Idli is a staple south Indian breakfast, very mild and a healthy dish. As a child I always refused having idli, because I felt idlis were for those days when I have fever.. I always used to give a sad look to those humble healthy idlis, but now these are one of my fav food, I just love to dunk them in a spicy array of chutneys and relish and a dollop of ghee. Uhhh!! as my typing this, my mouth is watering already........
Okay, lets jump to the recipe, this particular idli is called Mallige which means Jasmine in Kannada, so you know from where this Idli hails.... This is soft and melt in the mouth idli, I know generally idlis are meant to be that way, but this is softer than the usual idlis.
Ingredients
2 cups Urad Dhal
1 cup Idli Rice
1 cup normal rice(Any variety)
1/2 cup poha(beaten rice/avalakki/aval)
1/2 cup cooked rice(mashed).
1/4 cup curd
1 tsp methi seeds
Salt as per taste.
Method
Soak urad dhal, idli rice, normal rice, poha and methi for 4-5 hours or overnight.
First grind the urad dhal to a soft fluffy batter, adding water little by little and transfer to a vessel.
Now grind the idli rice, normal rice, cooked rice, poha and methi to soft batter and mix with the ground urad dhal mixture.
Now here comes the important step, if the climatic condition where you stay in cold or chilly then add curd and salt and allow the batter to ferment overnight.
However, if you are in hot or humid place(like me), then add the curd just 1 hour before preparing the idlis, so that your batter doesn't get too sour and spoil the taste of the idli.
Add salt to the batter and set aside to ferment overnight or atleast for 6-7 hours to have a soft idli.
Now grease your idli plates and pour the batter and steam cook for 10-12mins or until done.
Some tips for Mallige Idli
Do not mix the batter many times, just gently fold it to mix the rice and urad dhal batter.
Keep it in a warm place to ferment properly.
Remove the idlis, once its completely cool, this wasy its easy to remove the idlis.
Some also add soda or eno, before preparing the idli, but if you follow these steps, I am sure you wouldn't have to add those and the result would still be a super soft idli on your plate.
I Served these With Tomato Chutney for this you need
3-4 ripe tomato
1 tsp chana dhal and urad dhal
3-4 dry red chilly
2 green chilly
salt as per taste
oil 1 tsp
mustard and hing 1/2 tsp each
Method
wash wipe and chop the tomato finely, roast both the dhals until golden brown and aromatic, set aside and add the green chilly, red chilly and tomato and roast until tomato turns mushy. Cool everything and grind to fine paste adding salt and little water.
For tempering heat oil and splutter mustard and hing and pour on prepared chutney.
Coconut Chutney
A very easy chutney, for this you need
1 cup grated coconut
2-3 tsp roasted chana
salt as per taste
ginger 1 tsp grated(Optional)
oil 1 tsp
mustard and urad dhal 1/2 tsp each
Few curry leaves
Method
Grind coconut, roasted chana, ginger and salt adding little water to fine paste.
To temper heat oil splutter mustard, once it stops the spluttering add urad dhal, when it turns slight brown add curry leaves and fry for 2mins, pour this mixture to the chutney.
Didn't I tell you, this was an easy chutney......
Do try this simple, yet tasty Mallige Idli with Tomato Chutney and Coconut Chutney.
I am sending this to Srivalli's " Come join us for breakfast"