SPECIALITY OF KANCHIPURAM IDLLI

   

 

A visit to the medieval Varadaraja Perumal Temple in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, is a unique culinary experience. Here, in the temple kitchen, is where the famous Kanchipuram idli is made.

 Yes, that's how popular Kanchipuram idlis are in the region. They aren't merely ordinary idlis. It is believed that their history dates back to as far as the Pallavas somewhere between the 6th and 9th century A.D. The idlis are served as prasadam at Varadharaj Perumal Temple in Tamil Nadu's Kanchipuram district.

 The story goes that a Vijayanagar king (14th-17th century A.D.) ordered that this offering be made to the deity. Kanchipuram idli has long been linked to the Varadharaja Perumal temple. This flavourful idli might even date back to the Pallava era. The idlis are steamed for almost three hours.

 Kanchipuram Idli is a special and famous Prasadam at the Varadaraja Perumal Koil. A special spiced idli that is served as prasadam at the divine Varadaraja Perumal Temple in Kanchipuram. It uses a different proportion of rice to urad than regular idli, and has a tempering of jeera, soonth, hing, and kadipatta mixed into the batter.

 While the base ingredients remain the same, that is rice and lentils, Kanchipuram idlis are flavored with black pepper, cumin seeds, ginger, curry leaves, and ghee, giving them a spicy and fragrant taste. Another interesting aspect of this dish is its religious and cultural significance.

 In fact, idlis were the main prasadam in Kanchipurm temples. The practice is still continued in many of the centres of devotion in the tradition-bound temple town. The Kanchi idlis have quite an interesting history. From temples, the food entered the royal palaces and then to the abodes of humble mortals.

 Kanchipuram idli is slightly spiced and steamed. But these idlis are traditionally steamed in cups made out of dried leaves - manthara leaf cups called dhonnai. Kanchipuram idlis are also known as Kudalai idli named after the leaf cups, which gives extra flavour to the idlis.

 Whenever you visit Kanchi, Don’t forget to savour the divine prasadam – Kanchipuram Idlli.