This typically coastal Indian food is eaten with curries, stir-fries and even on its own. There's nothing like warm, soft and fluffy Sannas to go with a Pork Vindaloo or Sorpatel!
Ingredients:
- 500 gms rice
- 2 medium sized coconuts
- 500 ml Goan toddy or 2 1/2 tsps dried yeast
- 2 tsps sugar (to mix with yeast if using)
- Salt to taste
- 4 tsps sugar (to add to batter)
- 1 cup warm water (if using yeast)
Preparation:
- Wash the rice well and soak in water overnight. In the morning, drain the water and grind the rice into a fine paste with a little toddy. If you are not using toddy, grind the rice on its own.
- Scrape the coconut out of the shell and grind it into a paste too.
- If you are using the yeast, mix it with 2 tsps of sugar and the warm water. Stir well. Allow to sit for a few minutes and it will begin to rise.
- Mix the rice and coconut pastes together in a large, deep bowl and add the toddy/ yeast water. Mix well to form a thick batter.
- Allow this batter to ferment for 4-5 hours.
- Grease an Idli stand (or small ramekin dishes with a little cooking oil and pour enough batter into the mould/ ramekin dishes to fill about 3/4 of the way.
- Put the Idli stand/ ramekin dishes into a steamer and steam for 20 minutes at least (or till cooked - a toothpick inserted in the center will come out clean) on high flame.
- When cooked, gently remove from the Idli moulds/ ramekin dishes and serve hot with a curry of your choice.
