“He is better; you can give him idli today!” When the doctor says these words after the surgery or primary medication, the relatives of the patient let out a sigh of relief!
In South India, idli is the first solid food prescribed by any doctor for easy digestion and quick recovery. Idli is safe, harmless to health and can be taken by young and old. It is a fermented food which contains the good bacteria and offers a wide range of healthy benefits. Though it is a South Indian food it has become a globalized product liked and tasted by people all over the world today!
My American Experience
Sometime back I had a chance to visit the United States and spend some days with my son. When I was there a dinner party was arranged for my grand daughter's first birth day which was attended by many of my son's colleagues and friends from the local church. Idli and sambhar had a prominent part in the party. We didn't add the usual hot spices in the sauce and so it wasn't so hot. The Americans enjoyed the idlies very much and even forgot the number of idlies they tasted!. They were quite eager to know the method of preparing idli and sauce. My Colorado friend Jim is very fond of idli and coconut chutney and he never fails to prepare them whenever an Indian friend visits him!
The Delicious Idli
Idli is a rice cake which has a special taste of its own. Hot steaming idli, coated with spicy sambhar, it just slips down the throat offering a heavenly taste to the tongue and a satisfied feeling to the body! In South India it is used as morning breakfast. But it is also used as a snack or dinner. It is very easy and simple to prepare. Cooked in steam, it is delicious and yet nutritious.
The Interesting History of Idli
Idli has a very interesting history. Though it is primarily enjoyed by the South Indians now, it has no Indian origin! Xuang Zang, who spent seventeen years in India in the seventh century, has complained there was no steaming vessel in India to boil foods. It is impossible to prepare idli without a steaming vessel. Researchers say that the idli vessel and its method were brought to India from Indonesia during the invasion of Rajendra Chola in the twelfth century.
The book “Indian food- A historical Companion”, written by K.T. Azaya describes about the origin and other details of idli. He says that idli is mentioned for the first time in a Kannada book called “Vattaradhane” written by a certain poet called Shivagodhyacharya.
It is described as a food offered to the celibate man (Brahmachari) when he returns from his long stay with a wise Guru in pursuit of knowledge. There are many references about idli in the later literatures.
How to prepare idli?
Soak three measures of rice grains, one measure of black gram and half the measure of fenugreek, separately, in the evening. After three hours grind them separately or mixed together. After taking the batter, mix them well adding the needed quantity of salt.
Close vessel well and keep it overnight.
The batter will be fermented well in the next morning and will have risen up to form a light, foamy and frothy mixture. Stir the batter and pour it with a ladle into the special trays of the idli vessel. Close the lid and keep it on the oven for a few minutes. When steam comes out of the vessel we can be sure that the idli is getting ready. After a few more minutes for proper steaming, remove the lid and take the idlies with a spoon without spoiling their shape. Now the idli is ready which can be served with suitable sauce or sugar.
Benefits of eating idli
- Rice, urad dhal (Black gram) and fenugreek are the main ingredients of idli. Rice provides carbohydrate, black gram provides protein and fenugreek contains vitamins and minerals.
- Idli is low in fat and is easily digestible.
- It is soft and tasty liked by young and old alike for whom it is very ideal for health.
- Since it contains all the elements of energy, it can be taken for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It can serve as snacks also.
Enjoy tasting idli.
“See Venice and die,” is a proverb used in traveling. I can dare say “Eat idli and live!” Idli is so good, easily digestible and nutritive. It is easy to prepare. Then why to hesitate to taste and enjoy this delicious South Indian food?
