Oats idli is a healthy and nutritious variation of traditional South Indian idli made with oats instead of rice. It is a perfect breakfast option for those looking to add more fiber and nutrients to their diet. Oats idli is easy to make and can be enjoyed with coconut chutney, sambar, or any other side dish of your choice.
Oats Idli is a quick, wholesome twist on the classic—made with coarsely ground oats and lightly roasted rava for a soft, fluffy texture. A fragrant tempering of mustard seeds, urad dal, chana dal, crushed pepper-cumin, green chilies, ginger, and curry leaves is mixed in, then the batter is brought together with beaten curd and rested briefly (just 5–10 minutes). A final boost of cooking soda activated with a splash of water helps the idlis rise beautifully. Steam the batter over golden fried cashews in well-greased plates for 8–10 minutes (only after the cooker water is vigorously boiling) for warm, spiced, nutty idlis that pair perfectly with chutney or sambar.
Oats Idli Recipe
Oats Idli
This flavored idli is made with cooking oats and garnished with spices and pepper.
4
servings10
minutes10
minutesIngredients
Oats – One and half cups
Rawa – 1 cup
Curd – 2 cups
Salt – 1 Teaspoon Or As Per Taste
Cooking Soda – 2 pinches Or Eno Fruit Salt (Regular) – 1/2 teaspoon
- For seasoning:
Oil – 4 to 5 teaspoons
Mustard – 1/2 Teaspoon
Urad Dhal – 1 Teaspoon
Bengal gram dhal – 1 teaspoon
Pepper and Jeera – Crushed coarsely 1 teaspoon
Green chillies – 2 to 3
Fresh ginger – a small piece chopped finely
Curry Leaves – Few
Cashew nuts – few (Optional)
Directions
- Slightly crush the pepper and cumin seeds.
- Place the oats in a mixer jar and grind them for one or two rounds to make a coarse powder.
- In a thick-bottomed pan, heat a teaspoon of ghee and fry the cashew nuts until golden brown. Remove and set aside.
- In the same pan, add oil. When hot, add mustard seeds, urad dal, Bengal gram dal, crushed pepper and cumin, chopped green chilies, ginger, and curry leaves. Fry until the dals turn light brown.
- Add the rava to the seasoning and fry for a few seconds until it is warm to the touch.
- Add the oats powder and fry for a few more seconds.
- Remove from heat, let it cool, and add salt.
- Add beaten curd and soak for only 5 to 10 minutes. If necessary, add a little water to achieve idli batter consistency.
- Sprinkle the cooking soda on top of the idli batter and pour one tablespoon of water over it. Then mix well.
- Pour water into the idli cooker and bring it to a boil. Grease the idli plates and place fried cashew nuts in each plate. Pour the idli batter over the nuts and steam cook for 8 to 10 minutes. Ensure the water is boiling well before placing the idli stand in the cooker.
Recipe Video
Notes
- Before adding the batter to the idli plates, sprinkle a small amount of grated carrot or finely sliced tomato. This will give you a vibrant and colorful idli.
- Additionally, you can incorporate a cup of chopped vegetables such as green peas, carrots, and cauliflower into the batter to create a nutritious vegetable idli.
- If you’re utilizing whole oats, simply grind them into a coarse powder similar to semolina (rawa) before adding.
- Eno Fruit Salt can be used as an alternative to cooking soda.
I too make this..healthy brkfast
Madam,
I follow ur recipes it's coming out very nice. Can I have recipe For kozhukkattai mauve
Thanks and regards
Geetha
Hi Geetha,
Thank you for your kind feed back on my recipes.
I am reposting shortly "Kozhukattai" recipe with making the Mel Mauvu in different method.
your receipies are simply superb.Nice and colorful pictures and easy to follow receipies.I always visit ur blog for receipies.Keep up the good work.Thanks
Viji
Aunty,
I tried the Oats idli.It was good.I loved it.We have to use ordinary rawa or idli rawa?
What chutney goes good with this dish?
Hi Agnes,
Nice to see your feedback here. You can use ordinary rawa. Onion or garlic chutney goes well with this. Even you can serve it with sambar.
hi kamala,
what is eno fruit salt… do u have any substitute if v dont get it….
there is no eno fruit salt available here , what to do ?
Hi Sara,
As I already mentioned in the above recipe, if you do not have fruit salt, you can use little cooking soda. (only few pinches).
I had oats idly in a friends house. It was nice, but I tried it myself, it was not to the mark. Your recipe looks complete. Will surely give it a try and get back to you.
Thanks
Since we are adding Rawa along with Oats, it wil come out good and we can have the benefit of eating oats too. Pl try and let me know the outcome.
hi! the idlis have come out very well! Thanks for an accurate measurement!
Thank you Lalitha.
Hi. i wanted to check if I can make these Idlis without using Rava. Please reply. Thanks and Regards
Hi Vinita,
Yes. You can prepare this idli without rawa also. However, it wil be hard and little sticky.
Hi, kamal
Is rice rawa or sooji rawa
It is sooji rawa.
Hi Kamala,
I tried out this recipe yesterday. It tasted good, however, the idly was little sticky.
Can u tell me what would be the possible reason for this?
Hi Srividhya,
Thanks for trying this recipe and your feed back. You cannot completely remove the stickiness since oat is sticky only.
Thanks Kamala.
by rava, do you mean idli rava or soji rava
It is sooji rawa.