Rava idli with coconut chutney
Soft steamed semolina cakes with mustard seeds and curry leaves, ready in under an hour with no overnight fermenting.
- Time50 min
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £0.90 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Estimated nutrition per serving
- 336kcal
- 46.2gcarbs
- 7.1gof which sugars
- 11.7gfat
- 6.6gsaturates
- 11.5gprotein
- 3.9gfibre
- 2.4gsalt
A rough estimate worked out from the ingredients, for the serving size above. It is a guide only and not medical advice. If you count carbs or manage diabetes, check with your own tools and your care team.
Ingredients
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Method
- 1
Dry toast the semolina in a wide pan over a medium heat for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring, until it smells nutty and a shade darker. Tip it into a large bowl.
4 min 30 s - 2
Heat the oil in the same pan. Add the mustard seeds, and when they pop add the chana dal, curry leaves, chopped chilli and ginger. Fry for 1 minute. Stir into the semolina with the carrot, coriander and salt.
- 3
Beat the yoghurt with the water and stir into the semolina to make a thick, dropping batter. Leave it for 15 minutes so the semolina swells.
15 min - 4
Meanwhile make the chutney. Soak the coconut in 100 ml of hot water for 10 minutes, then blend with the chilli, ginger, yoghurt and salt until fairly smooth. Spoon into a bowl.
- 5
Grease idli moulds, or 12 silicone muffin cases set in a steamer. Stir the bicarbonate of soda into the batter and spoon it in straight away, filling each about three quarters full.
- 6
Steam over boiling water with the lid on for 12 minutes, until a skewer comes out clean. Leave for 2 minutes before lifting out.
12 min - 7
Serve warm with the coconut chutney.
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.
