Idli/ idly is a soft & fluffy steamed rice cake made from fermented rice and black lentil batter.
Idli/ idly is a traditional breakfast recipe made in every South Indian family and is popular not only in India but, also outside India.
It is the healthiest, protein-packed breakfast dish from South Indian cuisine and is very easily digestible as it is made from fermented rice and lentil (dal).
Idli/ idly is usually served hot with coconut chutney & tomato chutney in South India, but, in other parts of the country, it is served with Sambhar/Tiffin Sambar and coconut chutney.
The fermentation process breaks down the starch due to which it gets digested easily & fast. It is also naturally vegan & gluten-free.
There are 2 ways of making idli/ idly:-
1) Traditional way of making idli/ idly : – traditionally idly is made using rice/ Idli rice & Urad Dal
Idli rice is parboiled rice used especially for making Idli & Dosa, but you can always use normal rice as I am going to do in this recipe.
2) Using Idli Rava: – it is the easier way of making Idli using Idli Rava & Urad dal. If we use idli rava, we don’t have to grind the rice to make the batter.
(If you want idli recipe – using idli rava, do let me know in the comment section and I will definitely share it with you.)
But, in this recipe, we will be using the traditional method i.e.
Soaking rice & lentil –> Grinding –> Fermenting –> Steaming
Why Fermentation???
Fermentation is the key to Soft & fluffy Idli, if the batter is not fermented properly, the Idli will not be soft and fluffy and the taste will also suffer. So, proper fermentation is very important and for this, it takes about 5-6 hours (in summers) & about 8-12 hours (winter).
To ferment your batter, it is very important to keep it in a warm place with a temperature around 25 – 30 0C. A higher temperature is just fine and it will only decrease the time required for fermentation.
The full step by step recipe of making Soft & Fluffy Idli is given below:-
Soft & Fluffy Idli recipe| Hotel Style Idli Recipe| Tiffin Idli/ idly
Ingredients:-
- Black lentil (Skinned)/ Urad dal – 1 cup
- Water for soaking lentil – 2-3 cups
- Rice (any)/ Chawal – 2 cup
- Water for soaking rice – 2-4 cups
- Water for grinding rice & lentil – as required
- Oil for greasing the idli moulds
- Water for steaming – 2-3 cups
Method:-
How to make Soft & Fluffy Idli recipe| Hotel Style Idli Recipe| Tiffin Idli/ idly
Soaking Rice & lentil
- Take 1 cup of urad dal.
- Add water and soak it overnight or for about 8-10 hours.
- Now take 2 cups of rice (you can take any rice) in a separate bowl.
- Again add water and soak it overnight or for about 8-10 hours.
Making Idli/ idly batter
- After 8-10 hours, drain the soaked Urad dal and rice.
- Grind the soaked Urad dal, by adding water as required to make a soft and fluffy paste.
- Take it out on a bowl and keep it aside.
- Now grind the soaked rice in batches to make a smooth batter, not too fine.
- (NOTE: when we make dosa, we make a very smooth and fine batter.)
- Mix both the batters nicely in a large bowl/ pan.
- Cover the lid and let the batter ferment for about 5-6 hours (in hot summer) or 8-10 hours (in cold weather).
- After the batter gets fermented, it rises and becomes almost double in size.
Steaming the Idli
- Mix the batter nicely.
- Add salt, according to the taste.
- And again give it a good mix.
- Now, adjust the consistency of the batter by adding water. (for better understanding check out the recipe video.)
- Add 2-3 cups of water to the idli steamer and heat it for about 5 minutes.
- As the idli steamer gets ready, grease the idli moulds.
- Pour the batter into the moulds.
- Place the moulds into the steamer.
- Steam it for about 10 -15 minutes.
- After 10- 15 minutes, idli is ready. Take it out from the moulds with the help of a knife, as it is steaming hot.
- Now serve the steaming hot Idli with sambhar or chutney or both as you like.
Hope you like the recipe…!!!
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If you liked this recipe, you can also check out some of our other trending Breakfast recipes:–
Bread Pakodas (without Aloo stuffing)
Soft & Fluffy Idli Recipe Video:-
Soft & Fluffy Idli recipe| Hotel Style Idli Recipe| Tiffin Idli with step by step images
Soaking Rice & lentil
- Take 1 cup of urad dal.
- Add water and soak it overnight or for about 8-10 hours.
- Now take 2 cups of rice (you can take any rice) in a separate bowl.
- Again add water and soak it overnight or for about 8-10 hours.
Making Idli batter
- After 8-10 hours, drain the soaked Urad dal and rice.
- Grind the soaked Urad dal, by adding water as required to make a soft and fluffy paste.
- Take it out on a bowl and keep it aside.
- Now grind the soaked rice in batches to make a smooth batter, not too fine.
(NOTE:-When making idli, we do not need very fine batter but, when we make dosa, we make a very smooth and fine batter.)
- Mix both the batters nicely in a large bowl/ pan.
- Cover the lid and let the batter ferment for about 5-6 hours (in hot summer) or 8-10 hours (in cold weather).
- When the batter gets fermented, it rises and becomes almost double in size.
Steaming the Idli
- Mix the batter nicely.
- Add salt, according to the taste.
- And again give it a good mix.
- Now, adjust the consistency of the batter by adding water. (for better understanding check out the recipe video.)
- Add 2-3 cups of water to the idli steamer and heat it for about 5 minutes.
- As the idli steamer gets ready, grease the idli moulds.
- Pour the batter into the moulds.
- Place the moulds into the steamer.
- Steam it for about 10 -15 minutes.
- After 10- 15 minutes, idli is ready. Take it out from the moulds with the help of a knife, as it is steaming hot.
- Now serve the steaming hot Idli with sambhar or chutney or both as you like.
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Very nicely explained