Kitchen Recipe Collection
Soft Sri Lankan Idli
Fluffy, cloud-like steamed rice cakes made from a fermented rice and lentil batter — an exceptionally light, healthy, and easily digestible Sri Lankan Tamil breakfast.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 15 min
- Total
- 35 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- medium
- Cuisine
- sri lankan
Ingredients
Scaled for 4 servings
- idli rice
- urad lentils
- fenugreek seeds
- salt
- water
- coconut chutney
- sambar
Equipment
- Wet grinder or blender
- Idli steamer
- Idli molds
Instructions
- 1
Soak & Grind
Soak idli rice and urad lentils with fenugreek seeds separately for 4–6 hours. Grind each until very smooth and fluffy. Combine, add salt, and ferment overnight until light and bubbly.
- 2
Prepare Steamer
Fill the idli steamer with water and bring to a rolling boil. Grease the idli mold plates with a little oil.
- 3
Fill Molds
Stir the batter gently. Pour the batter into the idli molds, filling each cavity about three-quarters full.
- 4
Steam
Place the filled molds in the steamer. Steam on high heat for 10–12 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- 5
Unmold & Serve
Let cool for 2 minutes, then scoop the idlis out with a wet spoon. Serve immediately with coconut chutney and sambar.
Cooking Tips
- Over-grinding the urad lentils to a very light, airy paste is the most critical step for fluffy idlis.
- Grind the urad separately from the rice and keep it as cold as possible to prevent it from warming up and becoming sticky.
- Ideal fermentation temperature is between 25–30°C (77–86°F). In cooler climates, place in a warm oven with just the light on.
Variations
- Rava Idli: Use semolina instead of rice for a quick, no-fermentation version.
- Mini Idli: Use smaller molds to make bite-sized mini idlis, served dunked in sambar.
Chef's Notes & Storage
- Idli is considered one of the healthiest breakfasts in the world — it is steamed, naturally fermented, and requires no oil.
- Storage: Leftover idlis can be stored in the fridge for 2 days and reheated by steaming for 3–4 minutes.
Nutrition Estimate
180 calories · 6g protein · 36g carbs · 1g fat · 2g fiber per serving
