Diwali treats: No Yeast Idli

A perfect treat for Diwali. Thanks to Denisiya from Eat Mee recipes for this wonderful adaptation! 
An Idli is a steamed rice cake which originated in South India. Using your Instant Pot to make these treats is quick and easy!  

“These little pillows are usually made with yeast & a combination of rice flour & black lentils (urad dhall). Another method consists of using semolina in batter to create rava idlis. However, in South Africa, we tend to omit the urad dhall in this recipe & have come up with our own easier way of preparing them.

Unfortunately, I am not a lover of yeast in my Idli's so this recipe was actually given to me by my mum, she has omitted the yeast & has substituted it with baking powder instead. 

Traditionally, these idli's are steamed in an Idli pot, with moulds on stainless steel racks that interlock & stacked upon each other. They are steamed in a pot on the stove top. This recipe uses the Instant Pot & I have used their silicone moulds to prepare these delicious idli's.” 

Ingredients 
1 cup water for the Instant Pot 
1 cup rice flour 
½ cup all-purpose flour 
2 teaspoons baking powder 
1 tablespoon white sugar 
300 ml milk 
1 tablespoon butter 
¼ cup desiccated coconut for rolling 

Accessories needed: 
silicone mould 
trivet 

Method: 
To a mixing bowl, add in the rice flour, all-purpose or cake flour, baking powder & the white sugar. Mix well. 

Gradually pour in the milk & mix. It should result in a pancake-like batter not to runny & not too thick. 

Cover the bowl with a lid or plastic wrap & allow it to rest on the counter for 1 hour. After an hour of resting the batter, melt the butter for a few seconds in the microwave. 

Pour the melted butter into the batter & mix until combined. It should become a creamy & smooth batter. 

Next, grease the silicone moulds with cooking spray. 

Add about 3 tablespoons of the batter to each mould until all the batter is used up. Try not to fill them up to the top as they will rise once steamed. 

Thereafter, bring out the trivet & place the silicone mould on top of it. 
Pour the 1 cup of water into the stainless-steel inner pot. 

Lower the trivet with the silicone mould on top, carefully into the Instant Pot  
Secure the lid on the Instant Pot. 

Press the "Steam" button. Press the button again to set the pressure level to "NORMAL" on the display. 

Next, use the "- or +" buttons & set the cooking time to 00:12 (12 minutes). 
The Instant Pot should display "ON" until the pressure builds up. 

After the 12 minutes are over, Press the "Cancel" button on your Instant Pot. 
Do a Quick Pressure Release, and wait until the pin drops, then it is safe to open the lid. 
Carefully take out the trivet from the Instant Pot. 

Allow the idli's to cool for 3-5 minutes. 

Thereafter, push the silicone mould one at a time from the bottom using your thumb/fingers & watch these idli's pop out effortlessly. 

Add the desiccated coconut to a bowl & roll the idli's into the desiccated coconut. 
They are not the authentic flat shaped idli's due to them being in these silicone moulds, but they are still super yum. 

These Instant Pot No Yeast Idli can be served as is. Alternatively, slice them & slather on some butter. 

Store in an airtight container for up to a week. They can even be stored in those same silicone moulds as it comes with its very own lid. 

For more recipes by Denisiya, head to the link below:

https://eatmeerecipes.co.za/category/instant-pot-recipes/