Idli Recipe | Easy & Best Soft Idli Recipe (2024)

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Published: Oct 14, 2011 | Last Updated On: Mar 13, 2024 by Sharmilee J

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Idli Recipe from making of rice batter to idli explained in this post with step by step pictures. Idli is the staple South Indian food made by steaming rice batter in Idli mold. Idli Recipe for making soft idlis published in this recipe to savour Idlis that is widely eaten for breakfast or dinner across India and it is accompanied with sambar / chutney / podi while serving.
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Idli is our south indian staple mostly made for breakfast so we usually stock up with the idli dosa batter which is very handy.I surely must have not thought of making a post for idli dosa batter, if I havent had a reader request for it.I am sure the method is easy and sure will help beginners.
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We prefer making idli dosa batter at home as I dont prefer the store bought ones as to me, its a big compromise. Even attimes of busy schedule, I would rather choose upma, chapathi etc to idli, dosas using store bought batter. I love idlis best with idly podi.Check outkaima idliwhich is my fav.Tiffin sambaris the best combo! Hotel idli ratio is different from homemade ones. Will surely add a recipe for hotel style idli sometime later.
This ratio is from the handwritten book from amma and it works perfectly. I use my measuring cups for most of the recipes mentioned in this space. Amma uses the traditional ulaku, veesam with the same measurements. I converted it to the measuring cups for ease and convenience 🙂
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If you have any more questions about this idli recipe do mail me at [emailprotected]. In addition, follow me on Instagram,Facebook,Pinterest,YoutubeandTwitter.

Tried this idli recipe ? Do let me know how you liked it. Also tag us on Instagram @sharmispassions and hash tag it on #sharmispassions.

Table of Contents

1📖 Recipe Card

2Idli Recipe | How to make soft Idli

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Idli Recipe | How to make soft Idli

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time30 minutes mins

Total Time40 minutes mins

Servings10 Idlis

AuthorSharmilee J

Ingredients

3 cups idli rice 700 gms
1/2 cup whole urad dal / ulundhu (no skin variety) 110 gms
1/2 teaspoon fenugreek seeds / vendhayam
water as needed
salt to taste

Instructions

Measure each ingredient as per the above measurement and keep seperately.
Soak rice, urad dal with fenugreek seeds in water each seperately for atleast 2 to 3 hours.
Then drain water from urad dhal+fenugreek seeds and add it to the grinder.
While adding urad dhal take care the grinder doesnt get stuck. Sprinkle water then and there and grind it for 40mins in total.
Its always better to stand near atleast during the final stage of till the proper consistency is reached.
Keep sprinkling water in between at regular intervals. The batter should be light and nice fluffy.
Collect the urad dhal batter in a container(big enough to hold the fermented batter).
Now drain water from rice and add it to the grinder, sprinkle little water and start grinding.
Grind it for 30mins on the whole, keep adding water in between.
Grind it smoothly with a slight coarse texture. The rice batter should be slightly thicker than urad dhal batter.
Now take the rice batter and urad dhal batter, add salt and mix well.
Keep aside in a warm place to ferment well for atleast 10 – 12 hours.
Can you see the fermented batter with a porous look? If you see the batter would have raised well and now your idli dosa batter is ready to use.
Take a laddle full and add it to the idly pan and steam it for 10-12mins.
Sprinkle little water and carefully slide around the edges to take the idlis.
Hot soft idlis ready to be served.

Notes

The texture of the batter depends purely on the quality of urad dhal.
Also the volume varies each time when I get urad dhal from a different store.
You can add soak 2 tablespoon poha for 10mins and add it while grinding along with rice and urad dal.
The water quantity I’ve given is approximate and may vary depending on the quality of rice and urad dhal.
Also while making idlis you can place a cloth before pouring the batter which gives even more soft idlis. I rarely use it. 🙂
Idlies taste best when the batter is fresh, so after a week we use it for dosas and kuzhipaniyaram.

Nutrition Facts

Idli Recipe | How to make soft Idli

Amount Per Serving (50 g)

Calories 234Calories from Fat 5

% Daily Value*

Fat 0.5g1%

Saturated Fat 0.1g1%

Polyunsaturated Fat 0.1g

Monounsaturated Fat 0.1g

Sodium 11mg0%

Potassium 65mg2%

Carbohydrates 49g16%

Fiber 3g13%

Sugar 0.1g0%

Protein 6g12%

Vitamin A 1IU0%

Vitamin C 0.4mg0%

Calcium 22mg2%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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How to make idli

Measure each ingredient as per the above measurement and keep seperately. Soak rice, urad dal with fenugreek seeds in water each seperately for atleast 2 to 3 hours.
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Then drain water from urad dhal+fenugreek seeds and add it to the grinder. While adding urad dhal take care the grinder doesnt get stuck. Sprinkle water then and there and grind it for 40mins in total. Its always better to stand near atleast during the final stage of till the proper consistency is reached. Keep sprinkling water in between at regular intervals. The batter should be light and nice fluffy.
Pin
Collect the urad dhal batter in a container(big enough to hold the fermented batter). Now drain water from rice and add it to the grinder, sprinkle little water and start grinding.Grind it for 30mins on the whole, keep adding water in between. Grind it smoothly with a slight coarse texture. The rice batter should be slightly thicker than urad dhal batter.
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Now take the rice batter and urad dhal batter, add salt and mix well. Keep aside in a warm place to ferment well for atleast 10 – 12 hours. Can you see the fermented batter with a porous look? If you see the batter would have raised well and now your idli dosa batter is ready to use.
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Take a laddle full and add it to the idly pan and steam it for 10-12mins. Sprinkle little water and carefully slide around the edges to take the idlis.
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Hot soft idlis ready to be served.I have tried my best to explain the making of idli, dosa batter. Have included the tips I got from amma too, do feel free to mail me your queries if you have any.
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For dosas:First see whether the batter is in pouring consistency, if not add little water and mix well. Then take a laddle full of idli dosa batter and add it to the dosa tawa and keep spreading in circular motion outwards. When the dosa gets slightly browned turn over to other side. Crispy dosas ready.

For dosa video checkhere
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My Notes:

The texture of the batter depends purely on the quality of urad dhal. Also the volume varies each time when I get urad dhal from a different store.
You can add soak 2 tablespoonpoha for 10mins and add it while grinding along with rice and urad dal.
The water quantity I’ve given is approximate and may vary depending on the quality of rice and urad dhal.
Also while making idlis you can place a cloth before pouring the batter which gives even more soft idlis. I rarely use it. 🙂
Idlies taste best when the batter is fresh, so after a week we use it for dosas and kuzhipaniyaram

Reader Interactions

Comments

Janu
October 14, 2011 at 1:32 pm

Oh my god!!!!!!!!!!! Your idli's tempt me a lot!! That mild golden colored dosa is lovely!!!!
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Kalyani's Platter
October 14, 2011 at 2:28 pm

wow so tempting sharmilee …. both are yummy (idlis and dosas ) …….
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vineetha
October 14, 2011 at 2:39 pm

I m feeling really really hungry now..Dsa is tempting me even more…so crispy!!
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- Raji
  April 04, 2023 at 7:02 pm
  
  Hi mam
  For this measurements that is for 1 kg rice how many idlis we will get
  Reply
  - Sharmilee J
    April 25, 2023 at 7:35 am
    
    I havent counted but roughly around 50-60 idlis
    Reply
Tina
October 14, 2011 at 3:41 pm

my all time fav breakfast…looks soft nd yummy..
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Kurryleaves
October 14, 2011 at 4:27 pm

super soft idlis…with sambar and chutney..really tempting…
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Bharathy
October 14, 2011 at 4:36 pm

I am thinking for a long time to do idly batter and homemade ghee post..just postponing cos a laziness to do an elaborate post..
This post is worth the effect, sharmi! I love those idlies!
P.S- I have started missing you in every new post of mine if you dont pop up within the first 10 comments (geeee) missed you tons in the evening after a day long shopping in the bazzar when i scrolled the c0mment box until i left for swimming 2 hours back. the first thing was searching for you back home and you were there 🙂 🙂
hugs!!! 🙂
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Priya (Yallapantula) Mitharwal
October 14, 2011 at 5:24 pm

They look amazing, I have got to try this ratio of rice and dal.
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Swathi
October 14, 2011 at 6:04 pm

My ratio is slightly different, I have to try your ratio. Looks awesome soft.
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sangee vijay
October 14, 2011 at 6:15 pm

soft and spongy idlis…lovely post n clicks are amazing !!!
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Reshmi Mahesh
October 14, 2011 at 6:20 pm

Both idli and dosa looks so good…loved the slight golden dosa more..:).. Lovely clicks..
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Muskaan at A2Z Healthy Vegetarian Cuisine
October 14, 2011 at 6:39 pm

This is my fav too…my kids totally love ghee idili..looks super soft Sharmi…but I dont have this typical grinding machine, I usually do it in my food processor..and it comes out nice too..
Lovely post.
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Sobha Shyam
October 14, 2011 at 7:26 pm

wonderful post with great tips, idlis look super soft dear..
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Suja
October 14, 2011 at 9:16 pm

They looks wonderful dear,your clicks makes me hungry
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Premalatha Aravindhan
October 15, 2011 at 12:09 am

I was thinking to post this for long:),your idlis are really soft and fluffy…
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foodie @ tastingpot
October 15, 2011 at 12:32 am

i really like your food pictures and want to invite you to try out tastingspot.com. it's for anyone that just wants another place to submit photos and share it will other foodies. It’s still in beta version, but would love for you to start adding some photos and help get it going.
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priya ravi
October 15, 2011 at 3:18 am

well.. i have been looking for this one sharmi 🙂
i hv been varying proportions for quite a long time but couldnt get the perfect one.. as u said, proper idli rice and urad dhaal makes a lot of difference to the proportions.. will try urs soon
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Prathibha
October 15, 2011 at 5:29 am

good post for newbies..nice pics
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Zareena
October 15, 2011 at 9:43 am

Superb clicks, amazing method and mouthwatering dishes. Lovely post. Thanks for sharing.
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nanusree
October 15, 2011 at 9:51 am

hi sharmi, planned for the idli- dosa weekend and your pics made it more tempting to go for it.
keep up your work kudos !
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RAKS KITCHEN
October 15, 2011 at 1:02 pm

Idlis and dosai both looking perfect…It is a great task for me weekly but once done,can be relaxxed for 3-4 days in the morning 😉
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Priya
October 15, 2011 at 3:28 pm

Beautiful post for beginners,beautiful clicks..
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Fahad Khan
October 15, 2011 at 4:46 pm

Those idlies look so soft and delicious!I already have your Idly Pody recipe,noted it some time back.
Thank you for sharing so many lovely recipes with us.:-)
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Sandhya Hariharan
October 15, 2011 at 7:43 pm

OMG.. .they are sooo much spongy… Wish you were my neighbour Sharmilee…..
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varietyislifesspice
October 16, 2011 at 12:40 am

nice pics…and good post for dosa-idli lovers like me 🙂
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Mitha
October 17, 2011 at 8:15 am

sharmi
I love your passion .
u r kind enough to consider a reader's request and make such a simple post on idli/dosa batter.
hats off to u.
No wonder sharmi's passions is growing day by day.
u r my favourite blogger!!
by the way idli poo mathiri irukke.
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Sharmilee! :)
October 17, 2011 at 8:18 am

@Mitha : Thats so sweet, and thank u so much! 🙂 Though late, I try to fulfill most of the readers request as only becos of them the site keeps going and growing…..:)
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Anonymous
January 06, 2012 at 9:54 am

i made idli batter out of powdered pachai arisi/ idly rice and used the proportion 4 cups of powdered rice and 1 cup of soaked urad dhal for 3 hrs..i grinded urad dhal in mixie and added to the powdered idly rice with water and salt…my batter consistency looked alright but the idlies were palatable but hard…since i dont have grinder, i did this…what is the ratio if i use powdered rice with whole urad dhal mixture
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Sharmilee! :)
January 06, 2012 at 11:02 am

@Anonymous : I havent used powdered idli rice but usually mixie dosent give fluffy batter so that might be the problem. And sorry am not sure on the proportion with powdered idli rice
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Rookshana
February 17, 2012 at 2:05 am

Thanks for you're recipe, I dont know what I am doing wrong, can you guide me as my idli's always come out hard, here in Australia. When in India they used to come out very soft. I do however use a food processor nowadays. Thank you
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- Sharmilee! :)
  February 17, 2012 at 3:47 am
  
  Your urad dhal should of good quality and am not sure of the outcome of usng foodprocessor for idli batter, is the mixie grinder difference? am not really sure. I havent used food processor so coudnt give you a clear note on it
  Reply
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- prerna
  August 11, 2015 at 11:58 am
  
  a food processor breaks the grains in high speed, heating it, whereas a grinder grinds it. hence the difference. Try using cold water to grind it in the food processor. it works
  Reply
Anonymous
February 25, 2012 at 3:32 pm

lovelyyyyyyyyyyyyyy i am soooooo tankful to u
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Anonymous
April 20, 2012 at 5:00 pm

My idlis dont ferment (Batter doesnt rise but color changes to yellow) . I am in Boston. What to do?
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Sharmilee! :)
April 20, 2012 at 5:06 pm

@Anon : It all depends on weather too…may be you can try keeping in warm water for sometime and see…
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Anonymous
April 21, 2012 at 6:47 pm

Thanks Sharmilee… Why use fenugreek seeds?
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Sharmilee! :)
April 21, 2012 at 7:47 pm

@Anon : Fenugreek seeds gives a gumminess to the batter which in turn will make idlis fluffy and soft.
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Anonymous
April 22, 2012 at 4:10 pm

Hi sharmilee !! thanks for the recipe … i have a small question … does your idlis come in white color after steaming … does using fenugreek seeds make it creamish ?? i dont know whats wrong with my batter but i get creamish idlis ,i tought that is bcz of fenugreek seeds… and how do u gring ur urad dal ?? does it turn white after grinding for 40 min or does it remains pale yellow or creamish ?? please respond …
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Sharmilee! :)
April 22, 2012 at 4:18 pm

@Anon : The color depends on the quality of urad dhal and how well it ferments. While grinding urad dhal separately, it does look sligtly cream in color but when mixed with rice batter and steamed as idlis, it is white as shown in the pics. Hope this helps!
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Anonymous
April 23, 2012 at 2:01 am

thank you sharmilee!!! sooo you mean to say the color of idli's not effected by fenu greek seeds right??thank u so much the reply !!!
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Anonymous
April 23, 2012 at 2:09 pm

Yes I have the same question. I stopped using fenugreek seeds as my idlis turned slightly red. What brand of urad dal do you use Sharmilee? And it will be helpful if you tell your brand of idli rice and fenugreek sees too…
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Sharmilee! :)
April 23, 2012 at 2:31 pm

It is always Nilgiris brand for most of my groceries…
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Anonymous
April 23, 2012 at 11:21 pm

thanks
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Rafeeda
May 31, 2012 at 10:15 am

very informative article… i'm a new cook, so trying to find ways… how can i do the batter in a prithi mixer?
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Sharmilee! :)
May 31, 2012 at 10:39 am

@Rafeeda : You can proceed the same procedure in mixie too…but sure it will not give soft idlis like how we get like the ones in grinder.
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Bhagwat Tambe
June 01, 2012 at 9:28 am

wwwwwwwwwoooooooooooooooowwwwwwwwww kay idali hai yar………….
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Sumita Choudhury
July 27, 2012 at 3:35 pm

hiii i hv seen ur reciepe n try it ….its awesme ..thnks for sharing with us for wonderful n useful reciepe …
Reply
Raji
August 02, 2012 at 4:20 am

how many idlies one can make with this measurement ?
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Sharmilee! :)
August 02, 2012 at 4:48 am

@raji : It is difficult to tell as we use the same batter for dosa and other mixes too.
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Muhamed Sam
August 18, 2012 at 8:33 am

hi Sharmilee, Could you pls let me know the combination of rice n Urad dal in grams/ weight?
Reply
Sharmilee! :)
August 18, 2012 at 9:19 am

@Muhamed : Will measure and update it here….
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- Shabana Salman
  February 21, 2013 at 4:44 am
  
  waiting for ur measurements! 🙂
  Reply
- Sharmilee! :)
  March 16, 2013 at 6:32 am
  
  Finally updated it today :))
  Reply
Veena Tankasala
August 19, 2012 at 11:45 am

I get fluffy idlis but they are not white they are a bit creamish what should i do to get it white my proportion is 1: 4(idli rice) soak it for 6 to 7 hours I get exactly between 55 to 60 idlis(medium size i.e. not very big nor very small) per kg of idli batter
Reply
Sharmilee! :)
August 19, 2012 at 12:55 pm

@Veena : Please check the comment I have already written reg the color for the idlis
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Sevvanthi
August 19, 2012 at 1:05 pm

Hi sharmi..
I am planning to buy a new wet grinder. can u please suggest on the brand? Also is it better to go for a three stone grinder?
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Sharmilee! :)
August 19, 2012 at 3:24 pm

@Sevvanthi : I use a old one…But heard from friends that ultra is good..
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Vaava
September 05, 2012 at 2:30 pm

Hi
Can you please tell which brand of urad dal and idly rice you use?
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GK Arusuvai
September 06, 2012 at 6:08 am

very good explanation with pictures….tq so much…i'll bookmark this
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nilam
September 08, 2012 at 3:12 am

Hi
Iam a fan of indian food. your posts really a great help!….tq so so much
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Jeganma
September 30, 2012 at 2:32 pm

thank u very much for ur recepy sis … appreciated !!!
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Jeganma
September 30, 2012 at 2:33 pm

thank u very much for ur recepy sis … so much appreciated !!!
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Rush Nadar
October 07, 2012 at 5:16 pm

awesome recipe! Thank you! I'm making this for my 6 mo old baby
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Divya Hirekodi
November 03, 2012 at 12:01 am

Hey I tried this out….. simply brilliant. A big thank you for sharing this …..
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Mistie
November 08, 2012 at 1:27 am

This looks amazing! Is there some way to make the batter without the grinder? I have a powerful mixer (vitamix) can I use it instead?
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- Shantha
  April 19, 2023 at 1:44 pm
  
  All ur recipes are very nice mam..
  For idly rice:urud dhal ratio we do it like 4:1/2..
  Reply
  - Sharmilee J
    April 25, 2023 at 7:29 am
    
    Thank you so much!
    Yes the ratio od rice and urad dal varies depending upon the quality.
    Reply
Sharmilee! :)
November 08, 2012 at 2:33 am

@Mistie : I am not sure whether it will turn out this soft but you can give a try with a small amount and see….May be half the ingredients and try
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Jananee
November 09, 2012 at 6:39 am

Hi, first of all thanks a lot for a lovely sharing but the problem with mine is, i am using the same ratio and the dosas are excellent but idli's are very hard and it really makes me depressed..plz help me out.!! any extra tip to get extra soft idli??if then plz do share
Reply
Sharmilee! :)
November 09, 2012 at 8:06 am

@Jananee : I dont have any extra tip have jotted down everything in my notes section….cudnt guess where it goes wrong for u….
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sony
November 24, 2012 at 1:55 pm

Hi ,
I am a recent visitor of your site and was very impressed.
I live in the uk and wanted to prepare idli at home instead going to hotel. As you know you wont get the authentic taste. I prepared the batter as per my moms advice. She uses 4:1 ratio and never soaks urad dal for more than half an hour. But my idli didnt come out good as hers. so when i searched in your site i found this. Am going to
ry yours and hope it comes good. But if you have any tips and advIce pls write it to me as am new to cooking. Longing to eat a delicious idli.
Regards,
Sony
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Jyotika
December 03, 2012 at 2:38 pm

Everytime i ask people i know who make dosa and idli at home…they give me different proportions of rice and urad dal to be soaked. So, does it make a huge difference if we change the proportions of dal and rice?
Reply
Sharmilee! :)
December 03, 2012 at 3:35 pm

@Jyotika : Yes the proportion makes a difference…though grinding it in the correct consistency and fermenting also plays a vital role…
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vincy
December 04, 2012 at 3:47 am

Dear Sharmi,i prepared idli as per your recipe.it came out wonderful.idli was very soft.everyone at home liked it.Thankyou Sharmi….
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Malini Nair
December 08, 2012 at 3:51 pm

u have given the quantity of whole urad dal…what would be the proportion if it is split urad dal?
Reply
hai ma
January 26, 2013 at 10:33 am

dosa kandittu kothiyavanu…..
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Kanchana R
January 31, 2013 at 3:32 pm

hi Sharmiee,
I need your help. actually i can get soft idilies in the upper plates only, second plate or under plate idlies are fully covered with water. why n what is the reason? Help me….
Reply
king
March 08, 2013 at 8:12 pm

I appreciate your dedication, patience and creativity towards the post. Hats Off!!!
Reply
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seema
March 22, 2013 at 8:57 am

thank u for sharing….
actually i have same doubt and problem as malini & kanchana has…
u have given the quantity of whole urad dal…what would be the proportion if it is split urad dal?
i am getting soft idilies in the upper plate only, second plate or under plate idlies are fully covered with water. why n what is the reason? Help me….
awaiting for reply…
Reply
- Sharmilee! :)
  March 22, 2013 at 11:02 am
  
  I am really not sure as we always use whole urad dal only. Just pour little water so that the last idli plate doesnt immerse in…
  Reply
vamsha
June 17, 2013 at 2:02 pm

My dosas are always white though i add methi.. can u tell me what the reason is..
Reply
- SHARMILEE J
  June 17, 2013 at 2:13 pm
  
  The color depends on the dosa pan and even the way you make dosas…Try this way : Once the dosa pan is heated up well just sprinkle little water on the tawa, wipe it off then pour the dosa batter this way it will brown evenly.
  Reply
- kunda
  June 29, 2013 at 4:01 pm
  
  Hi
  Your blog is very tempting n so r the recipes 😉
  Once I had idli chilly fry many years back in Goa it s superb
  do yuo have ne idea as to how 2 make it?
  Reply
- SHARMILEE J
  June 30, 2013 at 2:12 am
  
  No havent tried it so far….will surely post if I come across that recipe
  Reply
anupam ganesh
July 07, 2013 at 9:56 am

Well I have always used 3:1 ratio. Would your ratio give a different taste/ texture?
Reply
- SHARMILEE J
  August 16, 2013 at 12:11 pm
  
  Yes please give it a try and let me know….
  Reply
Unknown
July 11, 2013 at 11:04 pm

which wet grinder do you use??? is premier wonder grinder good or ultra??
Reply
- SHARMILEE J
  July 12, 2013 at 1:35 am
  
  Mine is a very old table top wet grinder 🙂
  Reply
निशा............
August 16, 2013 at 6:56 am

hi Sharmi,
I am a regular follower of your blog.
I have a question. Does adding salt before fermenting or after fermenting makes any difference to the time the batter stays good?
I used to get readymade batter but then it will never have salt and i will add salt and a just a hint of soda before pouring the batter in idli moulds. Those idlis were good enough.
But now with a kid, i want to make the idli batter from scratch at home since you cant be sure how hygenic the store bought batter will be plus i dont trust the dates printed for freshness of batter. Especially here in pune. in Banglore it might be a different story.
I always hear from people that batter with salt in it, can turn bad faster than the one with doesnt have it. Is it true? if kept in refridgerator, how long can i keep using the idli batter?
For myself i wouldnt worry much as i had been digesting all sorts well! 🙂 But I hear too much fermented items can give food poisoning to babies so worried.
Awaiting your reply.
Reply
- SHARMILEE J
  August 16, 2013 at 4:01 pm
  
  Yes you have to add salt before fermenting and it helps in fermenting.We dont use soda for idli batter….I use the batter for almost 2 weeks…For the first few days I use it for idli and later make dosa,uthapam,paniyaram etc. No not at all…idli is the best and safest solid food that can be given to kids…Infact I started solids with only idli and rice for my daughter…So dont worry and start making your homemade batter and am sure you will not regret 🙂
  Reply
Miss Cultured Purl
September 16, 2013 at 2:15 am

This recipe was amazing. It was my first time making idlis from scratch and it was a success! Thank you so much for your tips!!
Reply
Miss Cultured Purl
September 16, 2013 at 2:16 am

This recipe was amazing! This was the first time I made idlis from scratch and they turned out super soft. Thank you so much for your helpful tips – especially regarding how to make the batter ferment in cooler USA temperatures. BEST RECIPE EVER!
Reply
Rama Devar
September 20, 2013 at 10:41 pm

You are maintaining a creative and inspiring blog, thank you! Question: How did you season your dosa pan to make it non-stick? Is the vessel made of metal?
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- SHARMILEE J
  September 21, 2013 at 2:25 am
  
  The dosa pan is cast iron…I usually add some rock salt and wipe it off with a slice of onion when the dosa pan sticks….
  Reply
Van Leo
October 11, 2013 at 8:24 pm

awesome recipe..definitely a must try recipe…i just found ur blog sharmis..thank you for the recipes..i was just wondering, the measurement of the recipe above can make how many idlis?
Reply
Shahira
November 27, 2013 at 10:07 am

Hi thanx for ur easy recipes.. I want to know is the rice batter should be very fine paste. And while grinding if batter get hot is it ok…or is it will make idli
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- SHARMILEE J
  December 03, 2013 at 6:29 am
  
  No that will not be a problem, timing and consistency check is important.
  Reply
Vaishali Desai
December 09, 2013 at 11:43 am

Hi.. Many a time some amount of batter is left after preparing the idlis, which i store in the fridge and use for preparing dosas. If i have to prepare idlis with the remaining batter after couple of days, then will the idlis turn out soft and fluffy. Do you have any tips for using this batter to prepare idlis again?
Reply
- SHARMILEE J
  December 11, 2013 at 4:00 pm
  
  Usually fresh batter is used for idli and after that we make dosas till we end up with the current batch of batter.
  Reply
abbas khan
January 14, 2014 at 7:15 am

thanks a lot for the guidance Sharmilee J on behalf of my wife Razikha Khan
Reply
abbas khan
January 14, 2014 at 7:21 am

thanks a lot Sharmilee J your guidance is very helpful and use full Razikha Khan from kuwait
Reply
Amanda Selvarajah
February 11, 2014 at 2:06 pm

I don't have a grinder, can I use a blender instead?
Reply
- SHARMILEE J
  February 11, 2014 at 4:01 pm
  
  You can but am really not sure of the outcome….guess it will affect the texture of the idlis.May be you can try for a smaller quantity and check…
  Reply
Roshna Bi
February 28, 2014 at 3:31 pm

Hi Sharmilee, I like ur blog very much. I like ur clicks (photos). I know, everytime u put lot of effort to do this. Thank u so much Sharmilee. I am in US. Everyday i used to take a look ur blog to get idea for cooking. Everything is very nice. Me and my friends are always here to support you.
Reply
jerin mou
March 08, 2014 at 6:15 am

Hi sharmilee
I m from Bangladesh. I really like dosa & want to try it at home. But which dal is 'urad dal' or 'urad dal' is available in BD or not i m confused. Can u tell some other name of this dal specially any bengali name?
Reply
- SHARMILEE J
  March 08, 2014 at 8:46 am
  
  It is urad dal without skin variety. Googled to find that Kalai er Dal is the bengali name , not very sure please reconfirm it.
  Reply
Jam
March 25, 2014 at 5:34 pm

Hi Sharmilee
I generally use the ratio 4:1 for the raw rice/urad dhal, havent tried your ratio.. Also i generally soal urad dhal and rice together and grind it, rather than doing it seperately, Will that matter ?
Reply
- SHARMILEE J
  March 26, 2014 at 10:14 am
  
  I am really not sure as I havent tried soaking and grinding rice, urad dal together….
  Reply
ayswarya babu
May 01, 2014 at 10:38 am

I have been using this recipe but my idlis were not very soft. I think its because I am grinding in the mixer and not grinder. Adding Poha makes it softer for the first two days. then after that it is only good for dosa. Could u suggest any other options to make it softer when we grind using a mixer??
Thank you so much.
Reply
- SHARMILEE J
  May 01, 2014 at 11:40 am
  
  I am really not sure as I havent tried grinding idli dosa batter in mixer, may be if I find an alternate will sure share it soon.
  Reply
cpt
May 02, 2014 at 1:45 pm

Hi Sharmilee….u recipe looks excellent! Thanks for sharing it. What type / variety of rice do you use? Is there a brand name for it?
Reply
- SHARMILEE J
  May 04, 2014 at 12:11 pm
  
  There is no brand as such I either get idli rice from Nilgiris or from a supermarket
  Reply
Gis Ferns
May 03, 2014 at 11:20 am

I have noticed that my idlis stick to the mould inspite of oiling the mould well and I cannot take them off easily with a spoon without breaking. Is there a way of not letting it stuck to the mould and getting neat idlis.
Reply
- SHARMILEE J
  May 04, 2014 at 5:56 am
  
  Try greasing the idli moulds with a drop of oil in each hole…then after steaming dont take it out immediately sprinkle very little water set aside for 2mins then try to scoop it out am sure it will give you clean demoulding of idlis
  Reply
Saji Sreedharan
May 17, 2014 at 12:54 pm

Hi sharmilee's recipe so good.Thanks.
Reply
kalyani
May 21, 2014 at 11:01 am

Tried ur version n got good results.thanks.question: can u tell me the brand of idly pot u r using..it looks good.i want to buy a one as mine is very.old aluminum pot. If possible please post a pic of Yours.
Reply
- kalyani
  May 21, 2014 at 3:43 pm
  
  Hi sharmi…waiting for your reply on the above query.thanks
  Reply
- SHARMILEE J
  May 21, 2014 at 4:46 pm
  
  I dont know the brand its a old one, actually got as a gift. Now I am using a brand named amarjothi, will post the pic of it soon.You can try butterfly too.
  Reply
- kalyani
  May 21, 2014 at 5:02 pm
  
  Thanks….will browse
  Reply
Sheila
May 28, 2014 at 5:05 pm

Hi Sharmi, do you rinse the urad and rice 2-3 times before soaking or just soak without rinsing ? i read somewhere that wild yeast on the urad helps the batter rise so the dal should not be rinsed too much
Reply
- SHARMILEE J
  June 09, 2014 at 2:21 pm
  
  I rinse it once or twice before adding it to grind…..It depends on the quality of the dal
  Reply
Butterflies
July 26, 2014 at 3:01 pm

Sharmi, do you have any idea how I can make an idli without an idli stand?? They are way too expensive in the states 🙁 I don't want to have to buy one from here and am not going to India anytime soon.
Reply
- SHARMILEE J
  August 05, 2014 at 3:20 pm
  
  I am not really sure, I use the idli pot which has the idli mould inside…Not sure of substitutes sorry
  Reply
Archana Shekar
September 07, 2014 at 4:50 am

Do I have to keep the batter separately or do I need mix them together.
Reply
- SHARMILEE J
  September 09, 2014 at 2:19 pm
  
  You have to mix both urad dal and rice batter together then let it to ferment….
  Reply
Asna Asmi
November 13, 2014 at 10:31 pm

Thanks I used rice flour and urad dal flour it ddnt ferment what should I do
Reply
- SHARMILEE J
  November 14, 2014 at 11:20 am
  
  I haven't tried with rice and urad dal flour so not really sure….sorry couldnt help u in this regard
  Reply
Saranya A
December 19, 2014 at 11:50 am

Hi..
Can u please tell the measurements in ulaku..
That is in veesam padi..
How much rice n urad deal??
Reply
- SHARMILEE J
  December 20, 2014 at 3:24 am
  
  I measured the alaku my gave me and it exactly measures my 1 cup(250ml)
  Reply
Unknown
June 03, 2015 at 8:45 am

Hi Sharmi.. What is the outcome of too much or too little urud dal?
I know it's way higher, but I have always used 1:4 ratio (and no methi) and ended up with super-fluffy idlis, but somewhat flat, which I thought was due to more urud dal.
But lately, the idlis have been turning out much harder and creamish as well, though I haven't changed the brand of the dal/rice. Will try your ratios now, but can you tell me if a larger proportion of urud dal could make the idli harder / flatter?
Thank you!
Reply
- SHARMILEE J
  June 03, 2015 at 11:56 am
  
  It purely depends on the quality of urad dal, If I buy from Nilgiris I use 1:4 ratio and it worked fine….but when I buy from other supermarket I change the ratio so just experiment with the ratios and stick to the one which suits to u and ur climatic conditions
  Reply
ashwini
August 05, 2015 at 11:14 pm

Hi
Thank you for the recipe.Picture says raw rice and in post u have mentioned idly rice.Which one to use?
Reply
- SHARMILEE J
  August 06, 2015 at 5:50 am
  
  It is idli rice only…that was a type…thanks for bringing it to my notice…have updated now
  Reply
susitra dhakshinamoorthy
August 08, 2015 at 4:44 pm

Hi Sharmi,
Thanks for the post.
I have one problem. My hubby is saying the idli is something "kora kora" to taste while eating. Can u pls tell me how to avoid it and make soft idlies?
I used to take out the rice batter with little "kora kora"
TIA
Reply
- SHARMILEE J
  August 09, 2015 at 12:51 pm
  
  If the batter texture is little coarse then it will result in coarse textured idlis….So grind it little smooth next time to get soft idlis
  Reply
Kaajal Bhawnani
October 13, 2015 at 4:37 pm

Hi Sharmi. Is it okay to use the same water for grinding (the extra water from soaking)? Why do we need to discard the water used for soaking ? Pls help. Thanks…
Also.. I have the ultra 1.25 ltrs wet grinder… when I tried to make the batter… the rice was done in 10 mins and dal was done in 15 minutes .. is that unusual?
Reply
- SHARMILEE J
  October 14, 2015 at 8:17 am
  
  If you wish you can use the same water itself….It depends on each grinder the timing may differ….so adjust according the timing accordingly
  Reply
Bharathi
October 17, 2015 at 3:14 pm

For this particular measurement how much salt needs to be added? Please reply. I m poor in salt and it's taste… Thank you
Reply
Daf
October 19, 2015 at 12:25 pm

Sharmilee,Will grinding idli batter in a mixer jar , give the same result.
Reply
Daf
October 19, 2015 at 12:27 pm

Will grinding in a mixer jar give you the same result
Reply
Malar
November 01, 2015 at 7:17 am

Hi Sharmi, Thanks for the receipe. I have some trouble with the idlis, but the dosas turn out to be super awesome. The idlis are soft when hot. When it turns cold, it becomes like kali consistency. Any suggestions? I tried various combinations and settled with 3 cups rice, 1 cup urad dal and 1 sp fenugreek ratio.
Reply
- SHARMILEE J
  November 04, 2015 at 4:56 am
  
  Oh not really sure why this happens, may be try to lay a cloth then make idlis am sure itwill yield very soft idlis
  Reply
  - PMP
    June 30, 2017 at 3:46 am
    
    hi
    thanks for ur recipe..
    just one doubt while making dosa , do we flip or make it only one side ?
    thanks a lot 🙂
    Reply
    - Sharmilee J
      July 05, 2017 at 6:15 am
      
      We flip it 🙂
      Reply
Ranjan Saha
November 17, 2015 at 11:07 am

Please tell batter preparation in Mixer.
Reply
Nithu Roy
January 09, 2016 at 10:52 am

hey sharmi…u can also add some left over rice, it'll make idlis much softer.
Reply
Sasha V
March 26, 2016 at 7:03 pm

Hello. Your method is so wonderfully detailed – great job! Can you please tell me the brand of wet grinder you use? Does it work well for you? I am an East Indian living in Trinidad and currently searching for a good, durable one to purchase.
Reply
Sasha V
March 26, 2016 at 7:43 pm

Hello. Your method is so wonderfully detailed – great job! Can you please tell me the brand of wet grinder you use? Does it work well for you? I am an East Indian living in Trinidad and currently searching for a good, durable one to purchase.
Reply
- SHARMILEE J
  March 28, 2016 at 7:24 am
  
  I use a old one name is Santha wet grinders
  Reply
praseeda pnair
July 16, 2016 at 11:35 am

Hi can u tell me d ratio of ur ad dal if m using just 1 cup of idli rice?
Reply
Unknown
November 08, 2016 at 6:30 am

Hello,
We are a franco tamil cultural centre located in Pondicherry. We are looking for an idlis' steamer picture to illustrate an article we are writting about south indian breakfasts . We wanted to ask you if we could use the fifth step picture of your page. We can put your name under/on it if you like to.
Thank you a lot for your answer,
Best regards from SITA team
Reply
- SHARMILEE J
  November 09, 2016 at 1:40 am
  
  Yes pls but pls mention the source
  Reply
Gehad
June 21, 2017 at 8:25 pm

Hello, very nice recipe .and where could I find the grinder which you used?
Reply
Pmp
July 02, 2017 at 12:10 am

Wen we should add salt
Before fermenting or after ?
Reply
- Sharmilee J
  July 05, 2017 at 6:12 am
  
  Before fermenting…
  Reply
Foodzu
July 03, 2017 at 6:38 pm

Simple recipe. But Explanation was awesome. Thanks for sharing.
Reply
Nabila
July 24, 2017 at 12:55 pm

I have been using this recipe now for quite sometime. And yesterday when I made idlis they just turned out so awesome that I don’t remember eating such fluffy idlis ever .. Soft and yummm… Don’t what made the difference .. May be the rice was very good quality and rainy season here in UP has perfected the batter.
Love your many other recipes as well .. Restaurant style palak paneer is my fav.. Sambar masala is another .. I use it to flavor my dals apart from sambar.
You are just an easy look up for any new recipe :).
Reply
Kanmani
November 06, 2017 at 1:53 pm

I’m using same quantity Sharmi….but I keep idli batter in fridge for 4 days..for the first two days the idli will be soft…on 3 and 4 th days the idli will be hard…plz give some tips to maintain the softness for the 4 days
Reply
- Sharmilee J
  December 01, 2017 at 9:12 am
  
  Usually when the batter is new it is thick which yields soft idlis.After 3 days the batter becomes runny which is suitable for making dosa.
  Reply
Sourav
August 09, 2018 at 2:31 pm

Just wow .. I like your recipe
Reply
Sudeshna Pradhan
December 28, 2018 at 5:33 pm

Thank you. I make good idlies everybody like them. But I like your recipe too going to try it. As I know how to make good idlies I red your recipe fleetingly at first then again thoroughly. Next time I will do it your way. Normally when it is summer time and hot then I put salt before keeping it to ferment because it slows the fermentation process and idli is saved from becoming too sour. When it is winter I put fenugreek seeds in urad dal because it strengthes the fermentation process which is slower because of cold atmosphere. I am doing it since I remember cooking. This time I will do it as your style. Thank you.
Reply
Reshma
October 16, 2019 at 9:23 pm

Hello Sharlimee,
You have used whole urad. Does it matter if I used the split urad (no skin) ? If yes what will the proportion be?
Thanks.
Reply
- Sharmilee J
  October 29, 2019 at 9:27 am
  
  Not really sure if it would work…havent tried using split urad dal at all
  Reply
Nidhi
November 11, 2019 at 11:00 pm

hello maam plz suggest me some good varities of parboil rice and idly rice to make soft and fluffy idlies.
Reply
- Sharmilee J
  November 16, 2019 at 8:37 am
  
  I buy idli rice from a local supermarket not sure of the variety name
  Reply
Kavitha
July 18, 2020 at 1:32 pm

Thanks for sharing this easy and simple recipe for Idli making. Just tell me which particular rice is good for making spunchy Idlis. Your recipe will be very helpful for me maybe.
Reply
- Sharmilee J
  December 24, 2021 at 9:35 am
  
  I buy idli rice from a supermarket here. You can try a variety from a local store and then decide.
  Reply
Madhur
October 30, 2020 at 9:12 pm

Can you please share the link to brand or make the grinding machine that you have used to make the batter ?
Reply
- Sharmilee J
  March 04, 2021 at 6:27 am
  
  Its lakshmi wet grinder
  Reply

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Idli Recipe | Easy & Best Soft Idli Recipe (2024)

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Idli Recipe | How to make soft Idli

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