oats idli

Oats idli is a nutritious and healthy variation of traditional idli, made with oats instead of rice. Here's a simple recipe to make oats idli:

Ingredients:

- 1 cup rolled oats

- 1 cup yogurt (curd)

- 1/4 cup water (adjust as needed)

- 1/2 cup semolina (sooji or rava)

- 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds

- 1/2 teaspoon urad dal (black gram dal)

- 1/2 teaspoon chana dal (split chickpeas)

- 1 green chili, finely chopped

- 1-inch piece of ginger, grated

- A few curry leaves, chopped

- Handful of chopped coriander leaves

- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

- Salt to taste

- Oil or ghee for greasing the idli molds

Instructions:

1. Dry roast the rolled oats in a pan over medium heat until they turn light golden brown and aromatic. Remove from heat and let them cool.

2. Grind the roasted oats into a fine powder using a blender or food processor. Transfer the powdered oats to a mixing bowl.

3. In the same mixing bowl, add yogurt and water. Mix well to form a smooth batter. Let the batter rest for about 15-20 minutes to allow the oats to absorb the moisture.

4. In a small pan, heat some oil and add mustard seeds. Once the mustard seeds start to splutter, add urad dal, chana dal, chopped green chili, grated ginger, and chopped curry leaves. Saute until the dals turn golden brown and aromatic. Remove from heat and let the tempering mixture cool slightly.

5. Add the tempering mixture, chopped coriander leaves, semolina, baking soda, and salt to the oats batter. Mix well to combine all the ingredients evenly.

6. Grease the idli molds with oil or ghee to prevent the idlis from sticking. Pour the oats idli batter into each mold of the idli stand, filling them almost to the top.

7. Steam the oats idlis in a steamer for about 10-12 minutes or until they are cooked through. You can check for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center of an idli; if it comes out clean, the idlis are ready.

8. Once cooked, remove the oats idlis from the steamer and let them cool for a minute or two.

9. Gently remove the idlis from the molds using a spoon or fork and transfer them to a serving plate.

10. Serve the oats idlis hot with your choice of chutney, sambar, or a side of your preference.

Oats idlis are soft, fluffy, and nutritious, making them a perfect breakfast or snack option. Enjoy your homemade oats idlis!