1. Soaking and Grinding: Begin by soaking 1 cup of parboiled rice and 1/2 cup of whole urad dal (split black gram) in separate bowls for at least 4 hours or overnight. After soaking, drain the water and grind the rice and dal separately to a smooth paste using a blender or wet grinder. Add water gradually to achieve the right consistency. The dal batter should be light and fluffy, while the rice batter should be slightly grainy.
2. Fermentation: Mix the rice and dal batters together in a large bowl, add 1 teaspoon of salt, and thoroughly combine them. Cover the bowl and allow the batter to ferment for about 8-10 hours or overnight in a warm place. This step is crucial for achieving the traditional flavor and texture of idli.
3. Preparing the Instant Pot: Add 2 cups of water to the stainless steel insert of the Instant Pot. Place a trivet or a heat-proof stand at the bottom of the pot to elevate the idli molds above the water level. This prevents direct contact with water during steaming.
4. Greasing the idli molds: Grease the idli molds with a little oil or use a non-stick cooking spray. This prevents the idlis from sticking to the molds.
5. Pouring the batter: Give the fermented batter a gentle stir. Fill the idli molds with the batter, filling them about 3/4th full. Leave some space for the idlis to rise.
6. Steaming in the Instant Pot: Carefully place the filled idli molds on the trivet inside the Instant Pot. Close the lid and set the vent to the sealing position. Select the “Steam” function and set the cooking time to 10-12 minutes at high pressure.
7. Natural Pressure Release (NPR): Once the cooking time is complete, allow the Instant Pot to naturally release the pressure for about 10 minutes. Then, manually release any remaining pressure by carefully turning the vent to the venting position.
8. Removing and serving: Open the Instant Pot lid and take out the idli molds using tongs or oven mitts. Let them cool for a minute, then use a spoon or a small spatula to gently remove the idlis from the molds. Serve them hot with coconut chutney, sambar, or any other accompaniment of your choice.
Enjoy the convenience of preparing steamed idlis using your Instant Pot!