Podi Idli recipe is the delicious evening snack for the kids. It can also be an amazing quick lunch for the working moms. We as a family love to eat podi idli for the breakfast too.

In my current blog, I would like to teach you the simple recipe of podi idli in less than 10 minutes. You will be happy to see the cooking method in the microwave and also using the idli cooker

If you are the lover of spicy food then this is the right place . However you can always adjust the spiciness accordingly to your preference. Let us get started with amazingly easy recipe.

Podi Idli recipe

Simply Spicy Podi Idli Recipe

I have always preferred to pack Podi idli in my lunch box to work during my busy days. I am sure you will feel full and it also makes a complete meal.  Podi idli goes well even without any side like sambar or chutney. Because the masala podi used gives required spiciness

Pre-Preparation Requirements of Podi Idli

Before we get into the actual recipe, it is  very important to know utensils and ingredients used. This has really helped me have my cooking very efficient and faster.

UTENSILS NEEDED

Idli Maker (Microwave Safe)

Idli Cooker

Grater to grate carrot

2 Bowls

Small Pan for preparing the tempering or tadka

Spoons or Spatula for mixing the ingredients

Grinder to grind the rice batter

TOTAL PREPARATION TIME

20 Minutes

COOKING TIME IN MICROWAVE

5 minutes in a microwave

COOKING TIME IN IDLI COOKER

10 minutes in a Idli cooker

Ingredients Required for Preparing Podi Idli

It’s always important to keep the ingredients ready at the beginning. This way you will have all the ingredients handy. Also there is no chances missing the ingredient.

RICE IDLI BATTER – 250 KG

QUANTITY OF INGREDIENTS for TEMPERING 

1 Pinch of Turmeric

1 Pinch of Asafoetida (Hing)

½ cup grated Carrot

5-6 Curry Leaves

Vegetable Oil – 2 Tablespoon

Mustard Seeds – ½ teaspoon

Complete Procedure for Podi idli Recipe

Preparing podi idli is super simple as it has very few ingredients. You will be surprised to see how quick the recipe is. You can pack delicious lunch box in no time

Transfer the rice idli batter to the bowl 

Take a bowl and add the required amount of rice idli batter to it. You can add little water to set the consistency of the batter.

Podi rava idli recipe

Heat Some Oil in a Pan for tempering or Tadka

In a small pan heat about one tablespoon of oil. Keep the flame on medium.

I used Light Oilve Oil. However, Coconut oil and groundnut oil are also some good options. In case you have none of these, use some refined oil or ghee (clarified butter).

Keeping the flame on medium heat, add mustard seeds once the oil is hot enough. Let the mustard seeds crackle.

Rava podi idli recipe

Add rest of tempering ingredients to the pan

Once the seeds have crackled, quickly add 5-6 curry leaves and a pinch of asafoetida into the oil. Remember, the flame is still on medium heat.

Increasing the flame can cause the tempering or tadka to burn.

After the above step, add half a cup of grated carrot into the pan. Also, add some salt.

Cook the mixture in the pan for about half a minute while constantly stirring it.

Switch off the flame and let the mixture cool down for a minute or two.

Rava podi idli recipe

Add the Tempering in the pan to the Rice idli batter

Add the tempering you have prepared in the steps above to the batter you had kept in the bowl. Mix the ingredients properly using a spoon

Podi Idil recipe

Add water to the batter to adjust consistency

If the batter is too thick, add water to make the consistency right. The batter should neither be too thick nor too thin.

Start by adding 1-2 tablespoons at a time.

rava podi idli recipe

Add a pinch of turmeric powder to the batter

Add half a pinch of turmeric powder to the rice idli batter. Adding turmeric powder to the batter gives your idlis a very beautiful light yellow colour.

Mix all the ingredients properly with the batter.

rava podi idli recipe

Easy Microwave Method for making Podi idli

If you have microwave in your kitchen, then podi idli is something you should definitely try. Let us get started with the basic procedure to cook podi idli in a microwave

Grease Idli Moulds

While the batter is ready, prepare your idli moulds to stand. I have used a microwave-safe idli maker. You can use the metal idli stands as well.

Take some oil in your fingers and grease the insides of the idli moulds. The oil will prevent the batter from sticking to the mould.

While I used olive oil to grease the moulds, you can also use ghee to grease them.

rava podi idli recipe

Pour the batter into the moulds

Take the batter and pour them into the idli moulds. While filling the moulds, make sure you keep a little space for the idlis to rise.

pour the batter into moulds

Fill water into idli maker or cooker or pan

Fill the cooker or container with some water. The water in the pan/ container/ cooker is to be filled in a way that the water does not touch the moulds directly.

fill water into idli maker

Place the idli stands in the cooker or container or pan

Carefully place the batter filled idli stands into the cooker/ container.

rava podi idli into moulds

Add the Idli Maker to the Microwave

Cover the container containing the filled idli stand with a lid. Covering the container is important as it helps prevent the steam from

escaping

rava podi idli

Set the timing at 5 minutes

For microwave cooking, set the timer at 5:00 for every batch.

rava podi idli

Remove the container from Microwave

Once the time is up, remove the idli maker from the microwave. Let the container cool for a minute or two before opening the lid.

rava podi idli

Remove the idlis into a bowl

Remove the idli stand from the container carefully and let the idlis cool down a little.

Now, carefully using your fingers, slide the idlis out of the moulds and transfer them into a bowl.

rava podi idli

Add Ghee to Idlis

Take about 1 tablespoon of ghee and sprinkle it on the idlis in the bowl. Mix them gently so that the idlis don’t break.

The ghee adds to the flavour and allows the podi masala to stick properly to the idlis.

rava podi idli

Add Podi Masala to the idlis

Now sprinkle Podi Masala to the idlis and mix them well. This too has to be done very gently.

You can either go for readymade Podi Masala or prepare your own at home.

People who want their podi idlis to be spicy can add half a tablespoon of red chilli powder along with the podi masala. This is completely optional.

add podi masala to idlis

Plate and Serve the Podi Idlis

Remove the idlis onto a plate and serve these delicious idlis with hot sambar or chutney or both. You can add is as a snack or for breakfast.

Podi Idli Recipe

Complete Cooker Method for Podi idli Recipe

If you dont have a microwave and still want to relish the yummy podi idli. Please follow the steps to easily make the podi idlis in ten minutes. I am sure you will enjoy making the podi idlis using the idli cooker

Grease Idli Moulds

While the batter is ready, prepare your idli moulds to stand. You can use the metal idli stands

Take some oil in your fingers and grease the insides of the idli moulds. The oil will prevent the batter from sticking to the mould.

While I used olive oil to grease the moulds, you can also use ghee to grease them.

podi idli recipe

Pour the batter into the moulds

Take the batter and pour them into the idli moulds. While filling the moulds, make sure you keep a little space for the idlis to rise.

Podi Idli recipe

Fill water into idli cooker 

Fill the cooker or container with some water. The water in the pan/ container/ cooker is to be filled in a way that the water does not touch the moulds directly.

Podi idli recipe

Place the idli stands in the cooker or container or pan

Carefully place the batter filled idli stands into the cooker/ container. If you are cooking it on the flame, you can use either use a cooker or a big pan to place the idli stands.

Podi Idli Recipe

Turn on the stove with the Idli Cooker 

Cover the container containing the filled idli stand with a lid. Covering the container is important as it helps prevent the steam from

escaping. Cook one batch for 10 minutes

Podi Idli Recipe

Remove the container from Cooker

Once the time is up, remove the idli maker from the Cooker. Switch off the gas.  Let the container cool for a minute or two before opening the lid.

Podi Idli Recipe

Remove the idlis into a bowl

Remove the idli stand from the container carefully and let the idlis cool down a little.

Now, carefully using your fingers, slide the idlis out of the moulds and transfer them into a bowl.

rava podi idli

Add Ghee to Idlis

Take about 1 tablespoon of ghee and sprinkle it on the idlis in the bowl. Mix them gently so that the idlis don’t break.

The ghee adds to the flavour and allows the podi masala to stick properly to the idlis.

rava podi idli

Add Podi Masala to the idlis

Now sprinkle Podi Masala to the idlis and mix them well. This too has to be done very gently.

You can either go for readymade Podi Masala or prepare your own at home.

People who want their podi idlis to be spicy can add half a tablespoon of red chilli powder along with the podi masala. This is completely optional.

add podi masala to idlis

Plate and Serve the Podi Idlis

Remove the idlis onto a plate and serve these delicious idlis with hot sambar or chutney or both. You can add is as a snack or for breakfast.

Podi Idli Recipe

Essential Tips for easy handling of Podi idli Recipe

There are many things I do in order to make my cooking better. I would love to share them with you. So you can have a trouble free cooking. I am sure you will find it useful.

1. Keep all the ingredients ready

Before you start cooking, keep all the ingredients in one place. This makes cooking more efficient and you won’t forget.

2. Remove all lumps from batter

If your batter has turned out to be lumpy, make sure you remove all the lumps using a whisk. If you do not have a whisk, use a spoon or fork to remove the lumps.

3. Do not overfill the idli moulds

Make sure 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.

4. Be watchful of the timer

When using a microwave for making idlis, be very mindful of the timer. Do not overcook the idlis or they will get hard.

5. Remove the idlis carefully

Once the idli is cooked, don’t remove it from the mould instantly. If you try that, the idlis may break. Leave it for a minute or two before removing them from the moulds. If you have difficulty removing the idlis, use a sharp object to loosen it from the edges of the idli mould.

6. Be Gentle while mixing the Podi

While mixing the Podi masala with idlis, be very gentle. Before you add your podi masala, let the idlis cool a little.

7. Prepare tempering on 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.

Hope you had a good experience leaning the Podi Idli recipe. You will enjoy making the Podi Rava Idli recipe also  as much as the current blog. Please leave your comments in the below section. I will be happy to answer.