When I was thinking about more varieties of idlis after Broken Wheat Idlis, I was reminded of these Rava idlis using Urad dal which is made at my husband’s place on Pooja days as it does not contain rice (rice is avoided for breakfast during Pooja or fasting days). I realized how I had forgotten to blog about these basic and most made idlis in Konkani households.

So as I am sharing this recipe with all of you, my son is sleeping in my arms completing his evening sleep. This boy who is only 2 years old brings so much joy in my life that I feel so blessed. 🙏 During evenings, when the husband is at work and my daughter goes out to play, he and me have some “us” time. We have our discussions with him sitting on my lap, about birds and kids playing outside. (He has got my bird love genes 😍). He looks at me with his gleaming bright eyes, smiling and pulls my cheeks saying “Amma, mogu mogu” (meaning love you, love you 😍😍) and showers me with kisses. 😄

I had never imagined a child can be so expressive in love and so attached. My daughter was never this way but this boy is very different. I think it’s God’s blessings so that I don’t feel lonely being at home most of the time. He does not leave me alone at all and even sits with me when I cook. Loves hugging me and I sometimes feel I need that hug more than him. 😍 Thus is my love story with my son. ❤️

Here’s sharing his favorite idlis or Iddi like he calls it. Hope our love remains always and fills my heart like this. ❤️ Some motherhood touch to this blog today with teary eyes (can’t stop being emotional 😬). Happy and healthy cooking!

RECIPE:

Ingredients: { Makes about 22 idlis }

2 Cups Rava / Semolina / Sooji

1 Cup Urad dal (I use split ones)

Salt to taste

Oil to grease the idli plates

Step by step recipe:

1. Wash well and soak the Urad dal in enough water for about 4 hours. Drain and using about 1 Cup water, grind to a smooth paste. I grind in my mixie, not grinder.

2. Dry roast the semolina till it turns hot. No need to brown it. Just roast till it turns hot and aromatic. Keep aside to cool.

3. Add this to the Urad dal batter and mix well with hands to ensure a lump free batter. Also add about 1 and half cups water along with salt to bring it to idli batter consistency (thick yet free falling).

4. Ferment for about 8 hours or overnight by keeping the batter at room temperature. Might take longer in cold weathers. When the batter ferments, it might become thick as semolina absorbs a lot of water. Add about 1 or 2 spoons of water to make it little loose if it’s very thick.

5. Steam for 20 to 25 mins or till a knife inserted in the center of the idlis come out clear.

6. Remove and serve with a chutney of your choice.

Notes:

* These idlis take slightly longer to steam than regular idlis. So steam really well. Else it will be lumpy inside.

* I use mixie to grind. Hence used 1:2 ratio of Urad dal to rava. If using grinder, use 2 and 1/2 Cups Rava for 1 Cup Urad dal.

* No need to brown the rava while roasting. Just fry till it turns aromatic. Cool well and then mix.

* It took me total 2 and 1/2 Cups water while making the batter and 2 spoons of water the next day to get perfect idlis. In these idlis, water is very important as semolina absorbs a lot of water. Make sure the batter is loose and not very thick, else you will get hard idlis.

* I served these idlis with Hing Chutney. Just grind 1 Cup Coconut with a pinch of Hing powder, 4 long red chillies, 1 tsp Tamarind paste, salt and water to a smooth paste. You can season the chutney using mustard seeds and curry leaves if needed.