• firstly, in a large bowl soak 1 cup urad dal for 4 hours.
• drain off the water and transfer to blender or grinder.
• blend to smooth and fluffy batter adding water as required.
• transfer the batter to a large bowl. keep aside
• now in another bowl take 2 cup idli rava. if you have used a grinder to blend urad dal, then add 3 cups of idli rava as urad dal batter will be very soft.
• rinse the idli rava with enough water and drain off the water. if you do not have idli rava then check out idli with raw rice recipe.
• repeat this for 2 or 3 times or till water runs clean.
• squeeze off water from idli rava and add to urad dal batter.
• mix well making sure rava and urad dal are combined well
• now cover and rest in warm place for 8-10 hours or till the batter ferments and doubles.
• after 8 hours, batter doubles indicating well fermented with air pockets present.
• add 1 tsp salt to the batter and mix gently without disturbing the air pockets.
• now grease the idli plate with oil
• scoop the batter into idli plate greased with oil.
• place in steamer and steam for 10 minutes on medium flame or till a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
• finally, soft idli recipe is ready to serve along with sambar.

notes

• irstly, make sure to blend urad dal into very soft and fluffy batter.
• also, for white idli make sure to rinse idli rava well.
• additionally, a fermenting batter is very important for soft and fluffy idli.
• furthermore, to make extra soft idli, add 1 cup washed poha / avalakki while blending urad dal.
• finally, soft idli batter can be refrigerated for 2-3 days and steam soft idli when required.