Precocious Child

Saturday, April 12, 2008

Of the idli family

For a kannadiga, born and brought up in AP, subject "idly" is something which is at his/her disposal. Being in Hindupur/Kadiri(places from southern inda) for 27yrs, I thought I knew everything that I had to about idlis. I've had idlis in all sizes and shapes; from simple idlis to idli-vada combinations, to dahi idli, butter-idli to button-idlil, fried idli, and masala idlis, idlis with and without cashews etc embedded in them. I've had bandi idlis, my Moms idlis, cocktail idlis, and the fast-food idlis.

I've had idlis outside my village, in Anantapur, as well as in Bangalore, other places in karnataka, Tamil Nadu, best-ever in Matunga, Mumbai, other restros in Mumbai,in Hyderabd, in Pune, Newjearsy, Newyork, and God knows where else and made by whom. I've had idlis without anything, with sambhar, with sambhar and chutney separately or sometimes even together and sometimes just with butter. Idlis with karappodi and ghee, idli's with allam chutney and sometimes only with pickle. I've fought with restaurateurs over their coconut chutneys (don't like to admit though ;-)).

Life was good and tasty like a plate of idly with coconut chutney and sambar, until that lazy Saturday morning, when S asked me acoompany her for breakfast. We decided to go to Shanti Sagar (Hyd) for breakfast. While I was juggling over the menu wondering what to order apart from the usual idlis and dosas, waiter appeared at our table. As I was still thinking about my menu, she ordered somthing in a flash, as if she came there only to eat that. That was a dish I had never had before. There was nothing really great about the name itself, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that I had never before had this combination.A combination of rasam and idli forming a dish called rasam idli. Rasam vadas, yes rasam on its own, yes rasam with riceyes, but 'Rasam Idli'!! that was a new one. Whoa how did I miss that. Somtimes, after been around there for yrs and yrs, you often start believing that you've been there, done that and seen it all, until something happens like this.

And the rasam idlis were absolutely to die for. As I put each portion into my mouth, the rasam-soaked pieces would melt immediately, releasing an explosive mix of a difficult to describe but a predominantly tangy mix of flavors and aromas. The combination was amazing.

I guess its all in the combination. Unlike sambhar, which is much too thick, idlis just soak up the rasam. With that, I guess, they become softer and the rasam becomes part of the idli itself. When you then eat that idli, the combination becomes unbeatable.

I am sure that I will be besieged by emails from people telling me that this is a very usual, ordinary experience for many of them and that they have been having rasam idlis for years and years. Maybe so, but it is not listed as an item in most menus (unless I have been blind) and for some strange reason, in the last 27 years...OK, 22(someone is going to say..'self actualization' at 5..huhh ;-)), to count only the conscious, idli-eating years, I've have never had this combination before.

So from then, it was rasam idlis, for a long time until the next Nirvanic experience, which I actually had with BisiBellaBath with ghee and papad ;-).

Phani

posted by Phani @ 4:02 PM

1 Visitor's 2 Cents

At December 30, 2009 at 9:47 PM, The Thoughtful Philosopher said…

"Somtimes, after been around there for yrs and yrs, you often start believing that you've been there, done that and seen it all, until something happens like this."

Ha ha. Being precocious myself, I really identify with this. There is no bigger surprise that totally jostles your conceptions