Ingredients:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
   1 1/2  cups          raw rice
                        --- or ---
   1 1/2                idli semolina
   1      cup           peeled -- broken black gram
                        -- dal
   1      tablespoon    oil or ghee
                        salt -- to taste

Preparation:

1. With raw rice: Soak black gram dal and rice in water for 6 hours. Wash, add salt, grind until think and soft. With idli semolina: Made from boiled rice, this semolina gives you softer idlis. Soak gram dal and semolina separately for 6 hours. Wash gram dal. Add salt. grind. Squeeze out the water from the semolina. Add semolina to dal batter. Mix. 2. Allow dough to ferment for 6 hours. Stir. Add a little water to get the right consistency. 3. Put a film of oil or ghee on idli plates. fill with idli batter. Steam for 7 - 8 minutes. (Use 1 1/2 cup water in pressure cooker. Do not use rocker). 4. Cool. Remove.