Urban life is hard and taxing, for many involved in the daily hustle of life, one often compromised with several factors to survive. True in metropolitan cities like Mumbai and Bangalore, to achieve a certain sense of stability financially one often compromised sleep, food and ultimately health. Fortunately, the southern states of India has a solution to at least the food dilemma with a large option of healthy and cheap food one can enjoy even with the lowest of budget so you don't have to compromise on food on your journey to success. One such cheap recipe is the idli recipe.
 

Idli Recipe | Image Resource : freepik.com

This saucer shaped dish can look like an escapee from a science fiction movie, but worry not because the idli is not a UFO, but one of India's beloved dishes and a main breakfast dish eaten daily by many in southern India.

Idli origin

Food historians claimed the idli to have Indonesian origins, due to Indonesians being renowned for fermented foods, and was later brought over to India as steam idli somewhere during 800-1200 CE. There are other theories which suggest, the name idli was derived from ‘Iddalige’ sourcing it from a Kannadan work dating back to 920 AD where it was written that idli was made from batter made of urad dal. All the theories suggest that idli recipes have been a staple in the cuisine of the south for a long time.

Idli and India

There is no doubt Indians love their food, and this is true with the idli as well. Idli recipes have been a part of many Indian kitchens, and hold a special place in the hearts of its consumers. You can make idlis at home, it is also sold in restaurants and also on the street as street food. Unlike most street food, where the question of health comes into question due to the addition of spice etc. the ingredients to making an idli, is healthy to eat and makes for a great meal without the concern of health that comes by with street food. Idlis are extremely cheap and both reasons have made it one of the most popular breakfast choices in Southern India. There is now several variants of the idli enjoyed by many people in the nation and worldwide

It’s popularity has reached such heights that it is reported that march 30th is celebrated as World Idly Day in some parts of Chennai to celebrate idli and idli recipe.

‘Space idli’ along with the entire package of sambhar and chutney has apparently been developed for space food by the Defence Food Research Laboratory (DFRL) as part of India’s first manned space mission.