Making Spinach Idli is the one of the simplest and easy breakfast recipes which is protein rich and healthy food. If you are a person who is health conscious and this is a must try recipe as it is a nutritious. light and yet a complete meal
In my current blog, I would like share the healthy breakfast recipe which is very quick and easy to make. Once you master the making of spinach puree, rest can be done so effortlessly. It can be served as breakfast , snack and also for dinner.
Spinach idli is a dish which will be liked by all generations and can go well in your kids snacks box as well. So you can easily impress your loved ones by preparing the super fast and easy spinach idli.
How easy is making of spinach idli
Its a beautiful combination of the spinach puree and the idli batter.It has the goodness of both the spinach and the steamed rice cakes. The aromatic spinach puree is super simple to make and mixing with the idli batter brings out the magical breakfast.
Utensils and the time required in making spinach idli
It is very important to know what are the utensils needed, how much time you need to cook. This way you can plan your cooking much better and enjoy a stress free cooking.
| UTENSILS NEEDED
Idli Cooker Mixer jar 1 Bowl to mix the idli batter Small Pan for preparing the tempering Spatula for frying the ingredients |
| TOTAL PREPARATION TIME
15 Minutes |
| COOKING TIME FOR Spinach puree
5 minutes |
| IDLI COOKING TIME IN IDLI COOKER
10 minutes in a Idli cooker |
What are the ingredients required for making spinach idli
The most important ingredient is the spinach. Once this is available I am sure you must be having all the rest of the ingredients easily available at home. However we would still have a list and keep them ready
| RICE IDLI BATTER – 2 Cups
QUANTITY OF INGREDIENTS for Spinach Puree Mustard Seeds – ½ teaspoon Urad Dal (black lentils) – 1/2 teaspoon (optional) 1 Pinch of Turmeric 1 cup – Spinach leaves Onions chopped – 1 cup Vegetable Oil – 2 Tablespoon Salt to taste 1 Green Chili chopped |
Step by Step Procedure in making Spinach idli
Now that we have understood the ingredients used and the time required to make spinach idli. Let us get started with the step by step procedure of the spinach ldli. You will be surprised to see how healthy this breakfast recipe can turn into. Just by simply adding spinach puree. I am sure you and your family would like to eat spinach idli breakfast often to have a complete meal.
Take a bowl of rice idli batter
You can use the rice idli batter thats available at home. Take a large bowl because you need to add the spinach mixture also.
Transfer two cups of idli batter to the large bowl and add little water to adjust consistency of the batter.
Make sure you mix the batter well to ensure there are no lumps in the batter.
Chop the spinach and onions
Take one cup of spinach and one cup of onions. Cut them to fine pieces using a knife
Heat the frying pan
Take a medium sized frying pan. Place it on the stove and turn on the gas. Keep it in medium flame always.
Add 2 tablespoon of vegetable oil. I always use virgin coconut oil or ground nut oil. You may use any vegetable oil.
Add Green chilli and onions
Now its time to add the cut green chillies and saute well. Then add the finely cut onions as well and saute them together
Saute the spinach along with onions and chillies with tumeric
Add the spinach to the sauted onions and green chilli with a pinch of turmeric powder Spinach gets cooked really fast and softens sooner in the pan
Cook the spinach for 2 mins
You must keep the pan on low flame and leave it to cook for 2 mins.
Now the spinach mixture cooked enough to be added to the idli batter.
Make Spinach Puree
Now allow the spinach mix to cool for sometime and transfer to a mixer along with the green chillie. Grind the spinach to a smooth paste.
Do not add water to the mixer while grinding. When you add this puree to the idli batter, the consistency of the batter becomes runny if
there is excess water.
Mix the spinach puree to idli batter
You must now add the spinach puree to the large bowl of idli batter.
Mix it well with a ladle. You must ensure that spinach puree is mixed well evenly in the idli batter.
Now the idli batter turns to a beautiful green color.Once the idli is cooked at the end, spinach puree will give a beautiful attractive color
Heat the tadka pan
Take a medium sized frying pan. Place it on the stove and turn on the gas. Keep it in medium flame always.
Add 2 tablespoon of vegetable oil. I always use virgin coconut oil or ground nut oil. You may use any vegetable oil.
Add the Mustard seeds , Urad Dal (Black lentils)
Once the oil is heated, add 1/2 teaspoon of mustard seeds and 1/2 teaspoon of urad dal. Make sure the flame it not too high as it may burn the tempering ingredients.
Add tempering to the spinach idli batter
Now add all the tempering ingredients to the spinach idli batter and mix well ensure the tempering is spread evenly.
You must now use the spinach idli batter to make the idlis.
Add water to the idli cooker
Take the stainless steel idli cooker and add one cup of water to the bottom of the cooker.
Dont add too much of water in the idli cooker as the water may boil over the idli while it is cooking
Grease the stainless steel Idli Moulds
You can use clarified butter or ghee, or any vegetable oils to the grease the stainless idli moulds.
Apply the grease or pour few drops of oil in the moulds , then spread the oil to the moulds.
Use ladle to add spinach idli batter to the greased moulds
You must now use the ladle to take the spinach idli batter and slowly fill the greased idli moulds.
Please ensure that you do not fill the idli mould to the brim.
After steaming, the idlis will rise, so, make sure you leave a little space for them to rise. Ideally, you should fill a little over three fourth of the idli mould.
Place the stainless steel Idli Moulds in the idli cooker
You must carefully place the idli stand after filling the batter into the idli cooker.
Place the idli cooker on the stove and turn on the stove
Cook the spinach idlis for ten mins
Cook the idlis for altleast ten minutes.
You must sure that the cover the lid well. If not the steam will escape from the cooker and the idli might not cook well
Make sure idli is cooked well
After ten minutes, you can use a knife or fork to poke into the idlis to check if they are cooked well.
With a well cooked idli, the knife or the fork will come out clean.
Remove the stainless steel Idli Moulds
When you are sure that the idlis are cooked well. Allow it to cool for sometime otherwise you will burn your hands while removing the idlis.
When the idlis are cool, remove them and take it in a bowl
Serve the warm and tasty green spinach idlis
The tasty and colorful green idlis are ready to be served. Serve it with spicy peanut chutney and it will taste yummy.
You can also serve it with hot delicious sambar as well.
Prime Tips for making spinach idli effortlessly
I have always follow the tips for error free cooking even for the simplest dishes. You must make sure to follow the key tips which i am sharing from my own cooking experience. This will ensure you to enjoy the whole cooking process.
1. Keep all the utensils and Ingredients ready before cooking
Before you start cooking, keep all the utensils in one place. This makes cooking more smooth and you won’t run around looking for them. You will not miss adding any ingredients when you have them ready
2. Make sure your idli batter is not too thick
It is always important to have the right consistency for the idli batter. It should not be too runny or too thick. Its too thick, the idlis might get hard. If the batter is thick you can adjust the consistency by adding water.
3. Do not use idli batter which is refrigerated for longer period
Please try to use fresh idli batter or maximum of 3 days old batter . If you use the long refrigerated batter , your idli can be hard. Ensure you to have as fresh as possible to get soft and fluffy idlis
4. Use right amount of water in idli cooker
Pour only right amount of water to the idli cooker . Dont add too much of water in the idli cooker as the water may spill over the idli while it is cooking. This will make your idli soggy .
5. Grease idli moulds
You must ensure to grease your idli moulds with butter or vegetable oil. Otherwise when the idli is cooked, it will not come off easily from the idli moulds. Idlis will be sticking to moulds and will be hard to remove them.
6. Make sure idli is cooked well
After ten minutes, you can use a knife or fork to poke into the idlis to check if they are cooked well. With a well cooked idli, the knife or the fork will come out clean.
7. Ensure to cook spinach mixture of medium flame
Always cook the spinach mixture in the medium flame, This will ensure that the spinach is not burnt or overcooked. Overcooking of any vegetables will lose its nutrients.
8. Make sure to prepare tempering in medium flame
Always prepare the tempering for the idli on a medium flame. If you keep it at a high flame, the tempering will burn and give your idlis a bitter taste.
9. Make sure idli is not very salty
You can either add the salt in the idli batter or in the spinach mixture. You can also add little amount in both idli batter and spinach mixture. But adding right amount in idli batter and spinach mixture seperately will make your spinach idli salty
10. Wash your hands after cutting chillies
This is one of the most important tips i would like to share to ensure you have pleasant cooking . Please wash your hands immediately after cutting the green chillies. Otherwise your hands will start burning and doesn’t go off atleast 45 minutes.
I am sure you must have an awesome experience learning this colorful breakfast. I am sure your family ,especially your kids would love to eat as its visually so appealing and tasty too. Please let me know your experience in the section below and I will be happy to hear.