Beat Summer Breakfast Boredom: 5 Steamed South Indian Dishes Beyond Idli

Idiyappam

If you love noodles, Idiyappam will definitely win you over. Also called string hoppers, these are thin and soft noodles made from rice flour that are steam-cooked. They have a mild taste, so they’re eaten with coconut milk, sweet grated coconut, or a spicy vegetable stew. It makes for an extremely refreshing breakfast in summer.

Puttu

Puttu is one of the most famous and traditional breakfast dishes in Kerala. It is made by mixing coarse rice flour with freshly grated coconut and steaming it in a special cylindrical vessel. As beautiful as it looks, it is incredibly delicious to eat and can be enjoyed with black chickpea curry (Kadala Curry) or simply with ripe bananas and sugar

Kozhukattai

Kozhukattai is a traditional South Indian dish, known as Steamed Rice Dumplings or Rice Cakes in English. It is made from rice flour and is steamed. Its types and flavors are as follows Sweet Kozhukattai: It is usually made with a sweet mixture of grated coconut and jaggery (called poorna). It is considered to be a South Indian version of Modak. Salt/Spicy Kozhukattai: It is steamed by giving it different shapes (like pidi) with fingers. It is tempered with salt, chilli and Curry Leaves

Kadubu

In Karnataka, Kadubu is a very popular steamed dish. It’s quite similar to idli, but its cooking method makes it truly special. Idli batter is poured into small molds made of jackfruit or banana leaves and steam-cooked. Cooking in leaves gives it an incredibly earthy aroma that instantly whets your appetite. You can serve it with your favorite coconut or mint chutney.

Ela Ada

If you love something lightly sweet for breakfast, Ela Ada is made for you. To prepare it, a thin base of rice flour is made and filled with a sweet mix of jaggery and fresh coconut. It’s then wrapped in a banana leaf and steam-cooked. The aroma of the banana leaf combined with the sweetness of jaggery creates a flavor that melts in your mouth. You can enjoy it with your morning tea or coffee.