#BlogchatterA2Z-“I”- Idli with a healthy twist for you and your family!

April 9, 2020 /

It is week 2 of #BlogchatterA2Z and we had reached on alphabet “I”.

When I had thought about any healthy recipe or ingredient that starts with “I”, the first recipe that came in my mind was “Idli”.

Yes, our very own traditional south Indian recipe idli that is usually served with another healthy recipe vegetable stew “Sambhar”.

So, in this post we will do a healthy makeover of routine idli recipe and I will share few ideas to make idli healthier and interesting.

Three exciting healthy makeover of “idli”

Colorful and healthy idli

I am sure you had already heard or tried this recipe for your kid’s lunch box. Making colorful idles with veg purees is the easiest way to add extra nutrition to normal idli. And it looks more tempting too.

So, for making this, we will need:

Ingredients

Idli batter (routine)- 2 cup
Beetroot 1
Carrot 1
Spinach bunch of leaves

Method

First, we will prepare the veg purees.
For making this, boil the water and blanch or steam the vegetables for few minutes.
after blanching, wait for few minutes. Then add little water and grind this in grinder. Your vegetable puree will be ready in no time. Read this post to know detail instructions about how to make vegetable puree.
Now, take prepare idli batter. You can use ready-made batter or can prepare idly batter at home. Read this post to know how to make idli batter at home .
Divide the idli batter into three parts and add beetroot puree in first part, carrot in second part and add spinach puree in the third part.
Steam the idli for 15-20 minutes (just like we make in routine)
Check it by inserting a knife, when cooked properly. Turn off the gas,
And after getting cool down, take out idli from idli mold. Your healthy and colorful idli is ready to eat.

Oats idli

This is another easy to make idli healthier. Oats is a complex carbohydrate and one of the healthy grains that offers so many nutritional benefits to our health. normal idli is made with either rice or with semolina. We can make a healthier version by changing it to oats. For making oats idli, you will need:

Ingredients

Oats 1 cup
Finey chopped vegetables (like carrots, cucumber) 1 cup
Semolina 1 cup
Curd 1 cup
Oil 1-2 teaspoon
Urad dal, curry leaves, mustard seeds for tempering.

Method

First take oats in a pan and roast it for few minutes.
Then grind this in a grinder and make a coarse powder of it.
Keep this aside, and now, take oil in a pan and add tempering( urad dal or split black gram, curry leaves and mustard seeds)
After spluttering, add 1 cup semolina in it. And roast this for few minutes.
Then add finely chopped vegetables in it and again roast this for few minutes.
Take out this mixture into a bowl and then mixed this with prepare oats powder.
Now, take curd and mixed in the batter.
Next, add the eno or baking soda and give a soft mix to batter.
Pour batter in idli mold and put steamer on heat for 15-20 minutes.
Check once and when it gets cooked properly.
Turn off the gas and take out idli from molds.
Your healthy and tasty oats idli are ready to serve.

Stuffed idli

This one is another healthy and interesting version of routine idli.

Prepare stuffing as per your taste and preference. Here are some options that taste well, like potato stuffing (similar to masala dosa stiffing) or mixed vegetable stuffing. you can be creative with this step and can try different stuffing as per your taste and prefernce.
Now, take the prepare idli batter and spread the one layer from it on greased mold.
Next, take stuffing and spread next layer with this. Keep remember the layer should not be much thick.
Now, spread again a layer from idli batter.
Stream the idli for 15-20 minutes and when done, turn off the gas.
Serve hot stuff idli with any of your favorite dip.

So, these are some ideas to make the healthier version of routine idli recipes.

Which one you liked most? Please share!

This is all for now, stay tuned for the next post.

Will share another healthy recipe in the next post.

If you had missed previous posts of this series. Click here:

read the first post ( if you had missed) Amaranth Paratha

Read the second post Barnyard millet khichdi

Read third post Chickpea salad with carrot soup

Read fourth post Dal Dhokli

Read fifth post Energy Buddha Bowl

Read sixth post Fenugreek (Methi) Thepla

Seventh post Green (Spinach) chapati with bottle gourd curry