Soft Rice Idli

Soft Rice Idli - a steamed protein rich rice cake is a classic south Indian dish prepared using rice and lentils. It is the most preferred breakfast dish in South India.

Prep Time8

Cook Time15

Soaking Time6

Total Time14 15

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: Indian

Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian

Servings: idlis

Calories: 80kcal

Author: Geetha

Equipment

1 instant pot (I use Duo 7 in 1, 5 Quart)
3 Big Mixing Bowls
1 Small Bowl
1 Trivet
1 Mixer Grinder/Blender
1 Idli Plates

Ingredients

1 Cup = 250ml ; 1 Tablespoon = 15ml ; 1 Teaspoon = 5ml

3 Cups Idli Rice
1 Cup Urad Dal
1 Teaspoon Fenugreek Seeds
¼ Cup Poha/ Flattened Rice
Salt as required

Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions

In a big bowl, place idli rice, sona masoori rice and fenugreek seeds.
3 Cups Idli Rice, 1 Teaspoon Fenugreek Seeds
Rinse and wash under tap water 2-3 times or until water runs clear.
Soak rice and fenugreek seeds in fresh water for 6 hours.
In a second bowl, place urad dal.
1 Cup Urad Dal
Rinse and wash under tap water 2-3 times or until water runs clear.
Soak urad dal in sufficient fresh water for 6 hours.
Place poha (flattened rice) in a bowl, wash it, and soak it for 10-15 minutes.
¼ Cup Poha/ Flattened Rice
After soaking, drain water from rice. Place rice and poha in a mixer jar.
Add urad dal soaked water and grind it into batter.
Transfer the batter into a big deep bottomed bowl.
Now add soaked urad dal, water and grind it into a smooth paste.
Now add soaked urad dal, water and grind it into a smooth paste.
Transfer the batter into the same large bowl that contains rice batter.
Now combine both batters with hand. Mix vigorously in some direction for a few minutes.
Batter should have a thick but pourable consistency somewhat similar to pancake batter.
Put a trivet inside the inner pot of the instant pot.
Place the batter bowl on a trivet and close the lid.
Set it to yogurt mode and let the batter ferment.
Once the batter ferments, it will increase in size and gets airy.
Carefully remove the batter bowl from the instant pot.
Pour a glass of water in the inner pot, place the trivet and secure the pot with lid.
Set the steam mode for 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, take the desired amount of batter into a seperate bowl, combine a little salt and water in a ladle and mix it in the batter.
Salt
Stir the batter well until well combined.
Grease idli plates with oil.
Pour batter into idli plates, filling each cavity about 3/4 full.
Press the cancel button and remove the lid.
Place the idli plates on the trivet.
Close the pot with a lid.
Set it to steam mode with the pressure valve at venting position. Set the alarm in your mobile for 10 minutes (the timer on the IP doesn't work, as the pressure valve is not in sealing position).
After 10 minutes, press cancel button and open the lid.
Take the idli plates out of the pot and let them cool for a couple of minutes.
Remove idlis with a wet spoon and serve them with chutney, podi or sambar.

Notes

Rice: Use idli rice to get a soft fluffy rice.

Fenugreek Seeds: Do not skip fenugreek seeds as they help with fermentation and the soft texture of idli.

Grind: Ensure that you grind the rice to a slightly coarse texture and the urad dal into a smooth and fluffy batter. This helps you get soft idlis with a lighter texture.

Batter Consistency: Batter should have a thick yet pourable consistency to hold its shape in idli plate cavities/moulds. If the batter is too thick, add a little water to thin it.

Grease Idli Plates: Grease the cavities/mould of the idli plate with oil to prevent idlis from sticking.

Steaming Idlis: Ensure to either remove the pressure valve or move it to a venting position to prevent pressure cooking idlis instead of steaming.

Cook Time: Steam idlis for 10 - 12 minutes only. Since the pressure valve is removed or in the venting position, the timer on the Instant Pot doesn't work. So be sure to use a timer on your mobile or clock to prevent overcooking.

Mix Batter by Hand: Mixing the batter with your hand helps aid the fermentation process. Ensure your hands are clean before putting it in a batter.

Water in Pot: Ensure there is enough water at the base of the pot to create steam.

Large Bowl: Use a large bowl to ferment the batter. Ensure batter fills only halfway or slightly more. This will provide sufficient space for the batter to rise as it ferments.

Instant Pot Lid: If you are unsure about the bowl size and whether the batter might overflow, it's better to use a glass lid. If the batter rises too much and spills over, there's a higher chance it will get stuck on the sides of the lid, making it difficult to remove.

Nutrition