Idli upma, is a quick and delicious Breakfast or snack made using crumbled leftover idli. Tempered with the usual ingredients used for upma, mustard, urad dal, chana dal, curry leaves, green chilli and onion. It is simple and humble recipe, yet packed with flavours.
give me 3 times a day for breakfast, lunch and dinner, I can have it without complaining life long. I love it like that.
In this post, I am sharing my humble method to make idli upma with leftover idlies.
Best way to use leftover idlis from breakfast to a snack or dinner or Dinner leftover to breakfast.
Any upma is my favorite, but this is one easy and unique upma made from the leftover idlis. Check out my kaima idli and idli fries recipe in this website, which also uses leftover idli.
We call it udhuthu kulukal, which means crumbling and tossing. There must be a lot of variants in this idli upma, but this is the most simple and easiest that I like.
My mom makes it without carrot and I love that simple version first, but my MIL adds carrot in all possible dishes, including this idli upma to make it eye appealing. In the beginning I used to not like the addition of carrots as I felt it suppresses the onion flavor a bit, but now I like this variation too.
My mom tempers with coconut oil and the fresh green chilies, onions and curry leaves tossed together gives a divine smell. Its simple but packed with flavors. I have seen many of my friends love idli upma but sadly its opposite when it comes to the guys in the family.
Nobody likes it, I don't know why! I most of the times become lazy to make idli upma and have the aaripona (leftover, cooled) idli as such. It's best only when someone makes you sit, prepare and gives you, haha.
Variations
As I said, there are lot's of possible variations to this recipe depending on house and person to person who prepares it.
Here are some that I have heard, most of it I have tried too.
- Add idli podi towards end.
- Sprinkle some turmeric while sauteing onion, to make it look yellow if you like it that way.
- Temper with peanuts or cashews.
- Sprinkle some coriander leaves either while sauteing onion or garnish it.
Top tip
- It is easy to crumble uniformly without any lumps if the idlis are refrigerated.
- You can either dip the idli quickly in water to crumble easily or add a drizzle of sesame oil over idlis before crumbling.
- You can even freeze the idlis in zipper bags upto 3 months for emergency hunger pangs.
- Do not forget to add a little bit of salt as otherwise it may taste bland.
Step by step photos
- Crumble the idli firstly with a teaspoon of sesame oil. You can refrigerate the idlis, this will make your job easy as it wont stick to your fingers.
2. Then heat a kadai with oil and temper with the items given under 'To temper' table.
After that, add onion and fry until translucent, without changing the colour. Then add carrots, salt and fry for a minute.
Everything in medium flame ,otherwise the upma will turn dull in color.
3. At last, add the crumbled idli and just toss for a minute until its mixed well.
Serve hot, can be had as such or best with sugar. Check out the other leftover idli recipes.
Recipe card
Idli Upma Recipe | Leftover idli upma
Ingredients
- 6 Idli
- 1 Onion large
- 4 Green chilli slit
- 3 tablespoon Carrot Finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon Ginger finely chopped (optional)
- ⅛ teaspoon Salt
To temper
- 1 tablespoon Coconut oil Any cooking oil
- ½ teaspoon Mustard
- 1 teaspoon Urad dal
- 1 tablespoon Chana dal
- 1 sprig Curry leaves
Instructions
- Crumble the idli with a teaspoon of sesame oil. You can refrigerate the idlis, this will make your job easy as it wont stick to your fingers.
- Heat a kadai with oil and temper with the items given under 'To temper' table.1 tbsp Coconut oil, ½ tsp Mustard , 1 tsp Urad dal , 1 tbsp Chana dal , 1 sprig Curry leaves
- Add onion and fry until transparent.
- Then add carrots, salt and fry for a minute.
- Everything in medium flame without changing its colour. Otherwise the upma will turn dull in colour.
- Add the crumbled idli and just toss for a minute until its mixed well.
Notes
- Refrigerating the idlis gives beautiful crumble of the idlies. More you refrigerate, easy to crumble.
- You can add vegetables to fortify this upma.
- Sesame oil can be added while crumbling.
jeyashri suresh says
Ahh me too can eat this upma for all 3 meals a day. Infact any upma for that matter. As u said why guys don't like upmas is still a not unfolded. Pretty clicks.
Shama Nagarajan says
delicious preparation
Veena Theagarajan says
I love it too.. Love the addition of carrot.. tempting clicks
Unknown says
Very true emotions expressed... Me too feel the same. Love the idli upma...
RajiMuraali says
Chance ae illa,pinnitale... But in my house all guys also love this,we call it as 'siralam'
Chandra says
yummy!
Nivedhanams Sowmya says
can eat this daily... so yummy and comforting..
Durga Karthik. says
Guys may dislike this bcoz it is easy to cook for us.We like it bcoz it is easier to cook this.
Raks anand says
Exactly what I say to my guys 😉 Wont you guys like the dishes that can be made easily 😉
Balanthiran Ratnam says
dear my hearty thanks. during my pregnancy i felt like i m near my mom. made ur recipes. one f my friend gave me ur web. feeling blessed. heary thank u sister
Unknown says
Never knew idli upma is very close to all our souls. It s the krishna paramatma of modern age....
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Ponnappan Ragupathy says
i dont think so, i am there die hard fan for idly upma, even my roomets like that when i prepare...
after long time i made idly more intentionally to prepare idly upma.. Its mouthwatering ..even i too ate 3 times a day ... i never tried to prepare with carrot .. let me try today ..
Indu says
Yummy.....prefers for an evening snack....wen yu hav the breakfast iddalies left....luvs wen mom makes it... 🙂
Archana says
Of late I have been googling recipes with raks because with your recipes I have not had any flops and they come really well.
Totally get it when you say no one to make and serve hot food. I am expecting next month and my mom can’t come to take care of me. My husband can grill or bbq but can’t make idli upma like my mom. Sometimes I just wish someone could make hot dosas as I eat and I don’t have to stack them in my plate before starting.
Raks Anand says
Oh I understand your feelings. All days or not same 🙂 That too you are carrying! Wish our community taught and brought up both genders same teaching life skills like cooking haha.
Sending you loads of positivity and virtual hugs 🙂