Banana Leaf Idlis | Idlis steamed in Banana leaf moulds
Idlis steamed in banana leaf baskets
Servings 10 idlis
Ingredients
For the Banana leaf baskets
- 2 to 3 banana leaves
- Few tooth picks
For Idli batter
- 1 cup split black gram (Udad dal )
- 2 cups of parimal rice
- 1 tbsp fenugreek seeds (methi seeds)
- ½ cup of cooked rice or flattened rice
- salt to taste
Instructions
For Banana leaf baskets
- Wash the banana leaves and cut them into squares .
- Place one square part over the other
- Slit the leaves as shown in the video below
- Shape the leaves into baskets using tooth picks to secure them.
For Idli batter
- Wash and soak udad dal for 5 hours.
- Wash and soakrice and methi seeds for 5 hours.
- Drain the water and grind udad dal to a smooth paste.
- Transfer udad dal batter to a large vessel/bowl.
- Next, drain the water from rice and tramsfer to a mixer jar.
- Add cooked rice, water as required and blend to a fine paste. (If using flattened rice, it needs to be soaked inwater for 15 mintes) .
- Add rice batter to udad dal batter.
- Add salt and mix well .
- Cover the vessel/bowl and keep aside for 7 to 8 hours for fermentation.
- After 8 hours, the batter would have fermented and doubled in quantity.
How to proceed
- Once the banana leaf baskets are made, fill these baskets with idli batter.
- Place the batter filled baskets ona steamer plate.
- Place the plate in the steamer inwhich water is already boiling.
- Steam for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Once done, take the idlis off thesteamer
- Serve hot with milagai podi, chutney and sambar