As a kid, I never liked many of the traditional Konkani recipes that my grandmother made and used to make a face at it. I loved bread for breakfast as compared to Idlis or dosas. My grandmother on the other hand used to make a face at bread and say “Is it even something eatable?” 😅

Now after about 15 years, I am in the same situation as hers. I don’t like store bought bread as much as I love Idlis and dosas. I love how filling, healthy, nutritious and delicious they are as compared to the bland bread (no offense Mr Bread 😁).

Coming to filling, these Horsegram Idlis are so filling that we don’t even need lunch the day I make these Idlis. It is so tasty too. My grandmother used to pour the batter in banana leaves in a large steamer called pedavan in Konkani and cut into wedges like a cake. I make them as regular Idlis though.

I want to share some health benefits of horsegram too. It is very high in iron, calcium and protein too. In fact, it has the highest calcium content among pulses and is one of the richest protein source for Vegetarians like us. Also, it is low in fat and slow digestive starch makes it ideal for diabetic and obese people.

Hope you all try these Idlis which are a “horsepower” of energy 😅 (which is why horsegram is fed to race horses) . Happy and healthy cooking!

RECIPE:

Ingredients: { Makes about 20 Idlis}

3/4 Cup Raw white rice

1/2 Cup Horsegram or Kulithu

1/2 Cup Urad dal

Salt to taste

Step by step recipe:

1. The first important step while making any dish with horsegram is to pick stones from it as even the good quality ones have stones in it. After that, wash well and soak horsegram along with Urad dal in a bowl. Soak rice in another vessel. Soaking time is 4 to 6 hours.

Check the number of stones below that I picked from 1/2 Cup Horsegram (between both the vessels). Don’t know if it is clear but kept it just to get you all an idea.

2. Now take the soaked Urad dal and horsegram to a mixer.

3. Grind to a smooth paste (it won’t be perfectly smooth due to horsegram but it should not be very coarse too) and pour into a large steel vessel. Also take the soaked rice to the mixer with little water.

4. Grind the rice to a slightly coarse paste and add to the horsegram-urad batter. Add salt and mix well.

5. You can make Idlis instantly with this batter. Add to idli plates and steam for 20 mins till done.

6. Or you can also ferment the batter overnight or for 6 to 8 hours and then steam for 20 mins. I prefer these Idlis more as they turn out softer.

Serve with a chutney of your choice. I have served with Hing Chutney.

Note:

* These Idlis are usually made without fermenting as they turn soft even without fermentation process but I find fermentation gives even softer Idlis. So I keep the batter to ferment overnight.

* These Idlis are the ones that I made as soon as I ground the batter. They did turn out very tasty but not as soft as after the batter ferments.

* They are traditionally served with hinga udhak (Asafoetida water with salt, chopped green chillies and coconut oil) but we love this Hing Chutney with these Idlis. I just grind coconut, green chillies, salt with hing powder and little water to a smooth paste.