Idli and Its Cultural values – World Idli Day

I am not sure how many people know that today is World Idli Day. In a list of special days, World Idli Day is also celebrated. This ‘steamed rice cake’, as the West likes to call it, is so versatile it can be paired with almost anything. It is very popular as breakfast foods in South Indian and among Tamils India, Sri Lanka and all over the world. In this special day to start with the first meal Idli, buy the ingredients and even instant Idli batter at our Indian supermarket Zurich/ Indian supermarket/ Indian shop Geneva. On this Special day, Let us go and learn about Idli and Its Cultural values – World Idli Day

History of World Idli Day

World Idli Day has an interesting history. Its roots can be traced back to when the idli was first created.

World Idli day is still at its humble beginnings. It only started in 2015. The proponent of this celebration, Eniyavan who is a passionate idli enthusiast from Chennai, decided to dedicate a day to idli. Such a day soon became a food trend in the world. The popularity the celebration was able to attain is not surprising at all. Idli is a staple dish. It can be served in any meal. It is also simple to cook and has lots of health benefits.

According to reports, Eniyavan made about 1,328 varieties of idlis in 2015 for the celebration. It was also during March 30, 2015, the same day, when a giant 44 kg idli was cut by a government employee in order to seal the deal and officially declare the 30th of March as the World Idli day.

Origin of Idli

According to food historians, idli first originated in Indonesia, which is known for its long tradition of fermented food. Later, it came to India in the form of steamed idli during the period of 800-1200 CE. Some theories believe that the word was derived from ‘Iddalige’, and was mentioned in a Kannada work of 920 AD, and it indicates that it was made from an urad dal batter.

Also, the Sanskrit Manasollasa of 1130 AD has ‘Iddarika’, which mentioned a dish made with urad dal. And Tamil people first mentioned it as ‘Itali’ in the 17th century. All these references make it clear that since the very beginning idli had the use of rice grits, urad dal, a long fermentation process, and the steaming of the batter to tasty fluffiness.

Amazing Health Benefits of traditional breakfast Idli

• Easy to digest:

Some foods burden your digestive system whereas some get easily digested. Idli-sambar is a dish that can easily be absorbed by your body.

• Rich in vitamins and minerals:

One idli contains 1 milligram of iron, and trace amounts of calcium, folate, potassium, and vitamin A. The iron is mostly from the black lentils, with about 25 percent of it from the rice. Iron keeps your blood oxygenated and is crucial for any diet. Men need 8 milligrams daily and women 18 milligrams.

• Helps in weight-loss:

Idli is a fibrous food and it also consists of protein. Such food is healthy for people suffering from obesity as craving for food becomes low.

• Provides fiber:

Many different vegetables are added to make the sambar tasty. This is the best way to get some fiber content into your body. As fibre promotes better digestion, your digestive system would thank you for the meal.

• No oil food:

Idlis are steamed foods and sambar is like a soup. So, you don’t need to worry about fat or oil content that might trouble your cardiovascular system later.

Why Vegetarians love Idli

Those with a weakness for south Indian food now have a legitimate reason to gorge themselves on idlis: these dishes help in the body’s absorption of minerals such as iron and zinc. A large number of Indians have trouble absorbing iron and zinc from food.

While this is mainly due to vegetarian food habits, south Indian vegetarians are better off: their food choices allow for better absorption of iron and zinc, a study says.

Varieties of Idli you should try

1.    Regular Idli

2.    Poha Idli

3.    Rava Idli

4.    Oats Idli

5.    Ragi Idly

6.    Instant Idly

7.    Instant Poha Idly

8.    Kanchipuram Idli

9.    Thinai Idli

10. Cooked Rice Idli

11. Vada Idli

12. Podi Idli

13. Idli in Jackfruit Leaves

14. Samvat Rice Idli

15. Okra Idli

16. Idli Upma

17. Idli Fry

18. Chili Idli

How to celebrate this wonderful World Idli Day?

1.     Make Your Own Idli

Perhaps the best way to celebrate this day is to make your own idli. It is easy to do so. Or buy an instant batter at our Indian market Zurich

2.     Purchase Idli from the Store

If you don’t have time to make idli yourself, then you can just purchase some from a store.

3.     Share Your Celebration of World Idli Day on Social Media

You can also make the celebration a lot more fun by sharing and using the hashtag #WorldIdliDay to let your followers and friends know that you are also taking part in the celebration of this day.

Let’s Celebrate!

If you are not Indian or if you are not used to idli, one good reason why you should celebrate World Idli Day is that this is the best time for you to taste idli in its many forms and varieties. You will surely not disappoint yourself for having been able to get a taste of this tasty treat. If you are a common eater of idli, then this day is the opportunity for you to commemorate this food for giving you all the good feelings while eating it.

Order Now your Idli batter at our indian shop near me/ tapioca hidratada/ Indian grocery Switzerland/ buy Indian grocery online/ gari du togo.