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 Top 10 Idli Recipes, Famous South Indian Idlis
  Last Updated : Aug 06,2020






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Top 10 Idli Recipes, Famous South Indian Idlis

Idli: A Glimpse of South India’s Most Famous Snack

For many, South Indian cuisine is synonymous with Idli. And indeed, this fame is well-deserved because it is one of the most ubiquitous snacks in South India, especially Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. It is essentially an anytime snack, which is relished for breakfast, evening snacks, supper or dinner. To top it all, it stays good for more than a day when smeared with til oil and Malgapodi, so it is packed in tiffin boxes or taken along while travelling too!

Soft, spongy, super-white idlis are an appetizing sight and taste equally good when enjoyed with accompaniments like sambhar and chutney. Many nutritionists also recommend it as an ideal breakfast because it has carbohydrates and protein, is made of a fermented batter, and is steamed. No wonder the Idli is now world-famous!



1. Topping our list is the authentic South Indian Idli, made with a fermented batter or rice and urad dal. We explain the whole process to you, right from the proportions to the method of grinding and consistency of the batter. Follow this foolproof recipe to charm your family with super-soft idlis.

Idli
South Indian Idli

2. The Poha Idli on the other hand does require fermentation, but is easier to grind as we use idli rava or rice semolina along with rice flakes and urad dal to make it. The rice flakes softens the idli further making it a melt-in-the-mouth delight! You can enhance the Poha Idli further by stuffing it with a masaledar potato bhaji. You can serve it with chutney and sambhar, or cut it into four and serve it as a unique and healthy starter at your next party!

Poha Idli ( How To Make Poha Idli )

Poha Idli ( How To Make Poha Idli )

3. The Kanchipuram Idli, another famous South Indian Idli, requires special mention in any discussion about idlis because it is something unique! It is a spice-laced idli that is made as a traditional prasad at the Varadharaja Perumal temple in Kanchipuram, the quaint South Indian town that is famous for silk sarees and temples. The strong notes of pepper, cumin and ginger in these spicy idlis are sure to make you drool. Several batches of idli are made in the temple, offered to God and then distributed to the devotees who stand in long queues to be ‘blessed’ with this yummy prasad. We share an authentic recipe to make this divine yet droolworthy dish at home!

Kanchipuram IdliKanchipuram Idli

4. Incidentally, there are other types of Idlis and more recipes that you can make with rava as a base ingredient. The Quick-Rava Idli, Semolina and Vermicelli Idlis and Instant Bread Idli are interesting variants that you can make instantly, without any fermentation. They will surprise you with their mouth-watering taste and pleasing textures.

Quick Rava Idli
 Quick Rava Idli

5. Add veggies of your choice to it and you can make one more famous South Indian Idli - Vegetable Idlis. The batter for these idlis is made with coconut milk and tempered with jeera. 

Vegetable Idlis
Vegetable Idlis

6. The rice and urad dal can be completely replaced with other dal like chola dal to make a unique variant - Palak Chola Dal Idli. 1 to 2 of these idlis can be devoured by diabetics too. 

Palak Chola Dal Idli, Breakfast Recipe

Palak Chola Dal Idli, Breakfast Recipe

7. Paneer lovers can try Paneer Vegetable Idli. This idli is also rava (semolina) based. This doesn't make use of dal or rice either. 

Paneer Vegetable IdliPaneer Vegetable Idli

8. South Indian Idlis can even be used to make other interesting dishes. You can crumble leftover idlis and transform them into a tasty and satiating Idli Upma.

Idli Upma, Upma with Left Over Idlis Recipe

Idli Upma, Upma with Left Over Idlis Recipe

9. Or, you can cube the idlis and toss them with onions, tomatoes and spice powders to make a tongue-tickling Spicy Tava Idlis.

Spicy Tava Idlis

Spicy Tava Idlis

10. If you are game for some fusion excitement, try the Idli Chilli, an Oriental style preparation of idlis tossed with veggies, vinegar and soy sauce. You will be bowled over by the total transformation!

Idli Chilli, Chilli Idli, Idli Snack

Idli Chilli, Chilli Idli, Idli Snack

Idli truly has unlimited potential. The varieties of idlis and the spectrum of dishes that can be made with it are endless! We have given you the top picks, but there are more waiting to be explored on our website and app, so do give it a dekko.

5 Accompaniments to Famous South Indian Idli

1. Coconut Chutney

Coconut ChutneyCoconut Chutney

2. Milgai Podi

Malaga PodiMalaga Podi

3. Sambar

Sambhar ( How To Make Sambhar, South Indian Recipe)

Sambhar ( How To Make Sambhar, South Indian Recipe)

4. Milga Podi and Tomato Chutney

Malgapodi and Tomato Coconut Chutney

Malgapodi and Tomato Coconut Chutney

5. Rasam

Rasam, South India Rasam, Home Made Rasam

Rasam, South India Rasam, Home Made Rasam

top 10 idli recipes, famous south indian idlis

1.  
 by Tarla Dalal
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idli recipe | idli batter recipe | South Indian style idli | soft idli | with 30 amazing images. Idli is a very popular South Indian breakfast which is also a favourite Mumbai Street Food. We show you how to make idli with detailed step by step recipe on how to make the perfect idli batter. Fluffy as cotton balls, white as the moon’ - every South Indian remembers those fond descriptions of Idli that mom used to convince them to eat breakfast when they were kids. Indeed, that is how the perfect Idli must be too. Grinding of batter and the preparation of Idli is an almost daily affair in South Indian homes. Being a safe, tasty and wholesome breakfast, it is preferred by people all over the world now. The procedure to make idli is long and needs hours of waiting due to fermentation. Yet idli's made at home are healthy and worth the wait. To make idli, combine the urad dal and fenugreek seeds and enough water in a deep bowl and mix well. Cover with a lid and keep aside to soak for 4 hours. Combine the par-boiled rice and thick beaten rice and enough water in a deep bowl and mix well. Cover with a lid and keep aside to soak for 4 hours. Wash and drain the urad dal and fenugreek seeds and blend in a mixer to a smooth paste using approx. 1 cup of water. Transfer the mixture into a deep bowl and keep aside. Wash and drain the par-boiled rice and thick rice flakes and blend in a mixer to a slightly coarse paste using approx. 1½ cups of water. Add this mixture to the urad dal-fenugreek seeds mixture, add the salt and mix very well. Cover it with a lid and keep aside to ferment in a warm place for 12 hours. After fermentation, mix the idli batter well once again and pour spoonfuls of the batter into each of the greased idli moulds. Steam in a idli steamer for 10 to 12 minutes or till they are cooked. Once the idlis are cooked, cool them slightly. Dip a spoon in the water and using this spoon loosen the sides of idli and de-mould them. Keep aside. Serve idli recipe with homemade idli batter hot with sambar, coconut chutney and malgapodi. Choose good quality par-boiled rice (ask for idli rice, which is small and stout) and urad for making idlis, as the colour and softness of the end product depends on it. The amount of water to be added when grinding the urad changes according to the quality of the dal, so keep adding little by little till the idli batter is soft and fluffy, and do not make it watery. After making the required idlis store the remaining batter in the fridge. It remains good for almost a week, and can be used to make Sada Dosa, Uttapa and dainty Appe as well. Enjoy idli recipe | idli batter recipe | South Indian style idli | soft idli | with detailed step by step recipe photos and video below.
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idli upma recipe | idli upma with leftover idli | healthy idli upma | with 12 amazing images. idli upma is made from leftover idlis. idli upma with leftover idli is how South Indian typically finish off leftover idlis. It is so tasty that you can even serve idli upma to guests. Ingredients for idli upma are leftover idlis , tomatoes, onions, green peas, carrots, peanut oil to cook and some Indian spices. I find this idli upma far more healthier than plain idli. Let’s see why we call this a healthy idli upma? Idli is a perfect combination of urad dal and par boiled rice which make it a complete protein. A cereal pulse combo like in the case of Idli ( par boiled rice and urad dal) would serve as a complete protein comprising of all the 9 essential amino acids. However idlis are high in carbs. So in idli upma recipe we are adding lots of fibre through high quality vegetables like carrots, onions, green peas and tomatoes to make this recipe even healthier. Even better, we have cooked the idlis in peanut oil which has the highest amount of MUFA (around 49%) amongst most Indian common cooking oils. So use the peanut oil if you want to be healthy and I would suggest to do lots of your Indian cooking in peanut oil or coconut oil. Notes on idli upma recipe. 1. If you are making use of fresh idlis, then cool them completely and then crumble to avoid them getting completely mashed. Idlis refrigerated for 5-6 hours or overnight give the best results. 2. The idli upma recipe can be prepared with any variety of idlis like the oats idli, rava idli or nachni idli. 3. Mix gently and cook on a medium flame for 1 to 2 minutes, while stirring occasionally. Do not cook them for more time or else the idlis will start frying and turn brown. If you feel like the idli upma is turning dry then add some more water and mix it. Sometimes, people even make idli upma out of fresh idlis, as it is an interesting alternative to usual Idli and dosas. Besides Idli Upma you can use leftover idlis to make a variety of other recipes like Dahi Idli, Fried Idlis with Curd Dip , Spicy Tava Idlis, Idli Chaat, Idli Curry and Idli Chilli. Enjoy how to make idli upma recipe | idli upma with leftover idli | healthy idli upma with detailed step by step photos and video below.
3.  
 by Tarla Dalal
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idli chilli recipe | chilli idli | idli chilli fry | with 22 amazing images. idli chilli is a unique recipe that you can make using leftover idlis. The best results are achievable using cold idlis so, if you have idlis left from breakfast or dinner then you can transform them into tongue-tickling chilly idli. Here is how you can transform one of the most common South Indian breakfast recipe – Idli, into an appetizing idli chilli party starter. If you have some leftover idlis, cut them into cubes, sauté in oil and inject some Oriental style excitement into it, with vinegar, soya and other sauces, and chunky veggies too. Not just youngsters but adults too, are sure to enjoy this idli chilli. Notes to make the perfect idli chilli recipe. 1. If you are making fresh batch of idlis, then refrigerate for at least half an hour so they consume less oil and do not stick to each other on frying. We have taken 7 medium sized idli which yeilds 2 cups. 2. For making the Idli Chilli recipe, cut the idli into cubes. Also, you can cut them into thick strips. 3. Sauté on a medium flame for 1 more minute. We want the vegetables to be crunchy and not brown or soft. Add the tomato ketchup and sugar. It provides a tangy, sweet flavour to the chilly idli recipe. 4. Mix gently so the sauces coat the Idli Chilli well. Do not cook for more time or else the idlis will turn soggy and not stay crispy. Learn to make idli chilli recipe | chilli idli | idli chilli fry | with step by step photos and video below.
4.  
 by Tarla Dalal
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quick rava idli recipe | instant idli using sooji | easy no fermentation semolina idli | with 40 amazing images. quick rava idli recipe is a quick South Indian breakfast dish. Learn how to make instant idli using sooji. quick rava idli can be made rather quickly as the batter need not be fermented. However, you ought to take into account half an hour’s soaking time. Since quick rava idli is steamed, it is easier to digest than upma, and has a convenient form factor for serving as well as packing. suji idli for the tiffin box stays soft and humid for longer. Tips for quick rava idli. 1. After 30 minutes of soaking the batter. Note that the rava will suck up a lot of the water. 2. Just before steaming, add 1 tbsp fruit salt. Fruit salt provides a spongy, fluffy texture. Use neutral flavored fruit salt. 3. Mix gently after adding fruit salt. Don’t mix it vigorously, just gently fold in. 4. In the batter you can use buttermilk instead of curds and water to get that nice sour taste. Just avoid adding salt and tempering to the buttermilk. 5. Make sure you steam the idlis on high flame so that the water is boiling all the time. As we are making 5 batches of ildi, you will need to add water to the steamer when required. 6. If you don't have eno fruit salt, you can use baking soda instead. 7. You can add grated vegetables, such as carrots or onions, to the batter. quick rava idli is a popular South Indian breakfast recipe made often in many parts of India as there is no fermentation required. Serve quick rava idli with coconut chutney and sambar. Enjoy quick rava idli recipe | instant idli using sooji | easy no fermentation semolina idli | with step by step photos.
5.  
 by Tarla Dalal
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poha idli | south indian poha idli | aval idli | soft poha idli | poha idli with fermentation | with 25 amazing photos The super soft, super fluffy Poha Idli is sure to steal your hearts! You will find that the batter for this aval idli is pretty easy to make because we have used a combination of rice semolina and poha instead of whole idli rice. So, the rice portion of the poha idli batter will be ready in a jiffy. Then, you need to grind the soaked urad, mix the two and let the batter ferment. Perfect proportions together with the presence of poha makes this south indian poha idli very, very soft and tasty. Served with Sambhar and a chutney of your choice, the Poha Idli makes an amazing breakfast. Enjoy poha idli recipe with detailed step by step photos and video below.
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aloo stuffed idli recipe | Indian style potato stuffed idli | instant aloo masala stuffed idli | South Indian soft veg stuffed idli | with 27 amazing images. aloo stuffed idli recipe | Indian style potato stuffed idli | instant aloo masala stuffed idli | South Indian soft veg stuffed idli is an attractive and flavourful way of serving idli. Learn how to make Indian style potato stuffed idli. To make aloo stuffed idli, first make potato bhaji. Heat the oil in a broad non-stick pan and add the mustard seeds. When the seeds crackle, add the curry leaves, green chillies and onions and sauté on a medium flame for 1 to 2 minutes. Add the potatoes, turmeric powder, lemon juice, coriander and salt, mix well and cook on a medium flame for 1 minute, while stirring occasionally. Keep aside. Then to make Indian style potato stuffed idli, grease the idli stand with a little oil and put 1 tbsp of the bhaji in each mould and spread it lightly. Pour approx. 2 tbsp of the idli batter over the bhaji in each mould. Steam in a steamer for 12 minutes or till the idlis are cooked. Repeat steps 1 to 3 to make more idlis. Allow the idlis to cool slightly and demould them. Serve hot with sambhar, coconut chutney and tomato chutney. This unique instant aloo masala stuffed idli is incomparable to any snack you have ever tasted before – a totally out-of-the-world savoury experience! Each cup in the idli plate is first lined with a layer of semi-spicy potato bhaji, which is topped with idli batter, and then steamed. This causes the bhaji and the idli to fuse, resulting in a super tasty South Indian soft veg stuffed idli. This can be served for breakfast or as a late evening snacks too. The bhaji of Indian style potato stuffed idli is made of mashed potatoes perked up with a traditional tempering and common flavouring ingredients like coriander and lemon juice. The peppy flavour of the bhaji, is therefore a perfect match for the idli layer, which itself is extremely soft due to the addition of a little fruit salt to the batter. Tips to make aloo stuffed idli. 1. The stuffing can be made in advance. 2. Idli batter can also be bought from out if you are short on time. 3. Make sure the idlis are cooled well before you demould. Enjoy aloo stuffed idli recipe | Indian style potato stuffed idli | instant aloo masala stuffed idli | South Indian soft veg stuffed idli | with step by step photos.
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semolina and vermicelli idli recipe | Indian rava semiya idli | instant vermicelli idli | instant breakfast recipe | with 33 amazing images. semolina and vermicelli idli recipe | Indian rava semiya idli | instant vermicelli idli | instant breakfast recipe is a quick snack made quickly with commonly available ingredients. Learn how to make Indian rava semiya idli. To make semolina and vermicelli idli, heat ½ tbsp of oil in a broad non-stick pan, add the semolina and roast on a medium flame for 3 to 4 minutes or till the semolina is light pink in colour, while stirring continuously. Remove from the flame and keep aside in a bowl. Heat 2 tbsp of oil in the same pan, add the cashewnuts and sauté on a medium flame for a few seconds. Remove from the flame and add it to the semolina and keep aside. Heat 1 more tbsp of oil in the same non-stick pan, add the vermicelli and sauté on a medium flame for 2 to 3 minutes or till it turns light brown in colour, while stirring occasionally. Remove from the flame and add it to the semolina-cashew mixture. Add the curds, 1½ cups of water and salt and mix well to make a batter of dropping consistency. Keep aside. Heat the remaining 1 tbsp of oil in a small non-stick pan and add the mustard seeds and urad dal. When the seeds crackle, switch off the flame, add the green chillies and curry leaves and sauté for a few seconds. Add it to the batter and mix well. Then to make Indian rava semiya idli, just before steaming, add the fruit salt and 1 tbsp of water over the batter. When the bubbles form, mix gently. Pour a little batter into each of the greased idli moulds and steam in a steamer for 8 to 10 minutes or till the idlis are cooked. Cool slightly, demould and serve hot with coconut chutney. Indian rava semiya idli is very popular in Karnataka, where they make it in such big moulds that one idli will suffice for breakfast! The tempering adds to the aroma, while the cashews provide a crunchy respite in every mouthful. You can add some boiled veggies and coriander to the batter to make it more wholesome. With no fermenting time, these instant vermicelli idli are best to serve unexpected guests or serve kids when they are back from school. Just remember to roast the semolina and vermicelli separately as both the ingredients have a different texture and thus a different cooking time. Coconut chutney, sambar and milgai podi are all time favourite accompaniments which when served with these instant breakfast recipe make a meal in many South Indian homes. Tips to make semolina vermicelli idli. 1. Make sure you grease the idli moulds after making every batch. 2. You can also use rice vermicelli as well. Enjoy semolina and vermicelli idli recipe | Indian rava semiya idli | instant vermicelli idli | instant breakfast recipe | with step by step photos.
8.  
 by Tarla Dalal
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tava idli recipe | spicy tava idli | South Indian tava vegetable idlis | with 20 amazing images. tava idli recipe is what the name means, leftover idlis cooked on a tava in butter with Indian spices and vegetables. Hence they are also called South Indian tava vegetable idlis due to the presence of onions and tomatoes. Watch your leftover idlis transform into a scrumptious spicy tava idli as you toss them with crunchy onions, tangy tomatoes and peppy spice powders. The master stroke in this spicy tava idli recipe is the use of pav bhaji masala, a very popular flavour that is loved by young and old alike! Notes on and tips on tava idli recipe. 1. Butter gives a really nice flavor to the spicy tava idlis so make sure you use butter. 2. Add 2 tbsp of water so that it’s not very dry and salt to season. Water will prevent the masalas from sticking to the pan. 3. Spicy tava idli is similar to masala pav, just that we replace bread cubes with idli cubes. 4. The best results are achievable using cold idlis so, if you have idlis left from breakfast or dinner then you can transform them into tongue-tickling spicy tava idli. Try to serve spicy tava idli as soon as possible, while the flavours and textures are in tact. Learn to make tava idli recipe | spicy tava idli | South Indian tava vegetable idlis | with step by step photos and video below.
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kanchipuram idli recipe | kancheepuram idli | Tamil Kovil idli | easy South Indian breakfast | with 52 amazing images. kanchipuram idli recipe | kancheepuram idli | Tamil Kovil idli | easy South Indian breakfast | is a special savoury idli which got its name from that small town in Tamil Nadu. Learn how to make easy South Indian breakfast. To make kanchipuram idli, to the idli batter after fermentation, add the turmeric powder and dried ginger powder and mix well. Keep this batter aside. Combine the cumin seeds and peppercorns in a mortar pestle (khalbatta), crush to a coarse mixture and keep aside. Heat the sesame oil and ghee in a small non-stick pan, add the chana dal and sauté on a medium flame for 1 minute. Add the mustard seeds, urad dal, cumin seeds-peppercorn mixture and green chillies and sauté on a medium flame for 1 minute. Add the cashewnuts and curry leaves and sauté on a medium flame for another 30 seconds. Add this tempering to the kanchipuram idli batter, mix well and pour spoonfuls of the batter into each of the greased idli moulds. Steam in an idli steamer for 10 minutes or till they are cooked. Repeat with the remaining batter to make more kanchipuram idlis. Allow the kanchipuram idlis to cool slightly and demould them. Serve the kanchipuram idli hot with kolumbu and coconut chutney. Kancheepuram idli is famous for more than silk sarees! In fact, it is offered at the Sri Varadharaja Swamy Temple, and food-lovers are generally prepared to even withstand the hardships of a long queue to buy the prasad of tasty Kanchipuram Idli from there. Indeed, with an elaborate tempering of assorted spices, these idlis are a mouth-watering treat. Here is how you can prepare kanchipuram idli in your own kitchen. While we have shown how to make the basic idli batter, to save time you can also buy the readymade idli batter and then add ingredients to make this idli. Also we have prepared Tamil Kovil idli using idli moulds for convenience, this batter is traditionally cooked in small greased katoris or in a large, round, flat cooker vessel and then sliced into squares or triangles. Everyone in the family is sure to love easy South Indian breakfast and be it for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Besides this idli, you can also make other varieties from my collection of Idli recipes, such as the Palak Rava Idli which is enriched with iron, then there is the Stuffed Potato Idli which is more filling and a good option to serve for lunch or dinner, for a nutty and spicy flavour I make Vermicelli Nut Idli which is also good to serve while entertaining. Tips for kanchipuram idli. 1. Mixing with hands helps in the fermentation process so don’t skip this step. 2. Depending on the weather, the batter may take about 8-12 hours to ferment. If the temperature is too low, it may take even 14 hours to ferment. 3. Though the list of spices and condiments may look vast, we recommend you add all of them in the said amounts to enjoy the authentic flavours of this idli. 4. Remember to grease the idli moulds with oil, before pouring the batter in it. This step of greasing makes the demoulding of idli very easy. Enjoy kanchipuram idli recipe | kancheepuram idli | Tamil Kovil idli | easy South Indian breakfast | | with step by step photos.
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instant bread idli recipe | no fermenting idli | instant bread idli with curd | quick bread idli - breakfast recipe | with 10 amazing images. instant bread idli is a quick idli recipe which is ready in less than an hour. Learn how to make instant bread idli with curd. To make instant bread idli, combine the bread crumbs, idli rava, curds, salt and ½ cup of water in a deep bowl and mix well. Cover with a lid and keep aside for 30 minutes. Add the fruit salt and ½ cup of water and mix gently. Pour spoonful of the batter into greased idli moulds. Steam in an idli steamer for 10 to 12 minutes or till they are cooked. Serve hot with sambhar, coconut chutney and malgapodi. Feel like having idli-sambhar for breakfast, but don’t have idli batter on hand? Worry not, you can still entertain your whims with this no fermenting idli. You can make idli with bread slices too! Made with an innovative batter of bread crumbs and idli rava, this instant bread idli with curd is soft, fluffy and tasty. A dash of curds gives the idli a nice, mildly tangy taste while a pinch of fruit salt gives it the perfect fluffiness and mouth-feel. The best part is that this batter requires no fermenting, so you can make it any time you feel like. However, there is half an hour of setting time in this quick bread idli - breakfast recipe, so plan your breakfast accordingly. You can also try making sambar masala and sambar at home. Tips for instant bread idli. 1. To make fresh bread crumbs, make small pieces of a few bread slices and blend them in a mixer. 2. Idli rava is also called as rice semolina. It is white to cream coloured, and has a smoother and finer texture compared to wheat semolina and thus perfect for making idli batter in recipes where parboiled rice isn’t used. 3. After adding fruit salt, mix it very gently. Mixing it vigorously might negate the effect of fruit salt. You can also try other Idli recipes like the traditional Idli and Quick Rava Idli. Learn to make instant bread idli recipe | no fermenting idli | instant bread idli with curd | quick bread idli - breakfast recipe | with step by step photos below.
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