Alasandalu/ black eyed beans are protein rich legumes with lot of health benefits. They are good for skin and heart, They contain vitamins and minerals. We can prepare many varieties of recipes like snacks, break fast items and curries etc using these nutritious beans. There are two types of beans ( also called bobbarlu in Telugu ), creamy white variety and brownish variety. The second one is smaller in size and more tasteir than white variety. Snacks like Vada and sundal are best with brown variety.
Ingredients:
White black eyed beans – 3/4 cup.( Measuring cup ),
Urad dal – 2 Tablesp,
Fine idli rawa – 2 cups,
Salt,
A pinch of baking soda,
Method:
1).Wash beans and urad dal twice and soak them in water for 3 to 4 hrs,
2).Wash idli rawa twice and soak for 1/2 hr before grinding beans.
3).After 4 hrs drain the water from beans and dal ,grind them into a fine paste using very little water. Remove the paste into a bowl and keep it aside.
4).Drain the upper layer of water from rawa by tilting the bowl.Try to remove the remaining water by squeezing rawa with clean hand and add it to beans urad paste. Mix both the ingredients throughlly with hand. Allow it to ferment for 4to 5 hrs or over night.
5).Next day morning ,add water if necessary .It should be of idli batter consistancy.I add a pinch of baking soda .This is optional.
6).Boil water in idli steamer and steam idlis for 8 to 10 minutes. Soft,fluffy and healthy idlis are ready to enjoy.
7).Serve them with sambar / peanut chutney.
Tip:
a).I use white beans for preparing idli and there is no need to remove outer skin.
b).I use chutney blender to grind the beans as i feel it is convenient to grind these beans ( with outer skin ) to make fine paste.
c).You can check my dosa preparation with these beans.