dish that was being relished in our Indian Kingdom back in between 800 – 1200 CE and it is still loved the same way for generations.

 Idli is prepared by soaking urad dal (de-husked) and steamed raw rice for about 8 hours for rice and 2 hours for urad dal and then let for fermentation overnight. the next day we steam the batter into idli cooker and serve it with variety of popular side dish especially prepared for idli, dosa or aapam.

Today idli has come up with lot of variations like Rava Idli, Rava Oats Idli and Finger millet idli etc.

 

If you are new in preparing this recipe do check my blog below supported with pictures
for your quick understanding.

 

(1) HOW TO PREPARE A PERFECT BATTER

For making homemade idli batter: You need Specially idli rice. idli rice are steamed raw rice that looks little fat and half cooked and half raw kind of. Idli rice to lentil ratio is always 4:1 respectively.

You can take any measuring container.

I usualy prepare with tea cup measuring whole of 4 cups,  raw steamed rice (Idli rice 0- ) + 1 handful of raw rice (Paccharisi) and wash it thoroughly till the rice looks transparent.  This 2 tbsp of extra rice is for just incase if the batter has to adjust itself with the urad dal ratio from any minor error.

Add 1 tbspn sago pearls sabudana to it. You will have to soak it for minimum 6 hrs to maximum 8 hrs for rice. Then you take 1 cup of urad dal black gram without skin ones and soak it for not more than 2 hrs.  add a pinch or two of fenugreek seeds to it.  adding fenugreek seeds gives you a nice fresh aroma to the batter.  also if soaked urad dal for longer hours then it may leave the batter with a very pungent acidic smell later.

Now,

1. Note that – do not wash urad dal, just directly soak it in water because we want that unwashed urad dal for better fermentation process. urad dal has an acidic agent that aids fermenting bacteria.

2. If you soak it for more than 2 hours the batter after fermentation will start to give a very strong acidic smell which will be very unpleasant.

Now in a mixer you beat urad dal first – transfer to a vessel and then you beat rice and transfer in the same vessel. The batter has to be thick meaning you need to add less water while churning in the mixer Add 1 tspn of salt and mix with hand for minimum 7 to 10 minutes. Grind it to a very fine paste.

Cover and leave it on kitchen counter overnight. The other day morning you take a spatula just slightly cut and fold the batter, don’t you overmix it else you may end up loosing the fluffy idlis later. You can slightly add water if required to batter that is taken into a seperate container and not the entire batch.same batter you can use for making dosa by adjusting the consistency of batter to a free flowing consistency.

 

(2) HOW TO STEAM THE IDLI

These days every utensil market sellGrease idli pans with oil and in the idli cooker boil some water to a level where the water does not touch the idli plates. Place the pans filled with batter right after you see the water starts bubbling. then you let it steam for around 5-7 minutes on high flame.

Things to note while steaming idli:

1. Do not let it steam for longer time else the risen idlis will start turning harder.
2. Take out pans , let the water run on the plates from behind so as to prevent the idlis from sticking on to plates.
3. Let it sit for 30 seconds to 1 minute and now you remove idli from the plates and serve it hot with your desired side dish.

You can store the batter for upto 4 days inside an airtight container in the fridge. Do not leave the batter for long time outside because it will continue to produce soury taste. so refrigerate it once you are done or take small portions in separate bowl as and when required.

Just the smallest rules that you follow carefully and you can master the art of preparing best idli right from scratch.

enjoy!!!!

Watch The Idli Batter Making Video Here

WANT TO KNOW AN EASY METHOD TO MAKE APPAM???

You can also check out how to make easy appam batter without much fuss. No cooked rice, no poha, no yeast and no coconut required. A very must know recipe for all appam lovers.

click this link to read detailed recipe on appam.

here is a detailed video with english subtitles for your visual reference

Other Recipe:

Tamil Nadu Style Appam Recipe withut yeast/ Coconut