To make batter for idli let's soak rice and dal first.
Combine urad dal & methi seeds into a bowl. Wash and soak it in enough water for at least 8 hours.
In another bowl wash and soak rice in enough water for at least 8 hours.
Rinse and soak poha with water for about 30 mins before blending.
Grind to make batter
After 8 hours, drain the water from both the bowls. In a wet grinder jar, add soaked urad dal, methi, soaked poha, salt & water.
Blend all of them till thick and smooth consistency. The idli batter should not turn hot or even warm while blending as it makes idli dense.
Once done transfer this to a bowl and set aside for fermentation.
Next add soaked rice to the blender with water (mentioned in the ingredients). Grind to a little coarse batter like of semolina/sooji texture.
Mix this to the dal batter we grinded earlier. Mix both of them well with your hands. The batter must be thick yet be of dropping consistency.
Use your hands to mix as it helps to ferment faster and better. A little more water can be added, if you feel the batter is too thick.