Idli Recipe | How To Make Soft Idlis | Idli Batter in a Mixie (2024)

Idli recipe, learn to make idli batter in mixie with step by step pictures.

Idli batter can be made in a mixier grinder or blender and yes you get soft idlis too. Soft Kerala idli is one of the healthiest food in the planet. Idli is a South-Indian traditional breakfast delicacy, which is made with raw rice and lentil and grinded and left to ferment, and steamed to cook. Read all about idli in Wikipedia.

I do not own a stone grinder, simply because I have very limited space, so all my grinding are done in my blender jar of my Preethi Mixie.....like appams, dosa etc. Yes, you can make the soft...pillowy idlis with mixer-grinder....I have been making them for the past 18 plus years. I would advise you to study your mixie, like how many watts etc...mine is 700 watts and I know that it makes the mixie heaten up a bit and that speed up the fermentation process. My amma uses stone grinder and she uses the ratio 3:1 that is for three cups of rice, one cup of urad dal.....but for mixie it is 2:1 ie, 2 cups rice and 1 cup urad dal. I hope this will help you to make the perfect idli.

Making idlis is not rocket science, its all about fermenting it and grinding with enough water. Though for dosa batterI add aval or rice flakes but for idli batter, its just cooked rice...I do add a tad bit more about 2 handful. And you also know that I love to break the rules of cooking, well ..maybe it is because I do not have a home-science background, I learned cooking the hard way....through trial and error.

I only use white raw rice for dosa and idli as it is difficult to grind ponni or any other rice as it difficult to grind such hard rice in my mixie.....I hope my method will help you in making soft idlies.

I usually make this batter and make idlies with half of the batter, and the rest I will refrigerate to make dosa, do check out dosa varieties for different types of dosa.

Climate also plays an important role in fermentation of batter, since there is no yeast or soda powder (baking soda), if you are living in very cold place you need longer time to ferment, since I live in tropical Kerala, just keeping the batter overnight is enough..

Idli recipe, learn to make idli batter in mixie with step by step pictures.
Soak rice, urad dal, and fenugreek seeds together...at least 2 hours soaking is needed.

Clean the rice and dal....and put it in the mixie/blender and top with cooked rice and salt.

Add water to just cover it....grind for 2 min non-stop. (do not add too much water or two less). I have noticed that my mixie heats up a bit during grinding and this aids in fermentation, so I usually grind it around 11 pm, and by 6 am the next day....the batter would have risen well.

Pour into a steel large pan.

Keep it covered and untouched to ferment.....and go to zzzz

This is how my batter usually greets me in the morning....ready to spill over!! And your idli batter is ready. I would advise you not to stir the batter...when you fill the mould, scoop out from the top....the batter will be airy.

Lets make soft idlies....take your idli mould....lightly grease it with gingelly oil or any oil of your preference though gingelly oil imparts a unique flavor.

Add water in your steamer and heat your steamer or appachembu. Remember that pour to batter into the mould only once steam starts to come....and close.....simmer for 10-12 min.

Open and yes, hot...soft...idlies are yours.

I use a spoon to take it out.

Serve hot with sambar or chutney.

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PREP TIME: 8 hours | COOK TIME: 20 mins | AUTHOR:: NISA HOMEY

INGREDIENTS

• Raw Rice: 2 cups
• Urad dal: 1 cup
• Fenugreek seeds: 3/4 tsp
• Cooked rice: 2 handful (I use plain white rice or matta rice)
• Salt: 1 tsp
• Water as needed

METHOD:

1. Soak rice, urad dal, and fenugreek seeds together, at least 2 hours soaking is needed. Clean the rice and dal, and put it in the mixie/blender and top with cooked rice and salt.
2. Add water to just cover it....grind for 2 min non-stop. (do not add too much water or two less). I have noticed that my mixie heats up a bit during grinding and this aids in fermentation, so I usually grind it around 11 pm, and by 6 am the next day, the batter would have risen well.
3. Pour into a steel large pan. Keep it covered and untouched to ferment.
4. The batter will rise up and will be airy.
5. Lets make soft idlies, take your idli mould....lightly grease it with gingelly oil or any oil of your preference though gingelly oil imparts a unique flavor.
6. Add water in your steamer and heat your steamer or appachembu. Remember that pour to batter into the mould only once steam starts to come close and simmer for 10-12 min.
7. Allow it to cool slightly, open and spoon out./li>
8. Serve hot with Kerala coconut chutney

NOTES

• I usually add salt while grinding...since I am pretty sure that I will use up the batter soon....but if you plan to keep the batter for long, I would advise you to add salt as and when you are making idli. This batter will keep good in the fridge for almost a week. I always have some batter in the fridge.
• This batter can be used to make dosa also. As the batter will be thick, when making dosa, add a bit of water and loosen it.
• Again reminding that fermentation depends on the climate, normally it takes about 8 hours to ferment here in Kerala and it will take another 2 hours more during monsoons.
• If you do not plan to make idli the day batter is fermented....you can keep in the fridge and make the next day....it is advised not to stir it

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