Let’s just agree that idlis are one of the best south Indian delicacies to try. If I be honest, I like it better than dosa or vadas, but that’s just my own opinion. The fluffy and soft texture of the rice cakes, served with piping hot sambhar and chilled coconut chutney gets me each time. Idli is perhaps one of the simplest Indian dishes, made with just two primary ingredients - rice and lentils or dal. Some people also use semolina or rava to make idli batter. Idli batter is a simple mixture of soaked and ground rice with lentils, which is then steamed in a special idli steamer. And while making idli may sound easy, the process is far more nuanced that one would imagine. Especially if you don’t have the idli stand or steamer at home. But worry not, you can still make soft and fluffy idlis. Yes, without the special steamer too!
There are many small and big things that impacts the texture, fluffiness and softness of idlis. Idli is supposed to be light and porous, but not crumbly. It should be soft not just when they are right out of the steamer, but also when they turn at room temperature. Right from the type of rice and dal used to the mixing of batter, all of these things make up for how the idlis turn out. What most people don’t know though is that you can prepare idlis regardless of if you have an idli steamer at home or not. Forget the steamer, you don’t even need a pressure cooker to cook idlis.
Here is how you can make sooji idli without an idli stand, using a kadhai and a bowl:
1. First to make idli batter, pour equal quantities of sooji and curd in a bowl. Mix well.
2. Add salt to it and mix well. Add small quantities of water to make smooth batter. Cover and let it rest for some time.
3. Now add some water in kadhai. Place a small bowl over it when the water is heated.
4. Grease small bowls with butter or oil. Check idli batter. If it is too thick, add some water and mix well. It should not be too thick or too thin.
5. Add Eno or any fruit salt in the batter. Let it activate. Mix lightly.
6. Now just pour batter in the bowls. Place a plate over the bowl with water that is kept inside the kadhai.
7. Place the idli bowl over the plate in the kadhai. Cover and let the idli steam for 8-10 minutes.
Serve soft and fluffy idlis with sambar or coconut chutney.