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quinoa idli recipe

Quinoa Idli Recipe (without rice)

Jyoti Behrani
Quinoa idli recipe is a nutritious alternative to traditional idli, made without rice by blending soaked quinoa with lentils and fermenting the batter before steaming into soft, fluffy cakes, perfect for a wholesome breakfast or snack.
4.75 from 4 votes
Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Soaking / Fermenting Time 12 hours
Total Time 12 hours 20 minutes
Course Breakfast/Brunch
Cuisine Indian, South Indian
Servings 16 idli
Calories 67 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
  

For Idli Batter:

Add at the Time of Making Idli:

  • salt to taste

Instructions
 

Step 1: Soak the Lentils & Quinoa

  • Rinse the lentils thoroughly, and discard any stones or debris. Soak lentils and fenugreek seeds in 2 cups of water for 4 hours.
  • Rinse the quinoa thoroughly underwater for a few minutes. Soak the quinoa in 2 cups of water for 4 hours.

Step 2: Grind the Lentils & Quinoa

  • Grind the idli batter, using water as needed, into a smooth consistency batter. First, grind lentils using just enough water to grind. Transfer the lentils batter into a bowl.
  • Now, add quinoa to the blender and using water as needed grind it into a slightly coarse batter. Transfer the quinoa batter along with lentils batter.
  • Mix lentils and quinoa batter thoroughly.
    Note: The consistency of this batter is similar to a pancake batter.

Step 3: Ferment the Quinoa Idli batter

  • Method 1: Traditional
    Place the batter on a countertop or in a nice warm place, away from any vent or direct sunlight.
    If the weather is nice and warm, the batter ferments in no time. In summer, it only takes a few hours for the batter to ferment. In winter it may take up to a day.
  • Method 2: Using an Instant Pot
    Add the batter directly to the inner pot or in the pot (pot-in-pot method).
    Turn ON the yogurt (less) setting, and set it to 8 hours. Cover the inner pot with a glass lid or any plate that fits on it and let it ferment.
  • Method 3: Oven
    Warm the oven to the lowest temperature setting and turn OFF the oven. Place the batter inside the oven to ferment.
    Alternatively, if you have an oven light, you can leave the light on and the batter ferments beautifully.

Step 4: Steam the Quinoa Idli

  • Add salt to the batter and mix well.
  • To make idlis, grease the idli mold with some oil. I used Instant Pot to steam the idlis.
  • Add 1.5 cups of water to the inner pot and select sauté (more). Cover the pot with a lid and allow the water to come to steam.
  • Fill the idli mold (cavity) with the batter, just up to the rim of the cavity. Do not overfill the cavity.
  • Carefully, open the lid and place the idli stand inside the inner pot. Place lid and cover the pot.
    Note: I used a glass lid that fits, to cover the inner pot. You can use the Instant Pot lid, with a pressure valve in the venting position.
  • Cancel the sauté and select a steam setting and set an EXTERNAL timer for 10 minutes.
    Note: When the pressure value is in the venting position, the Instant Pot timer does not work.
  • Press Cancel, once the timer goes off. Allow 10 minutes of natural pressure release. Carefully open the lid and take out the idli stand. Remove plates from the idli stand and allow the idlis to cool down for 5 minutes. Run a spoon or a knife around each idli and remove it from the cavity.
  • Enjoy pillow-y soft, piping hot idli with some sambar and coconut chutney.

Notes

  1. I used Instant Pot to steam the idli. To steam the idli, any large pot or a regular steamer works just fine. Make sure that the container is big enough to fit the idli stand.
  2. Tips For Pillow-y Soft Quinoa Idli
  3. Frequently Asked Questions

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Quinoa Idli Recipe (without rice)
Amount per Serving
Calories
67
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
1
g
2
%
Saturated Fat
 
0.1
g
1
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
0.3
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
0.2
g
Sodium
 
1
mg
0
%
Potassium
 
65
mg
2
%
Carbohydrates
 
12
g
4
%
Fiber
 
3
g
13
%
Sugar
 
0.04
g
0
%
Protein
 
3
g
6
%
Vitamin A
 
2
IU
0
%
Vitamin C
 
0.3
mg
0
%
Calcium
 
13
mg
1
%
Iron
 
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Disclaimer

Nutrition values are my best estimates. If you rely on them for your diet, use your preferred nutrition calculator.

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KEYWORD

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