BROWN RICE IDLI

 Brown rice idli is a South Indian recipe which is very popular in South Indian households. I love cooking healthy and nutritious food at home and my pantry is always stocked with a variety of healthy food. I always have brown rice, millets, poha, cracked wheat, dry fruits, nuts, seeds (flax seeds, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds)etc at home. When you eat healthy food, you get a feeling of happiness and satisfaction. We all know the amazing health benefits of brown rice but we don’t use it in our regular cooking. Nowadays I am on diet and eating more healthy stuff. When my dietitian told me to start having brown rice, I started with brown rice idlis, because I am a big fan of idlis. There is no much difference between this idli and our usual white rice idli. You can have it for breakfast or as a sumptuous  snack with your choice of  chutney or sambar. Also can be served on occasions like pot luckparties, kittyparties, game nights, road trips in order to beat the sudden hunger pangs. The best part about this filling dish is that it is prepared with all the fuss free ingredients like brown rice, poha, urad dal and fenugreek seeds which are easily available in our home kitchen. Serve these  piping hot brown rice idli with coconut chutney and a hot bowl full of sambar in order to relish it more. Do try this recipe , you’ll love for its softness.

INGREDIENTS : 

2 Cup Brown Rice

 1 Cup Urad dal (without skin) 

2 tablespoon Poha (pressed rice)

 1 teaspoon Fenugreek seeds ( Methi dana)

 Salt needed

Oil for greasing

METHOD : 

STEP 1 - Wash rice, poha and urad dal+ fenugreek seeds seperately with tap water 2-3 times.

STEP 2 - Soak brown rice + poha and urad dal + fenugreek seeds seperately for 4-5 hours.

STEP 3 - In a mixerpot,add soakedrice + poha and grind brown rice to a slightly coarse paste adding very little water time to time.

STEP 4 - Grind urad dal until light and fluffy adding very little water.

STEP 5 - Mix both the urad dal batter and rice batter together. (See notes)

STEP 6 - Cover and leave the batter to ferment for 7-8 hours / overnight on the counter.

STEP 7 - Our brown rice idli batter is ready.

STEP 8 - Mix the batter well and add little water and salt and mix it well. (See notes) Do not overmix the batter.

STEP 9 - Pour water in the idli steamer and preheat.

STEP 10 - Grease the idli plates with little oil and keep aside.

STEP 11 - Pour ladle full of idli batter into idli molds.

STEP 12 - Keep it in the steamer, close the lid and steam cook for 15 - 20 minutes on medium flame.

STEP 13 - Once cooked switch off the gas and cool it for 5 minutes.

STEP 14 -  Remove the stand from steamer and demold the idlis with the help of spoon.

STEP 15 - Repeat the same process for the rest of the batter. Look how spongy and soft the idlis look.

STEP 16 - Idlis are ready to serve. 

Delicious, healthy and soft idlis can be served with sambar or chutney of your choice.

NOTES : 

* The batter should not be thick nor runny.  It should be like regular idli batter.

* Do not add salt in the whole batter. Add in whatever quantity of batter you are going to use.

* The next day you can make dosa, uttappa using the same batter.