Here is a collection of 30+ Idli varieties with different types of idli batter recipes from my website. Idli is a staple food in South India. One can enjoy different types of idli recipes at home for breakfast and dinner. If you’re a fan of South Indian cuisine, exploring different idli varieties in Tamil nadu can be an exciting culinary journey. Before and after marriage, my taste towards food has changed drastically but idli is the only dish that makes my breakfast / dinner time happy.

Idli is the most popular breakfast recipes of South India especially in Tamil nadu, Karnataka. It is nothing but steamed rice cake made using a fermented rice and urad dal batter. It is a healthy, easily digestible, ideal for travel, steam cooked, oil free, very light and moreover very tasty when had with chutney & sambar as side dish. I bet no south Indian breakfast recipe (especially in Tamil nadu) can beat this simple idli recipe, agreed?. So I keep searching & trying varieties of idli recipes.
Be it oats or any millets, I can have it in idli form more than porridge or upma. In this collection, you can find 4 types of idli, dosa batter recipes which gives you soft idli & crispy dosa. Among these 4, 2 recipes are traditional ones like idli, dosa batter using Indian wet grinder, one using mixie & one is with idli rava in mixie.
Other idli batter recipes include Rava idli, Kanchipuram idli, Kushboo idli, Oats idli, Millet idli, and varieties made with brown rice, barley, ragi, jowar, black rice, bamboo rice, organic rice, and Kerala red rice, as well as Karnataka specials like Thatte idli and idli made with idli rava. Along with these, you can find some Instant idli recipes too. I have plans to post more idli recipes in future. I will keep updating this page whenever I post here.
Do try these idli varieties for breakfast or dinner and enjoy the variations. Even bachelors can try these as most of these batter can be prepared using mixie. For people who live in abroad, fermenting idli batter is very difficult. So I have made a separate post for that with tips. Please check that link in the end. Soon I’ll try to share a collection of dosa recipes & left over idli recipes. Ok, lets see the different types of Idli recipes and idli batter recipes with pictures and video.
IDLI VARIETIES | DIFFERENT TYPES OF IDLI RECIPES
Here is the compilation of the best idli varieties from my blog for making hassle-free, healthy Indian breakfast and dinner. You can find different types of idli prepared in Tamil Nadu style, Andhra and Karnataka idli recipes. I have also shared some instant idli recipes that can be made under 15 minutes. Hope you will find this list of different idli varieties helpful for exploring various idli recipes. Please click on the title or image for the recipe.
Idli Recipe ( Idli batter recipe in grinder)
Traditional idli batter recipe using a Indian wet grinder for beginners with all pro tips and tricks to make a perfect, soft and spongy idli. Not just idli, you can make crispy dosa, spongy uttappam, paniyaram with leftover idli batter as well.
Idli dosa batter recipe in Mixie
After so many attempts, I am hooked to this perfect recipe of making idli, dosa batter in Indian mixie. Adding ice water, Aval / Poha and few more tips helps to make super soft, spongy idli and crispy dosa. Do check out this recipe. I am sure you will love the results.
Karnataka Idli Rava Idli Recipe
Idli using idli rava is Karnataka special idli recipe made with idli rava i.e rice rava and urad dal. You can find this idli in all the hotels of Karnataka. Idli sambar dip and Idli chutney dip is most popular in Bangalore, Udupi and other places. This crumbly idli dipped in sweet tasting sambar and spicy chutney tastes ultimate. This idli batter can be easily prepared using a mixer grinder and it can be made under 1 hour as we don’t need to soak idli rava. All you need is to soak and grind urad dal. Add idli rava, mix well and leave for overnight fermentation. Tada ! your super soft and crumbly idli rava idli is ready. Do check out this post for more details.
Brown rice Idli Recipe
Healthy Brown rice idli recipe without using idli rice. It is a soft idli batter recipe made with brown rice, urad dal, methi seeds and poha. It has been tried and tasted by many of my readers. Do check it out.
Kushboo Idli Recipe – Mallige Idli
Kushboo idli recipe also known as Mallige idli is most popular in Tamilnadu. This idli is named after South Indian actress Kushboo. Check out the recipe with step by step pictures and video.
Raw Rice Idli Recipe – Pacharisi Idli
Raw rice idli recipe / Pacharisi idli recipe is prepared for festivals like Varalakshmi vratham and Ganesh Chaturthi in Tamil nadu and Andhra. I have shared this recipe with Ponni rice. Do check it out.
Hotel style thatte idli recipe
Karnataka special hotel style soft thatte idli recipe with step by step pictures and video. This recipe gives super soft thatte idli better than hotels. Do give it a try.
Thatte idli recipe
Karnataka style traditional thatte idli recipe. This is another version without using Sabudana / Sago. You don’t need to use cooking soda either.
No exaggaration.Iam speechless.Excellent.Thanks for commenting on my blog.
Superb, best in your blog :)
Thank u :)
fantastic idli recipes …colorful dhamaka …
Awesome collection!! love the variations ..
nice collection Chitra.. Would love to try it out..
nice collection Chitra. Would love to try out some of these. .
For a moment after seeing ur clicks, I thought it was from Murugan Idli, awesome awesome. Would love to enjoy all the varieties. Bookmarked
Nice collection of idli recipes dear..
Agree with Ms. Chitchat..really the pictures look like from Murugan Idli…bookmarking the page