Instant breakfast · 30 minutes
Rava Idli Recipe (Instant Semolina Idli)
Roast rava. Rest 20 minutes. Fruit salt last.
Recipe by Farwa ZeeshanTested in the NineFoods home kitchenRava idli is an instant idli made from semolina and yogurt. It turns dense when the rava is not rested or the raising agent goes in too early. The fix is roasting the rava, resting it with yogurt for 20 minutes, and stirring in Eno just before steaming.
The 3 laws of rava idli
Why this recipe works
Raw rava
Nutty and not sticky.
Steam at once
Rava swells.
Early Eno
Bubbles fade if left.
Shopping and prep list
Ingredients
Batter
The NineFoods rava gauge
Is the batter the right thickness?
Lift a spoonful after resting.
Method · 3 stages
Step by step
Roast and temper
- Temper mustard, dals, curry leaves, chillies, ginger and cashews in oil.
- Add rava and roast until fragrant.
Rest
- Cool, mix with yogurt, water and salt.
- Rest 20 minutes.
Steam
- Stir in Eno, pour into moulds at once.
- Steam 12 minutes and rest 3.
Chef's troubleshooter
What went wrong? Pick the symptom
Why
Eno old or added early.
Fix next time
Add fresh Eno right before steaming.
Why
Under-steamed.
Fix next time
Steam 2 more minutes.
Why
Batter too thick.
Fix next time
Add water to a flowing consistency.
Why
Old yogurt.
Fix next time
Use fresh yogurt.
Swap smart
Ingredient roles and substitutes
| Ingredient | Job in the dish | Swap with |
|---|---|---|
| Rava | Base | Coarse rava, rest 30 minutes |
| Eno | Lift | Baking soda plus a little lemon |
| Yogurt | Tang and softness | Buttermilk |
| Cashews | Crunch | Skip |
After the meal
Serve, store, reheat
Serve with
Coconut chutney and sambar.
Store
Fridge 2 days.
Reheat
Steam 3 minutes.
How we tested this recipe
Tested in a home kitchen, not a studio
Recipe developed and tested by Farwa Zeeshan, who cooks and tests every NineFoods recipe on a regular home stove.
- Cooked from start to finish with the exact quantities above for 4 servings, using both the metric and US cup measures.
- Every one of the 3 stages was timed at the stove; heat levels and the 'look for' cues are what we saw in the pan.
- The doneness check (is the batter the right thickness) and the troubleshooter come from batches that went wrong, and how we fixed them.
- Reheating and storage advice was checked on leftovers, not guessed.
Keep cooking
Related recipes and guides
Quick answers
Rava Idli FAQ
Does rava idli need fermentation?
No, it rises with Eno or baking soda.
Why is my rava idli hard?
The batter was too thick or the Eno was old.
Can I use baking soda instead of Eno?
Yes, half a teaspoon with a squeeze of lemon.
How long should rava rest?
About 20 minutes.