Idli
Steamed savoury rice-and-lentil cakes.
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Join HomecookedIngredients
- 300 g Idli rice
- 100 g Urad dal (split black gram, skinned)
- 1 tsp Salt
Method
- Soak the idli rice and urad dal separately in plenty of water for at least 6 hours, then drain and grind them together with a little fresh water into a smooth, thick batter.
- Stir the salt into the batter, cover it, and leave it in a warm place to ferment overnight (8 to 12 hours), until it has risen and looks bubbly.
- Spoon the fermented batter into greased idli moulds, filling each well about three-quarters full to leave room to rise.
- Steam the moulds over simmering water, covered, until the idlis are puffed and a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean, about 12 minutes.
- Let the idlis rest a couple of minutes, then run a spoon around each to unmould them cleanly.
- Serve the idlis hot with chutney and sambar.
Nutrition per serving
Estimated from ingredients; varies with exact portions and brands.
About Idli
Idli are the steamed rice-and-lentil cakes that anchor breakfast across South India, soft, faintly sour, and prized for being both light and filling. They are made from a fermented batter of idli rice and skinned urad dal, ground together and left overnight so wild fermentation gives the cakes their characteristic tang and airy, spongy rise. Unlike fried breakfasts, idli are steamed, which makes them gentle on the stomach and a staple for all ages.
The magic is entirely in the fermentation, and this method leans into it: rice and dal are soaked separately, ground to a smooth thick batter, then left in a warm place for eight to twelve hours until bubbly and risen. Steamed in greased moulds, the cakes puff up pale and pillowy, ready to soak up whatever accompanies them. Traditionally they are eaten with coconut chutney and sambar, torn and dipped by hand, and any leftovers reheat beautifully with a quick re-steam.
Idli: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Idli?
One serving of Idli has about 350 calories, with 11g of protein, 73g of carbs, 1g of fat and 6g of fiber. These are estimates based on the ingredient amounts in this recipe and will vary with your exact portions and brands.
Is Idli gluten-free?
Based on its ingredients, Idli has no gluten-containing components, so it's naturally gluten-free — as always, check that any packaged ingredients you use are certified gluten-free to be safe.
How long does Idli take to make?
About 30 minutes start to finish, but only around 6 of those are hands-on — the rest is largely unattended cooking time you can step away from. In the Homecooked app the timers and parallel steps are sequenced for you so the hands-on part feels even shorter.
How many servings does Idli make?
This recipe makes 4 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.