Chilli Idli/Fried idli

Chilli idli is a spicy and delicious dish. During childhood days it is one my favourite restaurant items. I always wanted to try chilli idli at home and tried preparing without deep frying the idlis. But it turns out to - deep frying makes the best Chilli Idli. I have not used any sauces like tomato sauce or soy sauce and prepared with just the basic ingredients available at home. So once in a while, when you have left over idlis you can definitely try this and it would be a real treat for your taste buds.

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Preparation time: 20 min
Cooking time: 45 min
Serves: 2
Category: Dinner
Cuisine: South Indian
Author: Vidhya

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Ingredients

Idli - 6 nos
Maidha or all purpose flour - 2 1/2 table spoon
Rice flour - 1/2 table spoon
Onion - 1 Medium sized chopped lengthwise
Tomato - 1 finely chopped
Capsicum or Bell pepper - 1/2 chopped lengthwise
(I used 2 different colors each 1/4 portion)
Garlic - 3 finely chopped
Spring onion - 2 springs
Green chilli - 1
Chilli powder - 1 table spoon
Garam masala - 1/2 table spoon
Turmeric powder - 1/4 table spoon
Salt - as per your taste

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Method

• First of all we need idlis, which may be freshly cooked or left over idlis. If you are using left over idlis prepared in the morning, refrigerate it for 15 min before cutting them into pieces. If you are using freshly prepared idlis then refrigerate it for at at least 1 hour.
• Cut the idlis into cubes.
• In a bowl add maidha, rice flour, salt, a little amount of water and preapre coating dough. Careful not to add too much water as it might not coat the idlis properly.
  
• Now add cubed idlis to the blowl and coat them nicely in the prepared dough. Leave it for 10 min.
  
• Chop all the vegetables and keep them ready.
  
• Deep fry the coated idlis until it is golden brown. Fry them in batches.
  
• Take a kadai, pour a table spoon of oil, when it is hot add onion, white part of spring onion, chilli and finely chopped garlic.
  
• Fry until onions become transparent/golden brown.
• Add finely chopped tomatoes. Stir it until tomatoes become soft.
  
• Add chilli powder, garam masala powder, turmeric powder and salt. Give a stir.
  
• Add capsicum and green part of spring onion. Stir occasionally and cook it for 15 - 20 min in medium hot. If the content looks dry sprinkle water in between and stir again.
  
• When it looks all blended, add fried idlis. Mix it well and allow it to cook for 5 - 7.
  
  
  
  
• Serve hot chilli idli with tomato sauce or onion raitha.