What comes to your mind first, when you think of South Indian breakfast? Is it Idli, Dosa and the likes? I sometimes think Idli and Dosa enjoy a cult status. Btw, I do not have any problem with those items. In fact, when we go out for Indian breakfast we end up having Mini tiffin which has the whole works. I sometimes wonder why our Appam, Idiyappam and Puttu dont share the lime light with their South Indian Superstar counterparts? What can be the reason, you've any idea? Well, I'm stuck! I cant find any reason or is it that i dont want to accept the fact that my fav items arent popular?

I'm a true blue Mallu (as they call it these days) first and foremost when it comes to food tastes. I cant imagine myself cooking without coconut on a daily basis. Ok, let me clarify.. May be I can cook without Coconut, but I dont want to do that. I do get mails regularly asking for more recipes without Coconut, saying how it's not good for health. I look around and take a count of people whom I know who use coconut regularly, be it coconut milk, coconut oil and still living a healthy long life and I'm stumped! So is coconut the culprit? I really dont know! But at the same time, let me also say this… Common sense tells us anything in abundance is not good and that applies to our Coconut too.

Ok, now I really dont know how we got deviated to the topic of Coconut and it's pros and cons when we really want to talk about Idiyappam. So.. Idiyappam or Nool Puttu, as they call in some places, is one of my fav breakfast items! I love the fact that just like Puttu, Appam etc; Idiyappam also absorbs the flavour of the side dish it's served with and the whole combo is a delicious experience.

These days Idiyappam is made with brown rice flour and mostly without coconut citing health reasons. Let me tell you something… if you want to taste the real deal you go for the white rice flour Idiyappam with coconut, there is no comparison between the white n brown one, at least in my opinion. At home we usually add some sugar to the coconut and add to Idiyappam. I really love it… you can actually taste sweet juicy coconut, just thinking about it makes my mouth water, sigh!

Here's a list of side dishes that pairs well with Idiyappam.

Veg side dishes for Idiyappam: Green peas masala, Veg Stew, Kadala curry

Egg side dishes: Egg roast, Egg potato curry, Scrambled egg curry, Egg and Peas Kurma

Non veg side dishes: Chicken mappas, Restaurant style chicken curry, Chicken stew, Nadan beef curry, Fish molly

Here you go with the step by step pictures…

Combine salt and roasted rice flour. Add boiling water gradually and using a wooden spatula mix the dough… Add water till the dough comes together. Using your hands (be careful the dough can be very hot), knead together until you get a smooth and soft dough… Cover the dough with a wet cloth. Take small portions of dough and shape into a log and place it in the presser… Press each portion through Idiyappam mould or Idiyappam presser onto greased idli moulds or banana leaves. Steam for 7-9 mins on medium – high flame…

Idiyappam

Print Pin

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: Kerala Cuisine, South Indian Cusine

Servings: -4

Author: Maria Jose Martin

Ingredients

▢ 1.5 cups Roasted rice flour
▢ 1 1/4 – 1 1/2 cups Boiling water
▢ 1/2 – 3/4 cup Grated coconut
▢ Salt

Instructions

▢
Combine salt and roasted rice flour. Add boiling water gradually and using a wooden spatula mix the dough. Add water till the dough comes together. Using your hands (be careful the dough can be very hot), knead together until you get a smooth and soft dough. The dough should not be too tight and it should not be sticky also. Cover the dough with a wet cloth.
▢
Grease the top and bottom of idli moulds (refer notes). Sprinkle the grated coconut on these moulds.Take small portions of dough and press each portion through Idiyappam mould or Idiyappam presser onto greased idli moulds or banana leaves.
▢
Once the water starts boiling in the steamer, place the idli moulds and steam for 7-9 mins on medium – high flame. Keep the steamed closed for a min or two. Transfer the cooked Idiyappam to a serving plate. Serve hot with any curry of your choice.

Notes

The quality of rice flour is key to make soft Idiyappams. Make sure you get the best quality roasted rice flour.

Make sure that you keep the dough covered with a wet cloth all the time, it prevents the dough from drying out. If the dough is too tight, it would be difficult to press it.

I usually put grated coconut as a stuffing between the Idiyappams. You can also add some sugar to coconut and use that. Make sure that you grease the bottom of the idli moulds as well, it will prevent the Idiyappam from sticking if multiple idli moulds are used at a time. You can grease the idli moulds with coconut or any vegetable oil.

Make sure you use the dame flame throughout while steaming. I usually cook the idiyappams for 8 mins.

You can make this in advance and store in an airtight container in fridge for 2-3 days. Drizzle some water on refrigerated Indiyappam and microwave for 30-40 seconds before serving it.

Tried this recipe? Let others know by…mentioning @mariasmenu or tagging #mariasmenu

Have you tried these today?

15 thoughts on “Idiyappam”

sneha

May 21, 2015 at 4:44 pm

maria, i recently made iddiappam, but it did not come out soft as it should be..the strings tend to easily break and ws quite dry.. i used boiling water to knead the dough.. i used home made rice flour..wondering wat went wrong.
- Maria Jose
  
  June 4, 2015 at 9:51 am
  
  Hi Sneha,
  
  First of all apologies for the delayed reply.
  
  From your comment, I’m guessing, you used less water to make the dough and hence it was dry. It has happened to me also at times, when the dough is dry, it’s difficult to press it out and also it tends to break.
  
  Next time add more water and make sure the dough is smooth. Hope this helps..
  
  Cheers
  Maria
  - Complete Foodie
    
    May 5, 2016 at 3:19 pm
    
    Maria! i just want to try this! i bought idiyappam maker also! is der some process before using maker?
    - Maria Jose
      
      May 10, 2016 at 10:07 am
      
      :) Just wash it thorughly with warm water and dry completely before using. I’m not aware of any other procedure :) Hope you get to make and eat Idiyappam soon.
      
      Cheers
      Maria
Ancy Alexander

March 21, 2014 at 8:38 pm

hi Maria.. what is the brand of rice flour that you used to make these?
- Maria Jose
  
  March 31, 2014 at 7:01 am
  
  Hi Ancy,
  
  I use Nirapara Appam/Idiyappam podi (not the instant one)
  
  Cheers
  Maria
deepu panicker

February 3, 2014 at 12:49 am

Hi Maria,I am a true blue Mallu too.I just feel as if I had a very nice breakfast, taking my memories back to Trivandrum.
Well explained recipe and nice photographs!!
I am a trained chef,food photographer and I have just recently started blogging too. My website is ..http://www.saltandtamarind.net/
- Maria Jose
  
  February 6, 2014 at 4:58 am
  
  Hi Deepu,
  
  Thank you so much for your comment! Coming from a chef, your comment means a lot!
  
  Welcome to blogging and best wishes for your blog!
  
  Cheers
  Maria
  - deepu panicker
    
    February 6, 2014 at 3:43 pm
    
    Thank you, Maria.You truly inspire me!!! I admire your great work too.Please visit my blog and let me know your comments plss..http://www.saltandtamarind.net/
Anjali Reji

January 14, 2014 at 9:20 am

Maria, I made Idiyappams for the first time in my life on my 34th birthday (11th Jan) and it came out PERFECT. Though I am a true blue mallu, I’ve never had the courage to make it alone at home. I made it only because YOU posted it, your recipes and ingredient list are always fool proof. Thank you so much.
- Maria Jose
  
  January 22, 2014 at 6:59 am
  
  Hi Anjali,
  
  First of all belated b’day wishes to you. Hope you had a great day!
  
  Thank you so much for your wonderful comment, I was so excited and happy to see it :) It’s so touching to know that you trust the recipes here so much.
  
  Take care..
  
  Cheers
  Maria
Sangeetha Menon

January 6, 2014 at 10:14 am

oh my how much i love these love laces.. My favourite is nool puttu with spicy coconut chutney .. I can hog in plates of nool puttu with chicken curry , coconut milk and jaggery too. Maria you brought out the noolputtu praandi in me with this post
- Maria Jose
  
  January 13, 2014 at 4:34 pm
  
  Sangeetha, I’m also a noolouttu praandi like you :)
  
  Btw, I’m hearing chutney with idiyappam for the first time, I havent tried taht combo yet, a bit curious to know how it tastes..
  
  Wish you a wonderful year ahead!
  
  Cheers
  Maria
  - Shoba Nair
    
    January 17, 2014 at 12:16 pm
    
    Idiyappam with red chutney, thats how we have it. It tastes really good. You could also try idiyappam with potato & onion stew.
    - Maria Jose
      
      January 22, 2014 at 7:13 am
      
      k.. next time :) yeah we do have idiyappam with veg stew once in a while.