Navarasa / Navarang Idli

Topic started by Dr. KRS Murthy (@ 216-100-97-35.hoip.pacbell.net) on Mon Feb 18 20:13:28 .
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Navarasa / Navarang Idli
(Rainbow Idli)
KRS Murthy
Dr. KRS Murthy
President
Power Point International
PNS Communications Group
581 Dado Street
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murthy@pnsonline.com
(408)-219-2236
Traditionally, Idli has only few morphemic variations: rice idli and rava (soji) idli.
Here are creative idli recipes:
Idli with embedded chatni
Generally idli is served with coconut or chana chatni. Some lazy cooks serve idli with chatni powder or pickle. Idli is also served with saambaar. I have no idea how some people can eat idli with any curry left out from the previous day; probably because my mother always made chatni with idli, we think all families deserve fair accompaniments with idli! However, idli with chatni already embedded in it while cooking would not only be novel, but also very convenient during a picnic or lunch box at school or work.

SIMPLE PROCEDURE

Chatni is prepared with very little water. This chatni is placed at the center of the idli cup; I am using the word cup to mean the cup like depression on the idli plate of the idli stand. The idli dough is poured around the chatni center. You may shake the plate very lightly to ensure that shape is to your desired form. Other alternatives are:

1. Idli dough is poured first. Chatni is designed over it. You may be creative in the chatni design. Simple X or swirl shape may be used. The designs make the idli a real gourmet in appearance.
2. Thin layer of idli is poured into the idli cup first. A thin layer of chatni is smeared over it. You may have to develop your own thickness / thinness of the chatni to your liking. Finally, another layer of idli dough is poured to create a sandwich.
3. Chatni is mixed with idli dough. Course or fine mixing of the chatni helps you create different grain texture.
4. Different types of chatni (or even chatni powder / pickle) give different color and taste.
5. Even saambaar can be used instead of chatni. It is a good idea to make the saambaar thick enough to avoid diluting the idli dough. If you use bisibELe bhaath powder to make the saambaar, you may even get a bisibEle idli! For your information, bisibeLe bhaath is a gourmet specialty of karnataka - home of the great gourmets.
6. If you prefer, you can use puLiyOgare gojju (curry in smooth sauce) in place of chatni. Just be careful about the spiciness control!
7. Another variation would be to use onion gojju. You get Indianized pizza like idli!
8. Do you like it sweet? Go ahead and use pooraN or coconut with jaggery instead of chatni. Be bold and creative. Add zest and enhance pleasure to your palette.
To really get rainbow idli combinations, both in appearance and taste, you can develop chatni variations for a variety of colors, all using ground vegetables for colors in proper mix. You can do tricolor idli for Indian Independence Day.
You can use texture variations using green pea, shredded carrots, pearl onions and other fancy vegetables.


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