Idli

Ingredients:

rice - 4 cups

Urad dal - 1 cup
Fenugreek seeds - 1 tsp

Salt to taste.

Making the batter:

1. Soak rice for 6 to 8 hours.
2. Wash and soak urad dal and fenugreek seeds together in 3 cups of water for 1/2 an hour.

3. First grind the dal into a smooth, fluffy batter (using the water used to soak it).
4. Then grind the rice.
5. Mix both the batters.
6. Add salt and mix thoroughly with hand.
7. Leave it in warm place for about 8 hrs so that the batter rises by an inch.

Making idlis:

1. Gently mix the fermented batter.

2. Grease the idli moulds with oil .
3. Pour the batter in the moulds.

4. Steam in an idli pan for 7 minutes on medium heat.

5. Allow it to rest for 5 min.

6. Dip a spoon in cold water, run it around the idlies and take them out .

Serve hot with moong dal sambar.

Note: This idli batter can also be used to make dosas and uthappams.