Chilli Idli

Here’s the ultimate way of using the leftover idlis at your home and creating a yummy and satisfying Indo-Chinese dish with the. This Chilli Idli is also a vegan recipe, is super easy to make, with all your basic ingredients and gets done quickly too. Chopped idli pieces tossed in an umami sauce, make for a delicious snack.

Idli is an important snack or breakfast dish, not just South Indian households in India, but also in a lot of homes in Maharashtra, Gujarat and the Konkan region as well. Given my South Indian roots, it is also a popular choice at my home too. This spicy Chilli Idli is a super tasty way of using leftover idlis.

At times I steam extra idlis, just to make this recipe of chilli idli. Since I had made this only for myself, I have made it spicy. So this recipe serves just one portion. Though you can even double the recipe. This recipe also goes well in tiffin box. So if preparing for kids, then skip or reduce the green chilies.

This is a spicy chilli idli recipe. I have not deep fried the idlis and have pan fried them. I always pan fry the idlis while preparing idli chilly. If you want you can deep fry the idlis. 

Try this recipe of Chilli Idli with leftover idlis or fresh idlis and you’ll know how amazing it is. Other than being scrumptious and simple, it brings the much-needed change in flavors in the usual everyday meals, without being overtly difficult to make as well.

A few more recipes where you can use leftover idlis are:

1. Idli chaat
2. Masala idli
3. Idli upma 
4. Fried Idli
5. Idli manchurian

You can use mini idlis or slice the idlis in cubes and then use. I used a mix of both mini idlis and chopped idlis. The recipe is quick and gets done within 20 minutes.

Serve idli chilly as a starter snack or a brunch.

How to make Chilli Idli

1. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a pan. Then add 2 cups chopped idlis or mini idlis.

2. Mix the idlis with the oil. Then on a low to medium heat, begin to pan fry the idlis.

3. Keep on tossing and turning them at intervals to evenly fry them.

4. Pan frying idlis take some more time than deep frying.

5. Fry the idlis till they are crisp and golden.

6. Remove them on a plate. Also remove any of the fried idli crumbs from the plate.

Making chilli idli

7. Then heat 1 tablespoon of oil in the same pan. When the oil becomes hot, then add 2 teaspoons finely chopped garlic, 1 teaspoon finely chopped ginger and 1.5 to 2 teaspoons finely chopped green chillies.

8. Stir fry on a medium-low or medium heat for some seconds.

9. Then add ¼ cup chopped onions or spring onions whites.

10. Stir fry till the onions turn translucent.

11. Then add ¼ cup sliced capsicum.

12. Stir fry for 2 to 3 minutes, till the capsicum is half cooked.

13. Then add ¼ teaspoon black pepper powder.

14. Also add ¼ to ⅓ teaspoon sugar or add as required and salt as per taste. Do add less salt as soy sauce, red chilli sauce will also be added which also have salt in them.

15. Mix very well.

16. Next add 1 teaspoon soy sauce or add as required.

17. Then add ½ teaspoon red chilli sauce or add as required.

18. Mix the sauces very well with the rest of the stir fried ingredients.

19. Add the pan fried idlis.

20. Stir and mix the idlis very well with the rest of the mixture. Then switch off the heat.

21. Serve chilli idli hot or warm as a snack. If you want, then you can garnish with some chopped coriander leaves or spring onion greens while serving.

If you are looking for more Idli varieties then do check:

• Rava idli
• Ragi idli
• Poha idli
• Oats Idli

This Chilli Idli post from the archives first published in November 2016 has been updated and republished on January 2023.