Today’s breakfast was Idly with chutney and Chinna vengaya sambhar (sambar with those tiny onions called shellogs).
Ma, the Idly you make is so soft and yummy !!!!
(Proudly smiling) Thank you, my dear.
But, why the Idly which we ate during the travel, was hard and totally tasteless ???
Everything lies in the technicality of preparing the batter. I’ll teach you all about it, when u grow older, OK ???
I’ve fantasized a lot about the soft soft Idlies which my Mom makes and I am glad that I learnt the art of perfect preparation of the batter.
So many friends ask me how the Idlies are softer at my place and I always give them a smile, before answering “Its all in the batter” !!! π
But I also make the batter the same way, as you do, will be their retort.
It’s a blend of – the proportion of rice and urid dhal and the appliance used for grinding. Β Don’t expect great results while you use a Mixie.
In our South Indian families, the most important thing in any kitchen, is the Grinder. Every new bride gets one from her mother along with the secret recipe to a great preparation of Idly and Dosa. Trust me, this Grinder makes all the difference.
Yes, that’s what I’ve and its been a great journey with my grinder. π π π
To explain it a bit more further, the urid dhal needs to be made into a fluffy batter, for soft soft idlies. And that perfect fluffiness can be achieved only and only by grinding it in a Grinder. The Mixie gets heated up, owing to closed less space and the urid dhal batter becomes stiff and thick, not fluffy and soft. This is an important point to remember and invest wisely in a Grinder, for getting best Idlies at home. π Β Of course, the proportions too are very important.
And also, we never use Idly rava, which is available readily in shops – which can be soaked and mixed with the urid dhal batter. Β We always soak and grind the rice, in a Grinder, which adds to the softness. Idly rava makes the idly quite brittle when cold and might need lots of water to swallow them. π
Not only Idly, Vada also comes out fantastically soft and fluffy and crisp on the outside, when the batter is made with the Grinder.
I made them on last Tuesday, when the men in the family change their sacred thread rightly named as Avani Avittam (Avani – tamil month, Avittam – the star). And also some yummy Vella payasam (Kheer made with dhal and jaggery). It was really delicious. π
And tomorrow calls for another round of goodies, with a Bday Party for Lord Krishna – the Janmashtami. π This is my favourite month, with loads of festivals and more opportunities to make yummy foods. π
So, are the idlies you make pass the Softness QC ??? π π Β Come on, share your experience on making idlies. π
Idlies are my fav food and its the best food while travelling. Β But I always come back home hungry, for the softness of the Idlies I make. π
Firstae
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Yay !!!! π
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I saw chinna onions and nothing else π I luvvvvv it with Idly π Sigh! I so have to soak the dal and rice tonite π π and get small onions π
Off to read the remaining part nw π
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Yay hi5! Ditto on the method of making Idlis – No Idli rava and Ultra rocks π
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Idlis are favvv here @ home too π We eat them for BF, lunch and dinner sometimes π
And I hv to go home and prepare things for tomorrow’s festival too. Luv this season π
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Hi 5 Swaram !!! π And me too love this festive season !!! π
So, what all are you making tomorrow ????
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I know !!! Those chinna vengayams give such a flavor to the sambar !!! π
So, its idly + sambar at Swaru’s house tomorrow. π
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Nooo π¦ Tomorrow fasting till nite na π¦
And then all those 16 types slurp slurp π
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Oh dear, we dont fast !!! I never do that…its not good for me…you see…. π π
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Ha ha π We do it only twice a year and that too to eat double @ nite π π
Sivaratri and Krishnashtami π
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Yum yum Uma π Idly is not my favorite; but vada is and so is vengaya sambhar π I too love my grinder :), had an ultra for 8 years and now a butterfly π
So what is menu for tomorrow? I just called amma to confirm her recipe for appam and cheedai; never made cheedai in my life; going to try tomorrow.
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Hey !! So, u like vada and sambar. π Gud gud…. π
Tomorrow – appam is for sure. Cheedai if time permits. Of course, aval (poha) with coconut and sugar. π
Tell me how your cheedai comes out. π Better post it. π
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whats Cheedai?
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Those yummy round balls made of rice flour and fried – a fav dish to Krishna. π

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I remember the stone grinders that our neighbour had when we were kids. Do we have electric grinders now? I love love love idlys and would like to know how to make them from scratch
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Oh yes for sure, Ritu…electric grinders are there for a long time now. π
So, one more Idly lover here. π
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I don’t make idlis… π
I dont have that idli making vessel either! π
Only plate idlis I have made and that’s come out really soft and nice! But, I used MTR mix for that!!! π π π
Dosa batter comes out well – no issues there! π
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We never buy mix for idly and sambar. π Its always made at home. π
But I like MTR Rava Idly mix. Its damn gud. π
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yea. the MTR mix is good.. sambhar of course is made at home without the instant mixes!! π
But, idlis – I need to buy that idli making vessel! π
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Go on, Pix, get it na. π
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Oh yes! Agree to all of tht. The ones I make come out super soft too. Tried twice in the mixie…and got doddali (called it thus because the idlies cames out flat like small dosas!!) instead!
Grinder rules: and that too, the original one over the tabletop one. Table top does not work as well as the bigger ones you place on the floor (not the one with the 3 stones and the chain). π
So well, I suppose i’ll get no surprised looks and flattery when you come over to Blore and have idlies fr breakfast π
Btw, idly is my fav food too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yey!!
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LOL @ doddali !!! π π
Oh yeah, I remember that one – my patti had that, when I was a little girl and I’ve helped her so many times to make the batter – I think all those years of practise under patti’s eyes, made me learn the tricks to soft idlies. π
I would love you more and hug you, if you give me soft soft idlies. π π
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well my favourite food or snack is Vada sambhar π I have loved it from the day i first ate it the BAD thing is I dont know how to make it .. so SO.. as you mentioned the idly how about how to make the Vada too I would definilty love it … π
and yes I got theat grinder too, my mum brought it last time when she came ot visit me π
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Hey, I am impressed – your mom got u a grinder !!!! Cool !!! π
On your request, will post the recipes for vada – see I am trying to find ways to do a post. π
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In that case I got loads of requests he hehehe
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You are inspiring me to start a recipe blog for south indian foods… LOL !!!
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Wow! since you are so good at making these, please share the proportions and recipe for a foodie like me please π π
Me too wanna eat what you all are enjoying π π
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Oh sure CB, the recipes will be posted soon. π
But still you need a grinder for best idlies !!!! π
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Won’t a food processor be good enough ??
O C’mon say yes pleeeeeeease π π
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Oh, I really don’t know how the food processor that you get there, grinds urid dhal !!! Will check it out and let you know. π
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Wow! the idlis look amazing.. Reminded me of Mom’s idlis which are also very soft and fluffy π
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Thank u Piyu.
So, how are the idlies, when u make ??? Hv u tried making them ???
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Ohhh yummmmmmyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!! I have never got the hang of making perfectly soft idlis, but my mum has, over the years!!! And that picture in your post… absolutely drool-worthy!!!
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Hey, come on, you shld have learnt all those things by now, from ur mom !!! π You got a grinder there ???? Then, I’ll give u the recipe, you can make those two men around to drool for the idlies u make. π
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oh the grinder is a must, and we also throw in a little thick avalaki and a little channa dal to the batter makes the idly more softer
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There are so many such ingredients which they say add to the softness. But soft idlies can be made with only rice and urid dhal, is my learning !!! π
Avalaki is poha, right ????
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Some say that if we mix raw rice with parboiled rice in 1:6 ratio, we will gt softer idlis… Is that true…
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Welcome here. π
Yeah, there is a proportion…wait to read my recipe post. π π Sorry to keep u waiting till then.
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I used to hate idlies when i was a kid but during my first pregnancy i started liking them,now i love them uma.I prefer eating idlies with peanut and tomato chutney and husband prefers them with small onions sambar,he simply loves that combo.
For kids i make mini idlies and rub molagi podi with ghee on them and they love it.And idly are must when kids are down with fever.
I always use rava for making idlie but i grind rava and dal separately and mix it.It soft idlies.Wet grinder is in my list of things i have to buy soon.
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And we love MTR rava idly with coconut chutney π
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Ha, there goes the tip – grind the rava too, before mixing. Good u do that Sari. π
Glad to see u think like me – idlies during fever or even stomach upset condition too.
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Again, the first male here !
Either I am not a south indian or I have a bad mom-in-law !
I didnt get a grinder for my wedding, THATS WHY !!!!
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LOL !!! You expect a grinder as dowry for the way you wish, that she stays there for some more days ???? π Enna pillai idhu….
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I haven’t ever mustered up the courage to make the batter myself. One mistake, and I know I can be serving rock idlis!
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I know the proportion and the way of grinding is extremely important – otherwise idlies can be total flop.
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Yumm Yumm Yumm…. I have never been able to make Idly’s from scratch ever..> i have tried, trust me. But for now, I stick with Gits Packets.. or with Sooji… .. dont scream please…. but I love Idly’s and really cant get them right!
Now, I am craving this really bad… time to make my trip to an Udipi restraunt for some!
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Oh, the taste is so damn different from home made batter and Gits and other ready made ones. Run, run to the Udipi restaurant. π
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grrr π¦ gt no grinder plans yet π¦
so th mixie thingy dampened ma spirits π¦ well ollathu kondu onam..tht vadas sure look yummmm bought 1kg of urad dal ths week π wen thr was an offer..let me put it to sme use! thnku!!
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Ok, go for the Vadas and enjoy yourself. π
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Is it your way to make me all hungrier at his time… grrrrrrrrrrr :devil:
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Oh, you saw this in the middle of the night, huh !!!! So sorry…that certainly was not my intention. π
BTW, you can add this to the menu list, when you come home. π
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Haha…we use the ready-made idly batter at our place usually…its far more convenient…and doesnt taste bad either!
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Oh, no, it doesn’t taste bad, but this home made tastes much better !!! π
But I think, we should use whatever is available, in order to eat Idlies. π
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Yumm. Always love the home made idlis. We used to use the stone grinder earlier. Then switched over to mixie. Loved granmas idlis better… same secret she used to tell… grind urid till its smooth n fluffy! which as you said..can never be achieved using mixie. These days we use the ready made batter which is convenient.
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Yes, its convenient, but I’ve never tried the ready-made batter, till today. π
See, I’ve got granma’s secret recipe… π
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β€ soft idlis and chutney!! π
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Enjoy yourself. π
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same pinch from my mom..thats the grinder she has at her place. She litrally swears by it π !
Soft idlis are really yum yum yum..I love them
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Oh, its good to see another Ultra owner. π Just as I do for Ultra – mine is 13 years old and touchwood, all fine still. π
Does Namnam like idlies ???
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Wow!! Never knew, that the trick is in the grinder!!
How about grinding it in the jar of the food processor and the later whisking it in the food processor?? Will that work?? I guess so!
Have rarely grinded the batter at home…always relied on Spencer’s!! π
Thanks for sharing!! Looking forward to the right proportions for the idly batter!! π
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Why dont you try that food processor + whisking technique and get back to me ??? Ppl here want to know if grinder can be substituted by a food processor. π π
Sure, sure, will put up the idly proportions soon. π
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idli with molaga podi mixed together wrapped in banana leaf is simply the greatest thing in the world to have on a journey π
when I was young, I did not like idli that much, but things have changed now π
yes, the grinder is a part of the household ……….. always has been π
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Spoken like a true South Indian – what a combo na, OG !!! Oh, I love the banana leaf packing, while on travel, which gives them a special flavor….OMG, its really so tempting. π π
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Uma…u r kindling my taste buds so much these days…I’m craving for these food..oh god!! Send me the parcel!!!
I can never get that soft fluffy idli, so i bing on those ready made mixes. And i dont have/like a grinder. The easiest thing is to get the batter from Mom or MIL!!
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WOW, thats good – idly batter from mom or mil !!! Coool !!! No such luck for me… π
Sure, whats ur address….parcel is ready !!!! π π
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I learned the art of making idli from u. I have a grinder now too. The fluffiness is unbeatable.
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Oh, thats news. Great woman. I tell you, idly batter made from grinder will never fail to give fluffy idlies. π
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