A steamed bread-like thing made from fermentd ground rice and urad dal. Shaped kind of like a UFO. There are variations, such as rava idli which is also steamed, but made from a spicy cream of wheat mixture studded with cashews and other goodies.Originally from South India, but now popular all over India.

a kind of rice dumpling, often served with dal curry called sambar, a south Indian favorite and green chilly chutney

Rice and lentil dumpling, savory and mild.

Rice and lentil flour cake served with light curry sauce. South Indian.

Light, spongy, steamed dumplings made from a fermented batter of rice and daal. Generally served with sambar and chutney.

Steamed rice cakes. A very popular snack from the south of India. Generally eaten with "sambar" and "chutney".

The idli, also romanized "idly" or "iddly", is made by steaming batter — traditionally made from pulses (specifically black lentils) and rice — into patties, usually two to three inches in diameter, using a mold.