Idli, Vada, Sambhar! yes, we all have heard this call from local vendors on the weekends. But, it is among the staple food of South India. In a diverse land like India, there is not just a rich culture and heritage but a rich array of cuisines from different states in the country. Every state has its staple dish and unique way of cooking food. Idli, is one such amazing dish and is also has some nutritional properties. Idli has several health benefits as well.
While it is a staple to every south Indian household, idli has also made its way in our houses these days as a perfect breakfast option. Idli as a food is extremely versatile and healthy at the same time. It is traditionally made out of a combination of rice and urad dal which is allowed to ferment and then steamed for the perfect light mouthfeel. Not just the texture but the complete protein coming in from idlis as a result of cereal and pulses combination makes it the true hero.
Mr. Samant further divulged the versatile nature of idli and how we can customise as per our health and taste requirements. The versatile nature of idli makes it possible for us to make changes in its basic composition with using complex carbohydrates instead of rice like millet + dal or rawa + dal or oats + dal making it more fibre rich and complex.
Another variation we can do to make idlis healthier will be in terms of the ratios of each base ingredient. The standard ratio of 3 parts rice to 1 part urad dal can be modified to 1 part rice to 1 part urad dal or 2 parts urad dal to 1 part rice for an increased protein and improved carbohydrates-to-protein ratio.
We can also add in a lot of vegetables to make our idlis all the more colourful food and rich in fiber and micronutrients. Vegetables of choice can be finely chopped or made into a puree and added into the batter to avail maximum health benefits. So next time you have idli make sure to do a few modifications and get a lot more health benefits from the usual.
Happy Idli Day To You!
2023-03-30T05:46:46Z dg43tfdfdgfd