Sri Lankan string hoppers (idiyappam)
Delicate steamed nests of rice noodles, soft and light, made for soaking up coconut curries.
- Time40 min
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £0.26 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
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Method
- 1
Put the rice flour and salt in a bowl. Stir in the oil, then pour in the boiling water bit by bit, mixing with a spoon.
- 2
When cool enough to touch, knead for 2 minutes to a soft smooth dough that is not sticky.
- 3
Cut 16 small squares of baking paper. Fill a potato ricer or a noodle press with the dough.
- 4
Press the dough in a spiral onto each paper square to make a small nest of fine strings.
- 5
Steam the nests in a steamer for 8 minutes until they look dry and set. Work in batches.
8 min - 6
Serve warm with dhal, curry and sambol.
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.