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    Home » Breakfasts / Snacks

    Rava Idli

    Published: Mar 17, 2016 · Last Modified: Mar 24, 2023 by Kanan Patel / 22 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe

    Rava idli recipe - Instant idli recipe made from coarse semolina, yogurt and eno fruit salt. These are quick to make because no soaking, grinding and fermenting process required.

    6 rava idli in a square plate with a bowl of sambar and a small bowl of chutney in the back.

    As per wikipedia, rava idli is invented by the popular restaurant chain (MTR - Mavalli Tiffin Room) of Bangalore. During the world war II, there was a shortage of rice and they came up with the idea of rava idli for breakfast.

    You will also find the instant rava idli packets of MTR available in market. You just need to add water and steam it. That is easy, but trust me this homemade is also easy to make with little extra effort. Of Course nothing can beat the homemade one compared to store bought.

    These instant idli has soft, light and spongy texture. The addition of eno fruit salt makes it possible.

    For making rava idli, I have used coarse variety of semolina. You can use fine semolina, if coarse one is not available in your pantry.

    At home, we love idli-sambar as a dinner. But I am really worst at pre-planning, so you will rarely see me making traditional idli which requires soaking, grinding and fermenting the batter. I would rather prefer the instant version of idlis like this instant idli. Sometimes I do make oats idli too.

    Step By Step Photo Instructions:

    1) To make idli batter, take sooji, salt, yogurt and chopped coriander leaves in a bowl.

    Collage of 2 images showing rava yogurt, salt and cilantro in a bowl and mixed together.

    2) Mix well till everything is incorporated well. Keep it aside for 15-20 minutes.

    3) Meantime take cumin seeds and peppercorns in mortar and pestle.

    Collage of 2 images showing cumin seeds and peppercorns in mortar pestle and crushed.

    4) Make coarse powder out of it. Instead you can use dry spice grinder or coffee grinder.

    5) Also prepare the idli stand or moulds. Grease the moulds well using oil. Keep it aside.

    Collage of 2 images showing greasing idli tray and tempering of mustard seeds.

    6) Now heat the oil in a small pan on medium heat for tempering. Once hot add mustard seeds and let them pop.

    7) Then add urad dal, chana dal and cashew nuts.

    Collage of 2 images showing roasting chana dal, urad dal and cashews.

    8) Saute with stirring constantly till dal and cashews turn light brown in color.

    9) Then add ginger paste, green chili and curry leaves.

    Collage of 2 images showing adding ginger, green chili, curry leaves and cooked.

    10) Cook for a minute or till the raw smell of ginger goes away.

    11) Turn off the stove and add prepared powder.

    Collage of 2 images showing cumin pepper powder and mixed.

    12) Stir quickly.

    13) Immediately add this tempering to the prepared batter.

    Adding tempering to the batter and mixed.

    14) Mix well.

    15) After this 15-20 minutes resting time, you will notice that sooji absorbed most of the water. And the batter is really thick. So add the water to make batter consistency. You may need about ¼ to ½ cup of water.

    Collage of 2 images showing adding and mixing water to the batter.

    16) Stir well.

    17) Now prepare the steamer. Add glassful of water in the steamer or idli cooker, bring it to a simmer.

    18) At the time of steaming or making the idli, add eno fruit salt and sprinkle little water on top. It will start to bubble immediately. Quickly mix it well.

    Collage of 2 images showing adding eno fruit salt and pouring batter into the idli tray.

    19) Pour this batter into greased idli moulds.

    20) Now place this idli stand into steamer or cooker. Steam for 10-12 minutes on medium heat. Or till the toothpick/knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

    Collage of 2 images showing cooked isli and removed from the tray.

    21) Remove the idli stand from steamer and let it stand for 2-3 minutes. Then using knife or spoon, remove the idlis from the moulds.

    Serve them hot or warm.

    Serving suggestion: Serve with coconut chutney or your choice of any chutney as a breakfast or brunch. It can be served with chutney podi too. To make it a light meal (lunch/dinner), serve idli with chutney and sambar.

    Expert Tips:

    • Always add eno fruit salt right before steaming. Meaning add the eno to the batter, mix, immediately pour into moulds and steam. Do not let the batter sit after adding eno.
    • If making bigger batch and streaming into batches, then remove the one portion of batter in another bowl, add eno to that batter only and steam. When ready for second batch, add eno to the second portion of batter and steam.
    • Instead of eno, you can use baking soda. If using baking soda then add ⅛ to ¼ teaspoon of it.
    • Always steam the idlis on medium heat to get the soft idlis.
    • To make jain idlis, skip ginger in the recipe.
    • For the variation, you can add veggies (e.g. chopped carrots, beans, cabbage, broccoli or green peas) in the batter.
    Rava idli served in a plate with sambar and chutney bowls on the side.

    Did you try this rava idli recipe? I’d love to hear about it! Leave a review in the comment section below.

    Step by Step Photos AboveWant to make it perfect first time? Don't forget to check out Step-by-Step photo instructions and helpful Tips & Tricks !!
    Rava idli recipe | How to make rava idli, Instant Idli recipe
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    Rava Idli

    5 from 4 votes
    Tried this recipe? Leave a comment and/or give ★ ratings
    Instant rava idli recipe - This is the quick version because no soaking, grinding, fermenting required. It is still delicious, spongy and soft.
    Author: Kanan
    Course: Breakfast
    Cuisine: South Indian
    Calories: 65kcal
    Servings 15 idlis
    Prep Time 35 minutes
    Cook Time 15 minutes
    Total Time 50 minutes
    US measuring cups are used (1 cup = 240 ml) See details

    Ingredients  

    For The Batter:

    • 1 cup Sooji (rava or semolina)
    • Salt - to taste
    • 1 cup Plain yogurt (dahi or curd)
    • 1-2 tablespoons Cilantro or coriander leaves chopped finely
    • ¼ to ½ cup Water
    • ½ teaspoon Eno fruit salt

    Coarsely Powdered:

    • ¼ teaspoon Black peppercorns
    • ¼ teaspoon Cumin seeds

    For Tempering:

    • 1 tablespoon Oil
    • ¼ teaspoon Mustard seeds
    • ½ teaspoon Urad dal (split, skinless black gram)
    • ½ teaspoon Chana dal (Split bengal gram)
    • 1 tablespoon Cashew nuts chopped or broken
    • 1 Green chili chopped finely
    • 1 teaspoon Ginger paste or freshly grated or crushed
    • 6-7 Curry leaves
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions 

    • take sooji, salt, yogurt and chopped coriander leaves in a bowl.
    • Mix well till everything is incorporated well. Keep it aside for 15-20 minutes.
    • Meantime take cumin seeds and peppercorns in mortar and pestle.
    • Make coarse powder out of it. Instead you can use dry spice grinder or coffee grinder.
    • Also prepare the idli stand or moulds. Grease the moulds well using oil. Keep it aside.
    • Now heat the oil in a small pan on medium heat for tempering.
    • Once hot add mustard seeds and let them pop.
    • Then add urad dal, chana dal and cashew nuts. Saute with stirring constantly till dal and cashews turn light brown in color.
    • Then add ginger paste, green chili and curry leaves. Cook for a minute.
    • Turn off the stove and add prepared powder. Stir quickly.
    • Immediately add this tempering to the prepared batter. Mix well.
    • After this 15-20 minutes resting time, you will notice that sooji absorbed most of the water. And the batter is really thick.
    • So add the water to make batter consistency. You may need about ¼ to ½ cup of water. Stir well.
    • Now prepare the steamer. Add glassful of water in the steamer or idli cooker, bring it to a simmer.
    • At the time of steaming or making the idli, add eno fruit salt and sprinkle little water on top. It will start to bubble immediately. Quickly mix it well.
    • Pour this batter into greased idli moulds.
    • Now place this idli stand into steamer or cooker.
    • Steam for 10-12 minutes on medium heat. Or till the toothpick/knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
    • Remove the idli stand from steamer and let it stand for 2-3 minutes.
    • Then using knife or spoon, remove the idlis from the moulds.

    Notes

    • Always add eno fruit salt right before steaming. Meaning add the eno to the batter, mix, immediately pour into moulds and steam. Do not let the batter sit after adding eno.
    • If making bigger batch and streaming into batches, then remove the one portion of batter in another bowl, add eno to that batter only and steam. When ready for second batch, add eno to the second portion of batter and steam.
    • Instead of eno, you can use baking soda. If using baking soda then add ⅛ to ¼ teaspoon of it.
    • Always steam the idlis on medium heat to get the soft idlis.
    • To make jain idlis, skip ginger in the recipe.
    • For the variation, you can add veggies (e.g. chopped carrots, beans, cabbage, broccoli or green peas) in the batter.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1idli | Calories: 65kcal | Carbohydrates: 9.7g | Protein: 2.5g | Fat: 1.6g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 52mg | Potassium: 67mg | Fiber: 0.5g | Sugar: 1.2g | Vitamin A: 0IU | Vitamin C: 0.8mg | Calcium: 30mg | Iron: 0.5mg
    *Nutrition information is a rough estimate for 1 serving
    Did you make this recipe?Snap a pic, mention @spice.up.the.curry or tag #spiceupthecurry. I would love to see.

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    1. Neha

      April 28, 2020 at 6:49 pm

      Could you recommend steaming instructions for this recipe in the instant pot?

      Reply
      • Kanan Patel

        May 01, 2020 at 1:56 pm

        Sure.
        Add 1 inch of water and turn on the saute mode. As soon as water starts simmering, you can put the idli moulds in the instant pot liner.
        Cover with regular glass lid and put the external timer as mentioned in the recipe.

        Reply
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