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Soft idli mashed with dal

Soft idli mashed with dal
Photo: Priyaradhakrishnan, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons · a similar dish

Ingredients

For 4 servings. 1 serving = 1 adult; a 6-year-old eats about half.

  • Idli rice (boiled ponni)50 g
  • Urad dal (white, split)10 g
  • Toor dal (sambar parippu)25 g
  • Ghee1 tsp

You need

  • Mixer-grinder with small and large jars
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Idli steamer with plates
  • Pressure cooker (3–5 L)
  • Potato masher or fork
  • Measuring cups and spoons

Method

  1. Easiest way: when you make family idli batter, scoop out the baby's share before you add any salt.
  2. For baby-only batter: soak 50 g idli rice and 10 g urad dal separately for 4–6 hours. Grind each smooth with a little water, mix, cover and ferment overnight until bubbly and risen.
  3. Steam the idli in a greased idli steamer on medium-high for 10–12 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
  4. Meanwhile, rinse 25 g toor dal and pressure-cook with 320 ml (about 1¼ cups) water on medium for 4 whistles, until it is soft and falls apart.
  5. Mash one idli with the thin dal water and some dal until smooth for 6 months, or with soft lumps for 8 months. At 10–12 months, offer small idli pieces as finger food.
  6. Stir in 1 tsp ghee. No salt. Cool and test on your wrist before feeding.

Tips

  • Spare plain idli freeze well for 1 month. Steam from frozen for 5 minutes.

Keeping and freezing

  • Fridge: keeps 1 day in a lidded box. Cool it within an hour of cooking.
  • Freezer: does not freeze well; eat within the fridge time.

Good to know

  • Contains: milk / dairy.