Rava Idli~ With a Twist

Rava Idli is a very popular South- Indian breakfast. It is one of my favorite breakfast and make it regularly. I have already posted my mother's recipe for rava idli. I love that recipe but I am always open for some variations. Last year I bumped into this recipe posted by Vidya. I absolutely loved the idea of adding coconut and hence book marked it. So finally I tried it by making some variations to the original recipe and it turned out very soft and tasty. I was really very happy with the outcome. Do try this variation and I am sure you all will love it too :-)

Ingredients:

• Semolina/Rava, fine- 1 cup
• Yogurt/curd, thick- 3/4 cup
• Milk- 1/4 cup
• Eno fruit salt- 3/4 tsp
• Grated Coconut, fresh/frozen- 3 Tbsp
• Cilantro (coriander leaves)- 10 Sprigs
• Ginger- A small piece (1/2 inch)
• Oil- 2-3 tsp
• Mustard seeds- 1/2 tsp
• Curry leaves- Few
• Green Chillies- 2-3
• Urad dal/Split black gram- 1 tsp
• Chana dal/ Bengal gram- 1 tsp
• Sugar- 1/2 tsp
• Salt- To taste
• Cashew nuts- As required

Procedure:

Heat oil and add mustard seeds. Once it starts spluttering, add cashew nuts, chana dal, urad dal and curry leaves. Fry until cashew nuts, chana dal and urad dal turns slight brown.

Once it turns light brown, add semolina and fry it until a nice aroma is got. This step might take 3-4 minutes. Semolina has to be constantly stirred and heat should be medium.

Once a nice aroma is got, turn off the heat and allow it to cool. While it is cooling prepare the masala. 
For the masala- take grated coconut, cilantro, green chillies and ginger in a blender.

Add little water and grind it into a smooth paste.

Now add the ground masala, yogurt, milk, sugar and salt to the semolina mixture.

Mix well and add water, if required. Let this mixture sit for 15- 20 minutes.

Now grease the idli moulds with oil. At this point add little water to the batter if it is too thick. Then add the eno fruit salt to the batter and mix well. Then start putting the batter in each mould (fill upto 3/4 th of it).

Stack them up and steam it for 15 minutes.  Then allow it to cool for 5 minutes and then remove the idlis from the moulds using a spoon.

Rava Idlis are ready!!

Serve it hot with Coconut chutney or mint chutney. Above measurement makes 12 medium sized idlis.