idli Making

 Making idli at home is a rewarding experience. Here’s how you can create these soft, steamed rice cakes:

Ingredients:

- 2 cups of rice

- 1 cup of urad dal (split black gram)

- 1 teaspoon fenugreek seeds

- Salt to taste

- Water

Steps:

**Soak**: Soak the rice and urad dal separately in water for about 6 hours. Add fenugreek seeds to the urad dal while soaking.

**Grind**: Drain the water and grind the urad dal into a smooth batter. Similarly, grind the rice to a coarse paste. The consistency should be slightly grainy, not too smooth.

**Ferment**: Combine the rice and urad dal batter, adding salt to taste. Mix well and let it ferment overnight or for about 8-12 hours. The batter should rise and become airy.

**Prepare Steamer**: Grease the idli molds and pour the batter into them. Place the molds in a steamer.

**Steam**: Steam the idlis for about 10-15 minutes, or until they are cooked through. A knife inserted should come out clean.

Serve:

 Let the idlis cool slightly before removing them from the molds. Serve hot with sambar and coconut chutney.

This process requires a bit of patience with fermentation, but the result is deliciously soft and fluffy idlis. Happy cooking! Have you made idlis before, or is this your first time giving it a shot?