Kollu Idlis or HorseGram Idlis are healthy South Indian Vegetarian Breakfast Recipe that have less rice content, is ideal for diabetics, low oil, steamed and fermented foods.
Blogging today about a healthy Idli Recipe made with Kollu, Kulith or Horse Gram. This is a traditional Konkani Breakfast Recipe. Presenting super soft Kollu Idli or Horsegram Idli Recipe. Last month, when I re-blogged and updated the Idli Recipe on the blog, I did receive messages for posting some Idli varieties so here I am with an exceptionally easy, healthy, steamed South Indian breakfast recipe for the entire family.
This Kollu Idli or Horsegram Idli is particularly interesting as it uses very less quantity of rice and more of the Kollu / HorseGram and Urad Dal, unlike the usual or traditional Idli Recipe. It is extremely soft in texture (even with less rice) and delicious.
In the past, I have blogged about 2 interesting recipes using Horse Gram as the key Ingredient - Horsegram Appes and Horsegram Adai. Both of these are common breakfast options made at our home and the blog post also covers about the umpteen health benefits the ingredient has to offer. Do check out the recipes.
Idlis are generally and universally known as a healthy breakfast option. Once you have the batter ready in the refrigerator, you can churn out these beauties in less than 30 minutes. Kollu idlis particularly, as I mentioned above, have less rice content so it is ideal for diabetics to consume them too. Since they are steamed, they are low in oil and therefore a healthy choice as breakfast. Horsegram Idli can also make a great after school snack for kids and / or can be packed early morning in their tiffin boxes.
This recipe is adapted from the book "The Konkani Saraswat Cookbook" by Asha Satish Phillar and this is my second recipe from the book. The other recipe I created from this cookbook is the Jackfruit Seed Surnoli which is a Konkani Specialty. It is a spongy light Dosa recipe made with cooked Jackfruit Seeds. Do check out the recipe and try it.
If you are looking for more such Healthy Diabetic Friendly Breakfast Recipes as Kollu Idli, do check out Oats Mixed Millets Dosa, Green Moong Onion Uttapam (Uttapam with NO rice) and Moong Dal Cheela Pinwheels (No rice crepes)
Recipe for Kollu Idli / HorseGram Idli / Huruli Idli
Adapted from the Cookbook "The Konkani Saraswat Cookbook"
Ingredients
1 cup is 125 ml measurement
Makes 25 Idlis (size and shape as shown in the picture)
- 1 cup Kollu / Kulith / Horsegram
- 1.5 cups of Urad Dal (I have used Whole Urad Dal)
- 1 cup of Rice (I have used Idli Rice)
- 1 tsp Methi Seeds (Fenugreek Seeds)
- Water to soak as required + for grinding and adjusting batter consistency + Steaming
- Oil as required to grease the idli plate
- Salt to taste
Method
Wash and soak the Kollu or Horsegram and Urad Dal together for atleast 4 hours along with methi seeds / fenugreek seeds.
Wash and soak the rice for atleast 2 hours.
Grind both the above separately, mix together (with hands preferably) and allow to ferment for atleast 8 hours, preferably overnight.
Once the batter ferments, add the salt, some water to adjust the consistency and mix lightly.
Prepare a steamer and grease the idli moulds / Idli plate with some oil.
Pour a ladle of the batter, steam them for atleast 15 minutes. Switch off flame.
Allow the idlis to cool slightly and then remove them, serve warm with chutney or accompaniment of your choice.
If you try this at home, please give me a shout out / Tag Me on any of my social media handles.
- Twitter - https://twitter.com/masalachilli
- Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/MasalachillibyVidyaNarayan/
- Pinterest - https://in.pinterest.com/masalachilli
- Instagram https://www.instagram.com/masalachilli_vidyanarayan/
Vidya Narayan
Kollu Idli / Horse Gram Idli / Huruli Idli
Ingredients
- 1 cup Kollu, Kulith, Horse Gram 1 cup is 125 ml measurement
- 1 1/2 cups Whole Urad Dal
- 1 cup Ponni Idli Rice (use any variety of short grain rice)
- 1 tsp Methi Seeds (Fenugreek seeds)
- 2 tsp Oil (to grease idli plates) - For 25 idlis
- Water to Soak the ingredients + Grinding + Adjusting Batter + Steaming As required
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Wash and soak the Kollu or Horsegram and Urad Dal together for atleast 4 hours along with
methi seeds / fenugreek seeds - Wash and soak the rice for atleast 2 hours.
- Grind both the above (1 and 2) separately, mix together (with hands preferably) and allow to ferment for atleast 8 hours, preferably overnight
- Once the batter ferments, add the salt, some water (use a spoon to add water) to adjust the consistency and mix lightly
- Prepare a steamer and grease the idli moulds / Idli plate with some oil.
- Pour a ladle of the batter, steam them for atleast 15 minutes. Switch off flame.
- Allow the idlis to cool slightly and then remove them from the plates, serve warm with chutney or accompaniment of your choice.
Notes
- I have used Whole Urad Dal in the recipe as I do for all my idli and dosa batters, you can use the split variety too. Same quantity should be fine.
- I have used Ponni Idli Rice. You can opt for Any Raw Rice Variety or short grain rice namely Kolam, sona masuri etc. You can also opt for millets. Add the same quantity.
- Methi seeds is added for softness.
- Ferment overnight for best results. My batter got fermented in 8 hours.
- 1 cup is 125 ml measurement. The batter yields 25 nos. Idlis of the size and shape as shown in pics above. Good breakfast for 6 people considering 4 idlis per person.
Loved these spongy idlis, Vidya...
Thank you Niranjana
Very innovative use of Horsegram to make soft Idlis. Tried my hands and they turned out Yumm. Ur blog has become weekly ritual Gal.
Thank you so much Archana and glad you liked it.
Thanks for introducing me to horsegram lentil. I followed your recipe as closely as I could, and I was amazed how soft and tasty the idlis turned out. I have to get a handle on the fermentation time. I will make them again for sure (maybe always this way rather than the traditional 2:1 rice/dal ratio). I'll share pictures next time I make it. Looking forward to exploring your previous and future shares.
Hi Shalini, thank you for trying the recipe and posting your feedback. Horsegram is a wonderful ingredient, though used sparingly in most Indian Kitchens. In South India, we however, use it in a variety of recipes, including the Idli. Please feel free to explore other recipes using Horsegram on the blog. Cheers!
I made these and I wasn't sure what to expect when I saw the ground batter. It tasted really good! My idlis were flat though...it did not come as fluffy as yours but was not dense & quite tasty. How did you get yours to be fluffy, since with lower rice ratio, idlis do tend to fall flat (I think!)
Idli's can be fluffy with less rice content too. You can check out the Ragi Idli Post, if you like, which uses less rice and more of Ragi Millet. However, here is what you can do next time - Check your batter consistency (should not be too watery nor very thick) and then steaming them for atleast 20 minutes. While adding the batter in the idli mould, never fill it up fully, allow it to spread and then you will never have an issue with flat idlis. Thank you for trying the recipe and providing your feedback.
Tried this recipe today. Idlis were super soft & very tasty. Had tried earlier your recipe for Kollu Adai also a couple of times. That was also superb.
Thank you so much for sharing your feedback. Appreciate it.
Probiotic and protien enriched ,healthy food suitable for all ages .the idlis turn out very soft and the nutty flavor of the horsegram goes well when you pair with simplest chutney too.
Thank you for trying the recipe Sindoori. Means a lot. It is one of my favourite Idli varieties too.
Do u grind in blender or grinder dear ?
I grind this in a mixer grinder (750 Watts). In fact most of my idli or dosa batters. Thank you.
May I know what brand of mixer grinder u use ? Can u post d picture ?
I use a Bajaj GX8 750 watts mixer grinder. Unfortunately, I cannot post the pic in the comments here. The mixer grinder is quite old so I am not sure if the model is available currently. This mixer grinder has 3 jars - Wet, dry and chutney.
Vidya batter s perfect . Softy idli n crispy dosa n yummy oothappam . Thanks .
So glad to hear that! thank you so much for your feedback. Do try many other idli recipes, using millets from the blog and I am sure you will not be disappointed. Cheers and thanks again.
Hi wanted to tey horsegram idli but in delhi u dnt gt kullith ... wht can i use instead of horsegram. Thnks
Hi Alka, for this particular recipe, as the name suggests, Horsegram is an important ingredient. Else you can try various other Idli recipes on the blog. I have few recipes using a variety of ingredients like Rava, Millets etc too.
Tried these idlis today and my family loved it. This is a great recipe Vidya.
Thank you so much for your feedback and so glad the family enjoyed.
This is an excellent recipe! I made the batter exactly per the recipe and the idlis were super soft and yummy! They were a huge hit with my family and I will definitely make it regularly at hone from now on!
Thank you so much for your feedback and so glad the family enjoyed it and will be a regular feature at your home. Cheers! Keep visiting this space for more such healthy recipes.