Recent days I started to include some organic traditional rice varieties like Kaatuyanam, Poongar, Maapilai samba for my breakfast and dinner in the form of idli, dosa. Whenever I try a new grain at home, my first preference would be idli and dosa. Based on its taste, flavor and approval from family, I go for pongal, upma, porridge etc. Today I have shared Kattuyanam arisi idli dosai batter recipe without using idli rice.
Kaatuyanam rice (காட்டுயானம் அரிசி) is a traditional rice variety of Tamil Nadu which is used to be a forest yield. It is a 7 Ft tall 210 days yield which is common in tropical land mass. It can provide bone strength equivalent to a “Forest Elephant” . Also the height of this Kattuyanam plant can hide an elephant. That’s why it is named as “Kaatu Yanam”.
Nowadays many people have started using these organic rice varieties in their daily cooking due to their amazing health benefits. They are low in Glycaemic index, rich in fibre and anthocyanin which is a natural detoxifier when compared with our regular white rice. Its also a good source of Vitamin B, Zinc, Calcium and Manganese. So It helps to reverse diabetes, boost immunity, delays aging, reduces cholesterol and lose weight. This Kaatuyanam rice in Tamil, as its name suggests, it strengthens the body like a wild elephant. Its also called as Kattudai Oonan in Tamil.
Now lets see how to make Kaatuyanam rice idli, dosa batter recipe with step by step pictures and video.
Wash the rice several times till the water runs clear.
Take in a wide bowl. Add urad dal and fenugreek seeds.
Wash it once and soak in enough water for minimum 5 hours.
Grind them to a smooth paste adding required water. You can use a mixie or grinder.
Transfer the batter to a big vessel and cover it. Ferment it overnight or 12 hours.
The next day, batter would have raised well. Add salt and mix it.
Boil water in an idli pot. Pour the batter in a greased idli plate.
Steam the idli for 15 minutes or till the tooth pick comes out clean.
Remove the idli plate and rest it for 10 minutes. Serve hot with chutney or sambar.
METHOD – STEP BY STEP PICTURES
In a bowl, take the kattuyanam rice and wash it thrice or several times till the water runs clear. Add urad dal and fenugreek seeds and wash everything once.
Add enough water and soak them for 5 hours. Alternatively you can soak the rice separately and soak the urad dal + fenugreek seeds separately.
After soaking, grind everything to a smooth paste adding required water. Do not grind it too thick or watery. Its consistency should be like our regular idli dosa batter. But the color of this batter would be slightly reddish. Transfer the batter to a vessel and cover it.
Ferment the batter and leave it over night or for 12 hours based on the weather in your place. The next morning, take the batter. It would have raised well. Add required salt and mix well.
Boil water in an idli pot. Grease idli plate with sesame oil. Pour the batter and place in idli pot. Steam it for 15 minutes.
Remove the idli plate and rest for few minutes. Now remove the idli using a small ladle. Serve with chutney and sambar.
Enjoy !
Note
I have not used idli rice in this recipe. If you want to use, add 1/2 cup of rice for this measure.
The ratio of rice and dal is 4:1. You can use 5:1 ratio too.
Do not skip methi seeds as it gives a nice flavor for this idli.
You can use and store this batter for 2 to 3 days.
Try this healthy Idli recipe and enjoy with your favourite chutney, sambar !
