Chocolate Idli

also called Eggless Chocolate Idli Cake

A steamed eggless chocolate cake disguised as an idli - the cafe-counter answer to a kid's birthday.

Modern café fusion

A wave of fusion idlis emerged from Indian cafés in the 2010s aimed squarely at children, and Chocolate Idli is the standard-bearer. Effectively a steamed eggless chocolate cake in idli moulds - semolina, cocoa, yogurt and a pinch of baking soda - dressed up at the table with chocolate sauce, sprinkles, and sometimes a scoop of ice cream alongside.

Not a traditional idli by any honest definition. Genuinely fun on a kid's birthday plate.

The Recipe

Yield · 4 servings

Effort profile

Soak4–5 hours

Ferment8–10 hours

Steam8–10 minutes

Steps6

Each axis is scaled against the longest example in the archive.

Ingredients

Batter

¼ cup all-purpose flour (~30 g)
⅓ cup sooji / semolina
2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
4 tbsp sugar
½ cup plain yogurt
2 tbsp sunflower oil
¼ cup water or milk
¼ tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla extract

To finish

Chocolate sauce
Coloured sprinkles
Vanilla ice cream (optional)
Chopped nuts or berries (optional)

Method

1.
Whisk yogurt and sugar to a creamy mix; stir in oil and vanilla.
2.
Add sooji and cocoa; rest 5 minutes - the sooji will swell.
3.
Loosen with water/milk to a pourable consistency.
4.
Just before steaming, sift in the flour and baking soda; fold gently.
5.
Pour into greased idli moulds; steam 8–10 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
6.
Cool 5 minutes; unmould with a spoon.

Serve with

chocolate sauce drizzlevanilla ice creamchopped nuts, berries, or coloured sprinkles

Notes

Closer to a steamed eggless cake than to a savoury idli. The semolina is what holds it together - don't substitute fine flour.

Adapted from yummytummyaarthi.com.