The Idli Project
Stuffed Masala Idli
Regional & Traditional

Stuffed Masala Idli

also called Aloo Stuffed Idli · Masala Idli

A rava-idli base hiding a spiced potato filling - a snackable variation that travels well.

Pan-Indian

Image: Cooking From Heart - Stuffed Masala Idli · Blog photo · photo shows a plain idli, not a stuffed cross-section

A snack-leaning variation: idli batter wrapped around a spiced potato filling before steaming. The recipe here uses an instant rava-idli base (no fermentation) for speed, but a regular fermented urad-rice batter works the same way.

Common fillings: spiced potato, paneer, cheese, mixed vegetables, even a spoonful of chutney. A regional cousin from Maharashtra is the palak idli - same idea, but with chopped spinach folded into the batter rather than tucked inside.

The Recipe

Yield · ~15 idlis

Effort profile

Soak4–5 hours
Ferment8–10 hours
Steam12–15 minutes
Steps5

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

Soak4h 30mFerment9hSteam14mSteps5

Ingredients

Rava idli base

  • 1½ cups coarse semolina (rava / suji)
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¾ cup yogurt
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 tsp oil
  • ½ tsp Eno fruit salt

Aloo masala filling

  • 2 tsp oil
  • 1 tsp mustard seeds
  • ½ tsp cumin seeds
  • 1 tsp chana dal
  • Pinch of asafoetida
  • Few curry leaves
  • ½ onion, finely chopped
  • 2 green chillies, finely chopped
  • ½ tsp ginger paste
  • ½ tsp turmeric
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 3 boiled potatoes, grated
  • 2 tbsp coriander, chopped

Method

  1. 1.

    Filling - heat oil; splutter mustard, cumin, chana dal, asafoetida, curry leaves. Sauté onion and green chillies; add ginger, turmeric and salt. Mix in grated potato; mash. Stir in coriander and cool.

  2. 2.

    Batter - roast rava on low heat in 2 tsp oil until aromatic. Cool. Mix with salt, yogurt and water to a thick dropping consistency. Rest 10 minutes.

  3. 3.

    Just before steaming, stir in Eno.

  4. 4.

    Grease idli moulds. Spoon batter to half-fill, place a small ball of potato filling in the centre, top with more batter to cover.

  5. 5.

    Steam 12–15 minutes.

Serve with

coconut chutneycoriander chutney

Notes

Fermented urad-rice idli batter can be substituted for the rava batter - the assembly is the same. Spinach, paneer, or mixed-vegetable fillings work the same way.

Adapted from hebbarskitchen.com.