If you are new to making idli, then you can follow this Soft idli recipe.

While the idlis steam, dry roast peanuts along with red chilies until light golden.

Add urad dal and chana dal. Roast on a medium flame until they turn golden. Make sure peanuts, urad dal and chana dal all are roasted well to deep golden.

Add sesame seeds, coconut, cumin & curry leaves. Dry roast until the leaves turn crisp and sesame seeds smell good.

Cool these and powder finely along with enough salt, tamarind (optional) and jaggery (optional) if using. Check the salt and add more if needed.

Remove the idlis from the mould. Allow them to cool a bit.

Pour ghee or oil to a hot pan. Add mustard seeds if using. Let them splutter.

Add idlis and then switch off the stove.

Sprinkle podi over the idli and toss gently. Add more or less podi & ghee as desired. Coat the idlis well with podi.

Serve podi idli warm.