4.9 from 75 votes
Instant Pot Idli
Instant Pot Idli offers a steamed savory rice and lentil cake made from fermented idli batter. The batter is poured into greased idli molds and steamed inside the Instant Pot with water, resulting in soft, fluffy idlis. The process uses steam rather than pressure, requiring a timed cook of about 12 minutes. These idlis pair well with chutney and sambar for traditional South Indian meals.
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
20 mins
Servings:
6
Course:
Main Course, Breakfast, Snacks
Cuisine:
Indian
Ingredients
- 2 cups idli batter
- 1 1/2 cup water
- ghee for greasing, or oil
Instructions
- Make idli batter following the instructions in the post.
- Add water to the instant pot and heat it in saute mode until it boils. The press cancel.
- While the water is heating, grease the idli molds with oil or ghee. Add small amount of batter in each mold.
- Place the idli stand in the instant pot. Close lid and keep in steam mode in venting position, and press start. The thing to note is that the time on the instant pot does not work in the venting position, so you have to use a separate timer. (Some new models of instant pot have a no pressure setting for steam mode, which can be used)
- In 12 minutes, idli's will be ready. Press Cancel and wait for the pin to drop (so that any pressure is released), then open the instant pot.
- Idli's can be served with sambar and chutney. You can make multiple batches of idli with the same batter.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Use only the needed amount of batter from a well-fermented batch to keep idlis soft; do not stir the entire batter after fermenting.
- Prepare and consume idlis within 1 to 2 days of making the batter for best texture.
- Save leftover batter to make dosas for a different South Indian dish.