Oats and Dalia Idli is a healthy, steamed Instant breakfast or a snack made using oats, broken wheat and a few vegetables. These Idlis are a great idea for a lunch box or for your picnics.

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No Eno, No Baking Soda, No Fermentation Idli
This idli does not need any fermentation and does not contain any leavening or rising agent like baking soda or eno. Yes, I have not even added eno to this as generally is the case in Instant Idli. One reason being I am not adding any type of flour to this Idli. The batter is just combined with enough liquid and allowed to steam in an Idli mould. As you can see the idlis come out soft and fluffy.
The first main Ingredient Dalia/Broken Wheat/Bulgar Wheat
These idlis are also quite filling as it has oats and Dalia. Dalia means Broken wheat or Bulgar wheat. It helps to keep one full for longer. Made using milling raw wheat and is highly nutritious. It has a nutty taste and is believed to be good for new moms.

The Second main Ingredient Oats
Oats is another healthy grain and is mostly consumed as breakfast in the form of oatmeal. They are believed to lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels. It is also naturally gluten-free but the way it is processed at times is contaminated, so gluten intolerants need to be careful from where they source.
Recipe process of Oats and Dalia Idli
So coming to today’s Idli recipe. The recipe is quite simple and can be customized as required. Like I have added green peas and carrots here, but one can add any veggies. Like any green veggies like spinach or kale would go well, peas can be replaced with corn.

You can see that the Idli has a coarse texture that is due to Dalia. I use the coarse variety of broken wheat and not the fine variety. If required you can process the dalia/broken wheat in a processor for a few seconds, as I did for Oats.
I saute the vegetables in a bit of oil and spices, but one can skip this step and add the veggies directly to the oats and dalia mixture. Yoghurt or sour curd is used to give a slight taste to it. Vegans can replace it with vegan yoghurt or completely skip it.
We enjoyed this Idli with some Celery Chutney and hot pepper and Jeera rasam. I have followed the recipe of Rasam from Sujata ji’s blog, Pepper on Pizza.

Few more Idli recipes on my blog
- Split Green Moong Dal Idli | No Rice Idli
- Bajra Idli (Steamed Pearl Millet Savoury Cakes)
- Instant Ragi Idli | Steamed Savory Ragi Cakes
- Ragi Idli using whole Ragi seeds (Vegan & Gluten-Free)
- Instant Carrot Semolina (Rava) Idli | Steamed Carrot Semolina Cakes
- Palak Paneer Stuffed Idli | Steamed Spinach & Cottage Cheese Cakes
Recipes with Broken Wheat
Recipes with Oats
- Buckwheat Oats Cookies (Eggless, GF, Nut-Free)
- Vegan Baked Oats and Vegetable Bites
- Sugarless Cacao Oats Breakfast Smoothie
- Wholemeal and Oats Carrot Crackers
- Oats Chivda | Spicy Oats Trail Mix
- Savory 10 minutes Vegetable Oats Upma
- Oats and Green Dal Chila (Pan Cake)
- Oats Vegetable Chila (Savory PanCake)
- Beet Root and Oats Cookies
- Oats Paratha
- Apple Granola Overnight Oats
- Breakfast Spelt and Oats Muffins

Oats and Dalia Idli
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3/4 Cup Dalia
- 1/2 Cup Oats
- 2 tablespoon of Sour curd/yogurt
- 1/2 Cup grated carrot
- 1/4 cup green peas
- 1/4 teaspoon Mustard seeds -Rai
- 1/4 teaspoon Cumin seeds -Jeera
- 1/4 teaspoon of Urad dal
- 1 green chilli finely chopped -Optional
- 1 teaspoon of freshly grated ginger
- Salt
- ¼ Cup Water – more may be required
- 1 teaspoon ghee or oil -Optional
- 1 teaspoon oil + oil for greasing Idli moulds
- A large pot filled with 2 cups of water -Idli stand should fit inside it or Idli Stand and pot
Instructions
- Dry roast the oats. Once cooled, grind it coarsely.1/2 Cup Oats
- Dry roast Dalia too or you can roast it with ghee or oil.3/4 Cup Dalia, 1 teaspoon ghee or oil
- One can grind the dalia too coarsely if required.
- To a pan add oil. Once hot add mustard seeds and cumin. (One can even add curry leaves).1/4 teaspoon Mustard seeds, 1/4 teaspoon Cumin seeds, 1 teaspoon oil + oil for greasing Idli moulds
- Once they crackle add urad dal ,green chillies and ginger. Saute until golden brown.1/4 teaspoon of Urad dal, 1 green chilli finely chopped, 1 teaspoon of freshly grated ginger
- Add the grated carrot.1/2 Cup grated carrot, 1/4 cup green peas
- Add peas and let it cook for 2-3 minutes stirring in between.
- Add the dalia and oats to the above mix and roast it for 2-3 minutes.
- Mix and it Let it cool for 5 minutes.
- After 5 minutes, add curd, salt and just enough water. Do not make the batter too runnySalt, ¼ Cup Water, 2 tablespoon of Sour curd/yogurt
- Keep it aside for 10-15 minutes. The dalia and oats will soak the water. One can add more water if required. The batter should not be runny, just of dropping consistency.
- In a large pot or your idli steamer add 2-3 glasses of water.A large pot filled with 2 cups of water
- Just enough that it would be able to boil for 10-15 minutes without completely evaporating or burning the vessel from the bottom.
- Switch on the stove and allow the water to boil.
- In the meantime, grease the idli mould with a bit of oil. A drop of oil per mould is sufficient.
- Pour the batter into the moulds. Around 2-3 tablespoons per mould. Do not overfill the mould.
- Once the water is boiled we are ready to steam the idlis.
- Put the Idli in the steamer and let the idli’s steam for a minimum of 12-15 minutes or until a knife or a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- After 12-15 minutes remove the idlis from the steamer.
- Let the idli’s cool for a minute or two before demolding. Do not rush or else it sticks on the mould. You would be able to remove the idlis nice and clean if you allow it to rest for 1-2 minutes.
- Use a spoon to remove the idli
Notes
- Standard US Size Cups used
- Instead of Idli moulds, one can use silicone cups or bowls
Updates
This post first appeared on my blog on April 30, 2019. Today, 17th September 2021 I am updating the contents and pics with more details.
Pallavi
Thursday 21st of July 2022
Great recipe, no soda or eno. I made it several times. Thanks
Renu Agrawal Dongre
Monday 25th of July 2022
Thank you for your feedback. Glad you liked it. If you can please rate the recipe too. thank You
Kalyani
Saturday 2nd of October 2021
What a great idea to make Rice / Urad free Idlis. I have a large pack of Dalia now (used to make pongal frequently), but this Idli is a smashing good idea !
Seema Sriram
Wednesday 29th of September 2021
We are getting back to work and this will be a handy recipe for the weeknights dinner and the leftovers for lunchbox the next day. I love the bright colour of this idly.
Azlin Bloor
Wednesday 22nd of September 2021
This is such a great combination and idea for idlis, Renu. I love all the spices that are going in the recipe and can just imagine how addictive they must be!
Renu Agrawal Dongre
Wednesday 22nd of September 2021
Thank you, They are addictive and healthy.
Mayuri Patel
Wednesday 22nd of September 2021
Renu like the variety of idlis you come up with. This oats and dalia idli is so healthy and like how it appears fluffy without the addition of Eno or baking soda. An instant idli recipe, ideal for brunch with veggies added to it.
Renu Agrawal Dongre
Wednesday 22nd of September 2021
Thank You.