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Instant Vegetable Rava Idli

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Instant Vegetable Rava Idli or Steamed semolina savory cakes are a healthy, filling, and easy breakfast or a lunch box recipe that can be made in 20-30 minutes.

Close up view of Instant Vegetable Rava Idli served in a green plate, with chutneys, podi and sesame oil.
Instant Vegetable Rava Idli

These idlis are made using cupboard staple ingredients. The vegetable part in this idlis can be anything. Basically whatever is available in your kitchen or the vegetable which is in season. Simply grate and add that to the batter. A delicious way to sneak in some veggies and a good way to incorporate color into your kid’s food. 

Ingredients used in Instant Vegetable Rava Idli

The main ingredient in this recipe is rava, sooji, suji or semolina as you call it. Semolina is derived from wheat and is available in coarse and fine textures. For such steamed recipes, like dhokla, upma, idli, sheera or halwa the coarse variety is used. Fine variety is used for cakes and porridge. At times upma or halwa is too made of fine variety.

I like to roast the rava and semolina and store them. Roasting helps in longer shelf life and also reduces the cooking time when you are making a recipe, as you might need to pre-roast the rava. I simply roast the rava in ghee (Clarified butter) and store it in an air-tight container.

Rava and semolina when used in idli or dhokla need to be hydrated before. That is it needs to be soaked. For this Instant Vegetable rava idli, I am using homemade yogurt, yogurt whey, and some water to soak it. Homemade yogurt has the added benefit of adding its natural sour taste to the idlis. One can use shop-bought too, but it would lack the sour taste.

Close up view of Instant Vegetable Rava Idli served in a green plate, with chutneys, podi and sesame oil.
Instant Vegetable Rava Idli

Vegetables to use in Instant Rava Idli

The next main ingredient is the vegetable. As said above one can use any vegetables in this Instant vegetable sooji idli. I like to use carrots, zucchini, pumpkin, bottle gourd, etc. for this Instant Rava idlis.

If you are using carrots or bottle gourd do add a bit of chopped coriander. It adds to taste and takes the idlis to the next level. 

Instant Carrot Rava Idli served on a white plate.
Instant Carrot Rava Idli

Other Ingredients used

As this is an instant batter, I am using a bit of fruit salt to help the idlis puff up. If you skip the fruit salt you might need to let the batter ferment for some time, or else the idlis might not puff up. If you are looking for idli without fruit salt or baking powder, check out this Oats and Dalia Idli (Oats and Broken Wheat Steamed Cakes) which does not use any leavening agent. 

Close up view of Inside Texture of Rava Zucchini Idli seen, with an Idli plate in background.
Inside Texture of Rava Zucchini Idli

The above ingredients would make your Instant Vegetable rava idlis. If you wish to jazz it up a bit further, you can make a tempering of mustard seeds, and curry leaves and add it to the batter. 

As said these Idlis are best for your morning breakfast and lunch box for you and your kids. I love to pack them for my kid’s lunch boxes and they enjoy it thoroughly. The best part I like about idlis or dhoklas is that they are steamed and needs less babysitting. Once they are in the steamer, hot and piping breakfast is ready in 10-15 minutes. 

Yes, there are many versions of Idlis, and if you follow my blog. One can make idlis Instant or with fermented batter. If you are struggling with how to ferment idli dosa batter, check out my detailed post which mentions the tips and tricks to ferment the idli dosa batter in cold climate.

Inside Texture of Carrot Rava Idli.
The texture of Carrot Rava Idli

Idli recipes on my blog

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Close up view of Instant Vegetable Rava Idli served in a green plate, with chutneys, podi and sesame oil.
Instant Vegetable Rava Idli
Instant Carrot Rava Idli served on a white plate.
Instant Carrot Rava Idli.

Recipe card

Close up view of Instant Vegetable Rava Idli served in a green plate, with chutneys, podi and sesame oil.

Instant Vegetable Rava Idli (Steamed Semolina Savory Cakes)

Instant Vegetable Rava Idli or Steamed semolina savory cakes are a healthy, filling, and easy breakfast or a lunch box recipe that can be made in 20-30 minutes.
4.92 from 12 votes
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Course: Breakfast, Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine: Indian, South Indian
Keyword: After school Snacks, Lunch Box, PartyFood, Steamed
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Resting Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 12 Idlis
Author: Renu Agrawal-Dongre

Ingredients

  • 1 Cup Roasted Semi Coarse Semolina Rava
  • 2 tbsp Curd
  • Chopped Green chilly to taste
  • 1 tbsp Chopped Coriander
  • 1/2 Cup Grated Carrot / Zucchini Or vegetable of your choice
  • Salt to taste
  • 1/2 tsp Fruit Salt Eno
  • ½-1 Cup Water more or less may be required
  • Oil for greasing Idli molds
  • Water for steaming

For Tempering

  • 1 tsp Vegetable Oil
  • 1/2 tsp Mustard Seeds Rai
  • 1/2 tsp Cumin Seeds Jeera
  • 7-8 Curry leaves

Instructions

Preparing the batter for Idlis

  • Roast the Semolina in some ghee (clarified butter) or oil, if not already roasted. Let it cool.
    1 Cup Roasted Semi Coarse Semolina
    Roasted rava.
  • Once cool, in a wide bowl add the Semolina, salt, and curd.
    Salt to taste, 2 tbsp Curd
    Adding yogurt to semolina.
  • Add the whey from the curd and water.
    ½-1 Cup Water
    Adding yogurt whey and water to semolina.
  • If whey is not available simply replace it with water. I had to add around ¾ cup of water to 1 cup of Rava. Water quantity might differ depending on the texture of rava.
  • Mix everything. Do not too much water, we want a semi-thick / dropping consistency batter, not runny.
    The ready batter for semolina Idli.
  • Also when you add vegetables it will release some water.
  • Let the rava/semolina soak for 10 minutes.
  • In the meantime grate the vegetables.
  • Grease the Idli molds and keep the water for boiling in the Idli vessel or in a wide vessel big enough for the Idli molds.
  • After 10 minutes, add the vegetables.
    Adding Zucchini to batter.
  • If using carrots or bottle gourd adds chopped coriander too.
    1/2 Cup Grated Carrot / Zucchini, 1 tbsp Chopped Coriander
  • Add green chili if using and give a quick mix.
    Chopped Green chilly to taste

Tempering for the batter (Optional)

  • In a small pan, add Oil.
    1 tsp Vegetable Oil
  • once hot, add the mustard seeds.
    1/2 tsp Mustard Seeds
  • Once they splutter add Cumin seeds and Curry leaves.
    1/2 tsp Cumin Seeds, 7-8 Curry leaves
  • Add this mix to the batter.

Steaming the Idlis

  • Grease the idli molds
    Oil for greasing Idli molds
  • Start the steamer with enough water.
    Water for steaming
  • Just before steaming, add the fruit salt and a tablespoon of water over the fruit salt.
    1/2 tsp Fruit Salt
    Adding Eno to batter,
  • Mix everything and adjust the water consistency if required. Do not add too much water, we want a semi-thick / dropping consistency batter, not runny.
    Adding water to eno or fruit salt.
  • Add the batter to the greased Idli molds and keep the Idli molds steaming for 12 minutes.
  • Do not overfill the molds. Leave some space or else the top plate will touch the bottom and you might not get a uniform idli. See pic below.
    Idlis Just steamed.
  • Remove after 12 minutes. Let it rest on the counter for 1 min.
  • With the help of a spoon, remove the Idlis. Gently slide the spoon underneath the idli and it would come off easily.
    Idlis Just steamed.
  • Serve it with chutney or tea for breakfast, or pack it in your kid’s or your office lunchboxes.
    Instant Rava Zucchini Idli served in Lunchbox.

Notes

  • Standard US Size cups and spoons are used. 1 cup = 237 ml, 1 teaspoon = 5 ml
  • Vegans can use vegan curd
 
 
Tried this recipe?Share your feedback @cookwithrenu_ad or tag #cookwithrenu_ad
Disclaimer: I am not a nutritionist. The nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. It varies depending upon the product types or brands.

Updates

This post was first published on 5-Oct-2018. It was earlier meant for only Instant Carrot Rava Idli. Today I am updating the recipe with more veggie options. The title name and URL are changed. I am adding a few more pics and Sharing this with Foodies_RedoingOldPost.

Foodies_RedoingOldPost

Earlier I shared this with Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing this BM#93

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Recipe Rating




kalyani

Monday 10th of October 2022

While I usually make the usual plain Rava Idli, the husband loves a LOT of veggies in his version of this Rava idli when he makes them. these look truly inviting, and esp the cute terracota serveware

Jayashree T Rao

Saturday 1st of October 2022

Love these vegetable rava idlis. The addition of zucchini is quite new to me. I usually add carrot and onions.

Seema Sriram

Wednesday 28th of September 2022

The rava idlies are not just breakfast, they tick the lunch box deal, the evening snack the instant dinner and many other boxes. I love the ease of making them.

Priya Vj

Tuesday 27th of September 2022

Love rava idlis anytime.this is my go to recipe when I am struggling to find a filling and tasty breakfast. Haven't added zucchini so far but like yiu carrots I add normally..wil try with zucchini when I get them fresh .

Valie

Wednesday 16th of February 2022

Hi... what is the estimated calorie count for this recipe? and is it good for cholesterol patients?

Renu Agrawal Dongre

Wednesday 16th of February 2022

Sorry I do not give calorie count, but there are many available online for free to calculate. I am not a doctor or a nutritionist so I would say it is better to consult your dietitian/nutritionist or doctor if it is safe to consume for cholesterol patients.