Sabudana Idli with Red Chutney | Sabakki Idli
Sabudana Idli is an easy-to-make, soft, and spongy idli recipe that can be prepared for breakfast or an evening snack. No soda, urad dal, rice or grinding is required to make these idlis. You can also serve this on fasting and vrat days like Navratri, ekadashi, etc.
Prep Time10 minutes mins
Cook Time20 minutes mins
Total Time30 minutes mins
Course: Breakfast, Snack
Cuisine: Indian
Diet: Vegan
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 258kcal
For Sabudana Idli Batter
- 2 cups Sabudana or Sago or Tapioca Pearls
- 2 cups Sooji rava or Semolina Sama ke chawal (varai) for fasting
- 2 cups Yogurt or Curd or Dahi
- Salt, to taste
Red Chutney for Idli
- 1 cup Grated coconut
- 5 Dry red chilies
- 1 teaspoon Coriander seeds
- Pinch of Asafetida or Hing
- Salt, to taste
- Water, as needed
Prepare Idli Batter
Wash and soak sabudana in water for 4 to 6 hours. I generally soak it overnight.
2 cups Sabudana or Sago or Tapioca Pearls
Next morning drain the water from sabudana, and to this, add sooji rava or semolina, curd, salt, and mix well. Note that I have not added any water. I got the right consistency just by adding yogurt (dahi). The batter should be thick like the regular idli batter. 2 cups Sooji rava or Semolina, 2 cups Yogurt or Curd or Dahi, Salt, to taste
Cover and keep this batter aside for 2 hours.
Steaming Idlis, Kotte Kadubu, Moode
Depending on the steamer or cooker or instant pot you will use, add water to it. We are steaming idli for around 15 to 20 minutes, so make sure you add enough water to the steamer.
Place steel ring or rack, cover the steamer, and bring the water to a rolling boil.
Grease all the idli molds with oil. You do not have to grease khotto or moode molds before adding the batter.
Depending on the size of molds, fill ¾ of each mold with the batter.
Arrange it on the steamer and steam it for 15 to 20 minutes. To check if it idlis or khotte are done, insert the back of a spoon at the center. It should come out clean. The cooking time may vary slightly depending on the flame’s intensity and the thickness of the idlis. Switch off the flame.
Open the lid slightly to allow the steam to escape. Let this sit for 5 to 10 minutes.
Run the back of a spoon around the edges of the idli mold. Remove the idli and transfer it to the plate. You can remove the weaving sticks/thorns from moode and kotte and peel the leaves off to extract steamed sabudana dumplings. Sabudana Idlis are now ready. Serve them with red chutney given below.
Prepare Red Chutney for Idli
In a mixie or blender jar, add grated coconut, red chilies (adjust to taste), coriander seeds, hing, and salt along with ½ to 1 cup of water for the desired consistency and grind to a smooth paste.
1 cup Grated coconut, 5 Dry red chilies, 1 teaspoon Coriander seeds, Pinch of Asafetida or Hing, Salt, to taste, Water, as needed
Transfer it to a bowl. Serve it along with idli as needed.
When not in use, keep the chutney in the refrigerator.
Steaming idli in instant pot
Pour 2 to 3 cups of water in the steel insert of your Instant Pot (IP). Place a trivet or ring.
Use saute mode, let water get heated up, and start boiling.
Grease idli molds with oil.
Arrange idli molds in your IP.
Close the instant pot lid. Switch to steam mode. Steam for 15 to 20 minutes in venting mode. The timer does not work on venting mode, and instant pot will not beep here, so set an external timer.
After the cooking time is done, let this sit for 5 minutes before removing it from the IP. Insert a toothpick, and it should come out clean at this point. If not, steam for another 2 to 3 minutes.
- In our hometown and community, we are allowed to eat semolina or sooji rava on fasting days. You can also substitute semolina with varai ( barnyard millet or sama ke chawal) for Navratri, ekadashi, karwa chauth etc.
- If the batter is too thick, adjust the consistency by adding water, and if it becomes too thin, adjust it by adding a little more sooji or semolina.
- When I am in my hometown, I have access to jackfruit leaves basket and moode. If you do not have these simple steam idli in idli molds.
Calories: 258kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Trans Fat: 0.002g | Cholesterol: 2mg | Sodium: 51mg | Potassium: 200mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 180IU | Vitamin C: 28mg | Calcium: 47mg | Iron: 2mg