Idli Recipe
Idli - How is it made?
One of my favorite breakfast foods, Iyer idly was a staple in my Brahmin household, and it comes in various delicious forms - brahmin's thatte idli, podi idli or idli milagai podi, fried idli, oats idli, masala idli, suji ki idli, and ghee podi idli, though mini idli is my favorite! It is made of the same ingredients but somehow the smaller size makes it tastes better! It is made in a few steps, with a simple idli batter (It is the same as dosa batter, by the way). So the idli dosa batter, as I call it, is a little time-consuming, but the result is so worth it! You can read all about making idli batter right here!
How Healthy is Idli?
These fluffy Indian rice cakes are actually healthier than most breakfast options. Made with rice and lentils, idlis are steamed in an idli pan, without any oil. It is best eaten with Sambar, chutney, idli podi, and/or milagai podi. It is also the best food to eat when you have tummy issues due to its mild flavour and zero oil usage.
Idli Making Is An Emotion, But it’s Also Vegan!
Making any Indian breakfast is truly an emotion, be it idli dosa vada or upma. And making idli and dosa is especially special for me because this was one of the most eaten breakfasts in my childhood home. We start our day with a scrumptious breakfast and it makes a lot of difference when we eat a fulfilling breakfast like this, as opposed to grabbing a glass of OJ while rushing out the door.
However, the more recipes I share with you, I come to realize that a lot of the food I grew up eating consisted of vegan dishes. Vegan food was not really a concept when I was a kid, but unknowingly, I ended up learning a lot of vegan recipes by watching my mum cook; and unknowingly, this high protein vegan breakfast dish (also a great vegan dinner dish) also became a regular at our breakfast table.
There are a lot of mixed reviews and opinions about veganism but South Indians grew up with a purely vegan diet plan and we didn’t even know it! And so the various forms of this “vegan cake”, especially the mini idlis are one of the best vegan snacks. You can even make vegan variations like sooji idli which also adds an extra touch of flavour to this pure vegan dish.
Delicious Idli Recipe
INGREDIENTS
Oil for greasing
PREPARATION
In a pot with an airtight lid, boil water.
Apply a light layer of oil or grease the idli plates. If you are using a nonstick idli plate, a layer of oil is not required.
Pour the batter into the idli plates up to 3/4th of the way and keep ready. The remaining quarter of the idli mold should be left empty to allow space for it while cooking.
Once the water starts to bubble, arrange the molds in the steamer and steam with the lid closed, on medium heat for around 12-15 minutes.
After the idlis are cooked, remove them from the steamer and allow them to rest for 5-8 minutes.
Once they have rested, use a spoon to gently scoop out the hot idlis.
Serve hot and enjoy this classic South Indian delicacy with a side dish of your preference, though it is usually served with hot sambar, coconut chutney, onion tomato chutney, and Molaga Pudi.
