Inipu Paniyaram & Kaara Paniyaram

Ingredients (makes around 30 paniyaram)

For the batter:

Idly rice - 1 cup (1 cup size = 240 ml)
urad dal - 4 tsp
fenugreek seeds - 1 tsp
toor dal - 5 tsp

For the Sweet paniyaram

half of the batter made
jaggery - 1/2 cup
salt - 1/4 tsp
elachi powder - 1/4 tsp
cooking soda - a pinch
grated coconut - 3 tsp (optional)

For the kaara paniyaram

salt - as needed
mustard seeds - 2 tsp
urad dal - 2 tsp
green chili - 4
curry leaves - few
cooking soda - a pinch
chopped onion - 5 - 6 tsp (optional)

oil - 8 - 10 tsp

Method:

Soak rice, toor dal , fenugreek seeds and urad dal for 3 hours and grind it smoothly (thicker than the idly batter)
Set it aside for 3 hours
You can also use the first day idly batter but the taste slightly differs
before making paniyaram, split the batter into two

KAARA PANIYARAM:

heat a vessel with 2 tsp of oil and add mustard seeds , urad dal, curry leaves, chopped green chili and chopped onion. (adding chopped onion is optional)
saute it for few mins
add it to half of the batter
add salt , cooking soda and mix it well
heat the paniyaram pan with oil. I used 2 tsp for all the hollows in the paniyaram pan
pour the batter in each hollow and cook covered for 2 - 3 minutes in medium flame
turn the paniyaram to cook the other side and leave it for 2 more minutes
once both sides are cooked properly (it will be in golden brown color), take it out from the pan .

SWEET PANIYARAM:

powder the jaggery and add little water to make jaggery syrup (Please don't add too much water as it will make the batter too watery)
drain the syrup to remove impurities
add this jaggery syrup in remaining half of the batter and add elachi powder, salt and cooking soda
you can also add grated coconut. this step is optional.
mix it well
heat the paniyaram pan with oil. I used 2 tsp for all the hollows in the paniyaram pan
pour the batter in each hollow and cook covered for 2 - 3 minutes in medium flame
turn the paniyaram to cook the other side and leave it for 2 more minutes
once both sides are cooked properly (it will be in golden brown color), take it out from the pan .