When MTR does such a great job of producing a great instant rava idli mix, you may ask why I even bother with a from-scratch rava idli recipe.
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp channa dal
1 tbsp chopped cashews
1/4 tsp hing
2 tbsp oil
2.5 cups curd / plain yogurt
1 tsp Eno fruit salt (secret ingredient for spongy rava idlis)
A handful finely chopped coriander leaves
Salt to taste
How I Made It:
1. Heat oil in a pan and add the mustard seeds and chana dal.
2. Once the mustard seeds pop and the chana dal starts turning golden brown, add the hing and cashews. Fry until the cashews start turning golden brown.
3. Now add the rava and fry till it turns golden brown (a lot of golden-brown-turning needs to happen in this recipe), approximately 5-7 mins. Add salt (regular, not eno), mix well, and let it cool.
4. Then add 1 cup of curds to the dry mixture and mix well. Let it rest covered for 10 mins. Add the rest of the curds and mix well ( it should be little thicker than idli batter). Add the Eno fruit salt and mix well. Ladle the batter into idli moulds. Steam in an idli maker or pressure cooker for 10-12 mins (without weight). Allow it to cool and unmould.
PS: Excuse the picture quality. This was dinner on Saturday and I didn’t have the patience to set up the light box.
My cutie pie really loves this a lot. Whenever we go out she demands for this when she is hungry. Loved your version Nags.
These really look like one of those Sarvana Bhawans dishes 🙂 Lovely color and beautiful texture of the Idlies, Nags
So soft and spongy idlies looks fabulous..
Once I made rava idli at home and served to my DH..his reaction…it tastes like steamed upma 🙁 so from then on I had been stuck to MTR…Your version sounds simple to make and looks good too..would try this out.
Freshly home made idlis can not b beaten by ready mixes..I will never buy the ready mix ones as I always love home made ones..urs look yumm
Hubby dear loves idlis for breakfast…so often we are off to South Indian restaurants in the morning…Your recipe is giving me some confidence to try it at home, for the first time…:)Thanks for motivating me with your recipe and pictures.
They look just like the MTR idlis–I mean in a good way!
I hear you have rava idli recipe on your blog Raks? Going to check that out now!
Perfect texture n tempting rava idlis…
haha yes, i take that as a compliment 🙂 i usually use the MTR mix but had run out a few weeks back and never managed to get to the Indian store to stock up. The eno salt really pushed me in the right direction to try this 🙂