Delicious Tamil-style idlis for breakfast- Kanchipuram Idlis 

This is a variety idli that most of you must not have tried. Try it out.

Kanchipuram Idlis 

Kanchipuram Idlis are spiced up rice cakes that are popular in the town of Kanchipuram.

Preparation time: 12 hours (including soaking and fermentation)

Cooking time: 20 minutes

Serves: 6-8

Ingredients

• Raw Rice – 1 cup
• Idli Rice (or boiled rice) – 1 cup
• Urad dal – 1 cup
• Salt – as needed

Flavoring

• Crushed black pepper – 2 tsp
• Cumin seeds – 1 tsp
• Dry ginger powder – 1 tsp (or use fresh grated ginger)

Seasoning

• Sesame oil – 1 tbsp
• Urad dal (or channa dal) – 2 tsp
• Mustard seeds – 1 tsp
• Curry leaves – few (chopped)
• Cashew nuts – 10 (broken)
• Asafoetida – 1/4 tsp

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Method

• Soak both the rice together in one bowl. In another bowl soak the washed urad dal. Let it soak for at least 2 hours.
• First, grind the soaked ural dal with little water to get a very light and fluffy batter.
• Next, grind the rice to a coarse paste. Mix both the batter together with required salt.
• Let it rest in a warm place and ferment. It may take anywhere between 6 hours to 10 hours depending on the warmth. When the batter is fermented it will considerably increase in volume and have a sour fermented aroma.
• With the batter ready, mix the ginger, pepper and cumin with the batter. You can go ahead and make idlis at this stage.
• To make it extra tasty, make a seasoning of mustard seeds, curry leaves, cashew nuts, urad dal and asafoetida. Add this to the batter and mix well.
• Pour the batter into greased idli moulds or tumblers or a deep pan. Steam it for 15-20 minutes on high flame. Insert a toothpick or knife to check if the idli is cooked from the inside. When inserted, no batter should stick to it.
• If the idlis are cooked fully, switch off. Let it cool for about 5 minutes before removing.
• Gently run a knife around the edges of the tumblers to release the idlis. Turn it upside down and tap it. The idlis should easily fall off. Serve hot.

Serving Suggestions

• If you have made the Kanchipuram idli in a big pan, cut the idli into small pieces.
• Since this is made with raw rice, you have to eat the idlis hot. If not it will lose its softness.
• Serve with any chutney, sambhar or idli podi.