12 Delicious Homemade Idli Variations You Must Try – A Soft & Healthy Delight!

When it comes to Indian breakfast that is light, healthy, and satisfying, then one dish that stands out is, one and only,’ idli.’ South India’s this soft, fluffy, and fermented delight is a favourite of all household. It is traditionally made from rice and urad dal batter, therefore idli is a low calorie, nutritious, and gut friendly dish.

Idli now comes in various forms like oats idli, rava idli etc, and all credit goes to our evolving food culture. Whether you have idli cooker or idli maker, you can prepare these idli variations easily at your home. Moreover, to enjoy a wholesome meal, enjoy the idli with idli sambhar and chutney.

So, if you are a die-hard idli lover, then here’s list of homemade idli varieties that you must try!

12 Homemade Idli Varieties You Must Try At Home:-

1. Classic Rice Idli:

Ingredients-

• Idli Rice – 2 Cups
• Urad Dal (Black gram, split & skinned) – 1 Cup
• Fenugreek Seeds – 1 tsp.
• Salt – To taste
• Water – as needed

Method-

• Rinse and soak rice and dal separately for 4-6 hours.
• Grind the dal into a smooth batter, add water as required.
• Now, grind rice coarsely and mix it with Urad dal batter.
• Add salt in it and ferment overnight or maximum 8-12 hours.
• Grease idli molds, pour the batter on it and steam for 10-15 minutes.
• At last, serve it hot along with Sambar and Coconut Chutney.

2. Rava Idli (Semolina Idli):

Ingredients-

• Rava (Semolina) – 1 Cup
• Curd – ½ Cup
• Water – ½ Cup
• Mustard Seeds – 1 tsp.
• Urad Dal – 1 tsp.
• Chopped Cashews – 1 tbsp.
• Baking Soda – ½ tsp.
• Salt – To taste
• Ghee/Oil – 1 tbsp.

Method-

• Take a Pan, heat ghee, temper mustard seeds, urad dal and cashews in it.
• It’s time to add semolina and roast for 2 minutes atleast.
• Now, mix curd, water, salt in it, and let it rest for 10 minutes.
• Add baking soda, mix well, and pour into greased idli molds.
• Steam it for 10-12 minutes, and lastly Serve it hot.

3. Oats Idli:

Ingredients-

• Powdered Oats – 1 Cup
• Curd – ½ Cup
• Water – ½ Cup
• Mustard Seeds – 1 tsp.
• Urad Dal – 1 tsp.
• Baking Soda – ½ tsp.
• Salt – To taste
• Ghee – 1 tbsp.

Method-

• Take Oats, dry roast and grind it well into a fine powder.
• Heat ghee, temper mustard seeds and urad dal.
• Now, mix oats powder, curd, salt, water, and rest it for 10 minutes.
• Add baking soda, mix everything so well and pour into idli molds.
• Steam for 10 minutes and then serve hot.

4. Ragi Idli (Finger Millet Idli):

Ingredients-

• Ragi Flour – 1 Cup
• Idli Rice – 1 Cup
• Urad dal – ½ Cup
• Fenugreek Seeds – 1 tsp.
• Salt – To taste

Method-

• Separately soak and grind Urad dal and Rice.
• Now, mix both the batters and add rago flour in it.
• Let it ferment overnight and steam for 10-12 minutes.
• At last, Serve it hot with chutney.

5. Kanchipuram Idli:

Ingredients-

• Idli Rice – 1 Cup
• Urad dal – ½ Cup
• Black Pepper – 1 tsp.
• Cumin Seeds – 1 tsp.
• Chopped Ginger – 1 tbsp.
• Salt – To taste.

Method-

• Separately soak and grind Urad dal and Rice.
• Then mix both the batters, add spices, and ferment overnight.
• Pour the batter into idli molds and steam it for 10-12 minutes.
• Now, Serve hot.

6. Poha Idli:

Ingredients-

• Idli Rice – 1 Cup
• Poha – ½ Cup
• Urad dal – ½ Cup
• Salt – To taste

Method-

• Take Poha, Rice, Urad dal, and soak them separately.
• Grind the Urad dal smoothly, and mux it with Poha and Rice batter.
• Ferment overnight and steam it for 10-12 minutes.
• Now, Serve hot with chutney.

7. Moong Dal Idli:

Ingredients-

• Moong Dal – 1 Cup
• Curd – ½ Cup
• Baking Soda – ½ tsp.
• Salt – To taste

Method-

• Take Moong Dal, Soak and grind it well afterwards.
• Mix it with curd, salt, and baking soda.
• Now, pour it into idli molds, and steam for 10 minutes.

8. Beetroot Idli: 

Ingredients-

• Idli batter – 1 Cup
• Beetroot Puree – ½ Cup
• Salt – To taste

Method-

• Mix beetroot puree with idli batter.
• Now, pour it into idli molds, and steam it for 10-12 minutes.
• Serve it hot with coconut chutney.

9. Carrot Idli:

Ingredients-

• Idli Batter – 1 Cup
• Grated carrot – ½ Cup

Method-

• Take idli batter and mix it well with grated carrot.
• Pour it into idli mold and let it steam for 10 minutes.
• Now, Serve hot.

10. Millet Idli:

Ingredients-

• Mixed Millet Flour – 1 Cup
• Urad Dal – ½ Cup
• Salt – To taste

Method-

• Take Urad dal, soak and grind it smoothly.
• Mix it well with Millet flour and ferment overnight.
• Now, pour it into idli molds, and steam for 10 minutes.
• Lastly, Serve Hot.

11. Spinach Idli (Palak Idli):

Ingredients-

• Idli batter – 1 Cup
• Spinach Puree – ½ Cup
• Salt – To taste

Method-

• Mix well spinach puree with idli batter.
• Pour it into molds and let it steam for 10-12 minutes.
• Now, Serve hot.

12. Cheese Idli:

Ingredients-

• Idli Batter – 1 Cup
• Grated Cheese – ½ Cup

Method-

• Mix well, grated cheese and idli batter.
• Pour it into molds and let it steam for 10 minutes.
• Now, Serve hot with Ketchup or chutney.

Some Tips To Make Perfect Idli:-

• To make soft and fluffy idli, always use fermented batter.
• If you are using an idli Cooker, then make sure to grease the molds lightly.
• For some instant variations like Rava idli, add a pinch of Fruit Salt (Eno) in it to get extra fluffiness.
• To enjoy the complete meal, always serve idli hot with Sambar, Coconut Chutney, or Tomato Chutney.

So, Are You Going To Try These Idli Variations At Home?

When it comes to one of the most healthiest and versatile Indian Breakfast then Idli’s name comes for sure. No matter if you prefer Classic idli recipe or an innovative version of idli like Beetroot idli or Cheese idli, there’s and idli type for everyone.

You can prepare these delicious homemade idlis with the help of Idli maker or Idli Cooker in just no time. So, try these at home and Enjoy!