Idli and dosa are staple food in any South Indian house. So they have idli/ dosa batter in stock at any given time. Having batter in stock is so much relief for both stay at home moms or working moms. With this batter we can make many dishes like Idli, Dosa, Uthapam, Paniyaram.

Here I have given the measurements I use.

Ingredients

Rice – 4 1/2 cups ( I use sona masoori)

Urad dal – 1 cup

Methi seeds – 2 tsp

Poha  – 1/4 cup

Salt – as required

Method

• Soak rice and urad dal + methi seeds for 6 to 8 hours.
• Wash and grind urad dal+ methi seeds till smooth.It should double up the original quantity.(depends on the quality of urad dal). Do not add more water. Just sprinkle when needed.
• Take it in a bowl. Then wash rice, add poha and grind till smooth with required water.
• Take it in same bowl with ground urad dal.
• Add salt. Ferment overnight.
• Check for consistency. Add water only needed.

Before fermentation

After fermentation

Made idli

Dosa

Notes

1. Add poha to rice only before grinding.
2. Instead poha , you can add cooked rice.
3. Batter will be good in first day to make idli .
4. The following days will be good for making dosa, paniyaram or uthapam.
5. For dosa the batter should be in flowing consistency. For idli, should be thicker than that.
6. I grind in wet grinder. I haven’t used mixer or blender to make batter, so I’m not sure about the results you get from it.