kalakkalsamayal: Making Idly

#MakingIdly #MakingIdli
Everyone knows how to make idly but anyway I would like to add it here for future reference and also for beginners' sake!!
You need an idly maker or cooker to make idly.

Take 3 cups of water in the idly maker and keep on a stove with high flame.

Put one drop of gingelly oil or any oil of your choice in each pit of idly plate.

Smear oil well and fill each pit with idly maavu using a ladle.

When thewater starts boiling keep the batter filled idly plate inside the idly maker and close the lid tightly.
Keep the flame at medium level and cook for 7 minutes or till the idlis are done.

First time it takes approximately 7 to 10 minutes to cook the idlis.

To take the idly from idly plate pour little water around each idly and scoop out using a flat spoon.

While scooping out keep lubricating the spoon with water frequently to avoid sticking to the idli plate as well as the spoon. Transfer into a casserole to keep them hot.

Another Method :
Idly can be steamed without greasing the plate.
Take a plain cotton cloth of slightly bigger than the plate size.
Wet the clean cloth and spread over the plate.
Now fill the pits with idly maavu.

Keep in the idly maker to steam cook the idlis. When ready take out the idli plate.

Now take a clean plate and turn this idly plate upside down over the plate.

Now remove the idly plate. Sprinkle water on the cloth. Slowly start removing the cloth leaving the idly on the plate. If the cloth is sticking to the idly slightly sprinkle water at that place. Then the cloth leaves out the idly.

Now transfer the steamed hot idlies into a casserole.

Note : After first time it takes only 6 to 7 minutes approximately to steam cook idlies.
Check the water in the idly maker time to time.

Note : If you are steaming idly in a pressure cooker do not put weight on.

Note :When two or three idly plates are steamed together place a wet cloth over the maavu ( batter ) of the bottom plate. This is done to avoid condensed water falling from top plate over the maavu ( batter ) of bottom plate.

Note : Even if you do not have idly plate then also you can make idly using a plain plate.
Take water in a cooker or wide mouthed kadai. Place a flat bottomed vessel upside down in the water ( to avoid water entering into the plate with maavu ). Now grease the plate with oil and pour idly maavu into the plate. Then steam it out.

Now enjoy the hot hot idly with any chutney of your choice and sambar.

Other Idli varieties to try