Foamy White Steamed Rice and Bean Dumplings
- 1 1/3 cups white split gram beans (urad dal)
- 1 1/3 cups water
- 2 1/2 cups cream of rice cereal
- 1 teaspoon coarse salt, or to taste (optional)
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 3/4 cup light sesame oil or light vegetable oil
- 1.
- Pick clean and wash the beans.
- Put them in a bowl and add water to cover by at least 2 inches, and let them soak for 8 hours.
- Drain and rinse the beans.
- 2.
- Add the beans and 1 1/3 cups water to the container of a food processor or blender and puree them.
- The puree should be extremely smooth, light, and fluffy.
- Transfer to a large bowl.
- 3.
- Line a sieve with a double layer of cheesecloth and put the cream of rice cereal in it.
- Hold the sieve under cold running water right in the kitchen sink.
- Rinse the cereal until no clinging starch is remaining and the water begins to run clear through the cheesecloth.
- Squeeze the rice cereal thoroughly of all moisture and add it to the bean paste.
- Beat the bean and rice mixture thoroughly.
- Add salt if desired.
- Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel or plastic wrap and place it in a warm place for 8 to 12 hours to ferment the batter.
- 4.
- When you are ready to make the dumplings, stir the baking soda gently into the batter, using a rubber spatula.
- (Do not overblend as the batter must remain foamy and airy for the dumplings to come out light.)
- Let the batter rest for 4 to 5 minutes.
- 5.
- While the batter is resting, cut pieces of cheesecloth into neat rounds or squares to fit the depressions of the idlee dumpling racks.
- Each piece of cheesecloth lining can be used twice.
- Therefore you will need half as many pieces for lining as the number of dumplings.
- The cheesecloth pieces should be slightly larger than the depressions so that they overhang by about 1/3 inch.
- 6.
- Line the dumpling racks with the pieces of cheesecloth.
- Brush them lightly with oil.
- Bring water to a boil in the idlee steamer, a pressure cooker, or a 6- to 8-quart sauce pot in which the idlee racks fit.
- 7.
- Spoon about 1/4 to 1/3 cup batter into each lined depression of the rack.
- Attach the racks and place in the steamer.
- 8.
- Steam the dumplings for 12 to 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into them comes out clean.
- Remove the racks from the steamer apparatus and separate the dumpling racks.
- Pick up each dumpling with the cloth and gently peel away the cheesecloth.
- Place the steamed dumplings in another steamer or a covered dish to keep them warm.
- 9.
- Turn the cheesecloth pieces over and line the racks with the smooth reverse side up.
- Brush lightly with oil.
- Proceed with the remaining batter the same way.
- To serve, place the dumplings (2 per person) in a rimmed soup plate or a shallow bowl about 5 inches in diameter.
- Make an indentation in the center of the dumpling with your index finger or with the back of a wooden spoon.
- Pour about 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons sesame oil in the depression and over the dumplings.
white split gram beans, water, cream of rice cereal, coarse salt, baking soda, light sesame oil
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/foamy-white-steamed-rice-and-bean-dumplings-230900 (may not work)