Bottle Gourd Millet-Ragi (Nachni), Rava Idli-Quick, Instant nutritious Millet Idli

 Ingredients:

1. Ragi (Nachni) Flour* - 1 cup
2. Kefir Milk* - you may replace this with Yogurt - 1.5 to 2 cups
3. Bootle Gourd or Lauki* grated - 1 to 2 cups
4. Rava - Use Sooji or Semolina Upma Rava or Idli Rava - 1 cup
5. Thick Poha or Beaten Rice - 1/4 cup
6. Baking soda - 1 huge pinch
7. Salt lesser than to taste
8. For Tempering - Ghee, Mustard seeds, Asafetida, Curry leaves
9. Cashews
10. Water
    
    

Method: Mix and soak Ragi, Rava and Poha, grated bottlegourd and salt altogether in a bowl with about 1/2 the quantity of Kefir/yogurt to make Idli batter. Cover and leave it aside for about 1/2 hour at least.

Meanwhile fry cashews in ghee and keep it aside. Also make the tempering and pour it into the batter bowl.

Check the Idli batter, water would have been absorbed by now. Add more water or Kefir/Yogurt to thin out the batter to Idli batter pouring consistency. 

Mix a big pinch of baking soda and mix it well and gently, and immediately pour the idli batter into the Idli steaming plates and steam it for about 12-15 minutes.

Serve these soft, delicious and nutritional Idlis with your favorite chutney and/or Sambhar

Tips for soft and moist Idli:

1. Ghee/Oil gives in your tempering adds creaminess and softness to the Idli. Tempering also gives more flavor to your Idli.

2. Bottle Gourd also keeps the Idli soft and moist, additionally including more to your nutrition and fiber intake and also automatically reducing your carb intake.

* Star ingredient & healthy Twist in this recipe