Food Talk  Discussion Forum

hi,
for those of you that have been on here a while, or have gone back and read a zillion past postings, you may remember that i adore idlis and am always trying to make them. while i have gotten rather good at making the batter, steaming them was always difficult, and i would use japanese soy sauce saucers for the forms.

well, some friends of mine spent much of the summer in bangalore and brought me back a microwave idli steamer. i was a bit skeptical at the very start, thinking that microwaves usually turn breads into something that could be used on the tires of a car or a bicycle. ('tyres' in some countries). then i tried it. they came out perfectly and just the way i like to eat them. wow.

so, i started thinking about it, and thought that it would also be good for making dumplings, american style. i took some bisquick (a mix sold in american stores to make biscuits (not cookies or sweet), dumplings, shortcake, pancakes, waffles, etc), mixed it w/water and steamed them in the idli molds. they tasted JUST like the dumplings my mom used to make when i was a little kid. she would make them in a large stew pot w/vegetables and chicken. (sorry, i mentioned meat on a veg site! akkk) anyway, the dumplings the idli maker makes w/bisquick are perfect for dropping into a nice bowl of soup.

tho i have not done it yet, i am thinking that the idli steamer will also be perfect for making little cakes or cupcakes out of cake mixes. the only thing stopping me from doing it is thinking that i will eat them all up at one sitting. has anyone done this yet? (ehhh, made cupcakes, not eaten them all at one sitting...lol)

i have also been thinking about using maseca (masa flour, maize or corn flour (not starch) that is used for making corn tortillas in the idli maker. have not yet thought of a way to do it. would probably have to have baking powder in it to leaven it. otherwise it could be pretty dense.

it might also be good for making czech (bohemian) dumplings...kynute ovacne knedliky. (the c has a little V over it to make it a tch sound) these are dumplings w/a little italian plum inside, then drizzled with unsalted butter, sugar, thick cream (or whipped), and a bit of cinnamon. perfect with a little cup of espresso.

does anyone ever make sweet idlis???? or pour syrup over them after cooking for a dessert???? or use them as the base of an ice cream dessert??? (like a hot fudge cake...short cake w/an ice cream center and hot fudge poured over then whipped cream, etc.) i think they could be really good w/raisins and cinnamon mixed inside the batter.

ok, enough for now. looking forward to seeing ideas on how to make and eat idlis and other things that can be made in a microwave idli maker. and thanks, v&j, for bringing it back for me. i love the thing & have been having a blast experimenting w/it. (i took 36 idlis to the beach a while ago for a nighttime concert and passed them around to my friends. none had ever had them before & they all thought they were amazing and delicious).

kevin

rashmi replied. hai kevin!!!!!!!
i dunno abt desert idili with icecream.ya if u get one do rite abt it.
then dunno if u eat jaggery otherwise just add melted jaggery into batter along with grated coconut& raisins(just fry in little butter the latter ingredients).just see i dunno the taste.it's been awhile since i tried
c'ya rashmi replied. i dunno abt sweet idilis but u can spice it up
add cruhed garlic ginger and also green chillies into the batter.also u can make colorful idilis by adding grated and cooked beetroots and carrots and spices if u want.
happy idili makin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!