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    Home » Recipes » Snacks

    Idli upma recipe | Easy South Indian idli upma

    February 9, 2015 by Raks Anand 15 Comments / Jump to Recipe

    Idli upma, 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.

    idli upma recipe
    Idli upma

    Best way to use leftover idlies from breakfast to a snack or dinner or Dinner's leftover to breakfast.

    Any upma is my favorite, but this is one easy and unique upma made from the leftover idlies.

    Jump to:
    • Variations
    • Top tip
    • Step by step photos
    • Recipe card

    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 idli itself.

    It’s best only when someone makes you sit, prepare and gives you😂.

    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 to make it look yellow if you like it that way.
    • Temper with peanuts or cashews.
    • Sprinkle some coriander leaves either while sauteeing onion or garnish it.

    Top tip

    • It is easy to crumble uniformly without any lumps if the idlies are refrigerated.
    • You can either dip the idli quickly in water to crumble easily or add a drizzle of sesame oil over idlies before crumbling.
    • You can even freeze the idlies in zipper bags upto 3 months for emergency hunger pangs.

    You may also like

    • Chutney idli
    • Kaima idli
    • Crispy idli fry
    • Cocktail idlies

    Step by step photos

    1. 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.
    crumble

    2. Heat a kadai with oil and temper with the items given under ‘To temper’ table.

    Add onion and fry until transparent. Then add carrots, salt and fry for a minute.

    Everything in medium flame without changing its color. Otherwise the upma will turn dull in color.

    2-idli-upma

    3. Add the crumbled idli and just toss for a minute until its mixed well.

    done

    Serve hot, can be had as such or best with sugar😊 Check out the other left over idli recipes.

    idli  upma recipe
    idli upma

    Recipe card

    idli upma recipe
    Print Pin
    5 from 1 vote

    Idli upma recipe

    Idli upma is the best way to turn leftover idlies into a refreshing new meal with these simple steps. Packed with flavors and tasty!
    Course Breakfast
    Cuisine Indian, South Indian
    Servings 2 people
    Cup measurements

    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
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    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 tablespoon Coconut oil, ½ teaspoon Mustard, 1 teaspoon Urad dal, 1 tablespoon 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.
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. jeyashri suresh

      February 09, 2015 at 11:46 am

      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.

      Reply
    2. Shama Nagarajan

      February 09, 2015 at 12:48 pm

      delicious preparation

      Reply
    3. Veena Theagarajan

      February 09, 2015 at 1:31 pm

      I love it too.. Love the addition of carrot.. tempting clicks

      Reply
    4. Unknown

      February 09, 2015 at 1:55 pm

      Very true emotions expressed... Me too feel the same. Love the idli upma...

      Reply
    5. RajiMuraali

      February 09, 2015 at 6:54 pm

      Chance ae illa,pinnitale... But in my house all guys also love this,we call it as 'siralam'

      Reply
    6. Chandra

      February 10, 2015 at 3:00 am

      yummy!

      Reply
    7. Nivedhanams Sowmya

      February 10, 2015 at 8:43 am

      can eat this daily... so yummy and comforting..

      Reply
    8. Durga Karthik.

      February 13, 2015 at 9:57 am

      Guys may dislike this bcoz it is easy to cook for us.We like it bcoz it is easier to cook this.

      Reply
    9. Raks anand

      February 13, 2015 at 10:07 am

      Exactly what I say to my guys 😉 Wont you guys like the dishes that can be made easily 😉

      Reply
    10. Balanthiran Ratnam

      February 19, 2015 at 4:36 am

      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

      Reply
    11. Unknown

      February 20, 2015 at 12:30 pm

      Never knew idli upma is very close to all our souls. It s the krishna paramatma of modern age....

      ��

      Reply
    12. Ponnappan Ragupathy

      December 03, 2015 at 3:55 am

      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 ..

      Reply
    13. Indu

      December 09, 2015 at 3:26 pm

      Yummy.....prefers for an evening snack....wen yu hav the breakfast iddalies left....luvs wen mom makes it... 🙂

      Reply
    14. Archana

      August 21, 2020 at 6:41 am

      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.

      Reply
      • Raks Anand

        August 23, 2020 at 8:47 am

        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 🙂

        Reply

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    Raks anand

    Hi, I'm Rajeswari Vijayanand! I am the person behind Rakskitchen, sharing recipes with pictures & videos.

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    Raks anand

    Hi, I'm Rajeswari Vijayanand! I am the person behind Rakskitchen, sharing recipes with pictures & videos.

    More about me →

    Popular

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    Summer recipes

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