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Sunday, April 12, 2026

Instant Pot Idli Recipe - Beginner's Guide - How do you steam idli in an Instant Pot?


Instant Pot Idli - A beginner's guide

How do you steam idli in an Instant Pot?

Mine is INSTANT POT DUO 6 QT. Regular 6 plate idli stand, with 4 idlies in a plate, fits perfectly in this model. For a 3 qt. instant pot, idli plates which fits into that are available online or in stores.

Grease idli plates, fill with idli batter.

Add 1 cup of water in instant pot.

Place batter filled idli stand/plates in the instant pot.

Close the lid. Turn the knob to VENT position

Press STEAM MODE > LOW PRESSURE (use pressure button).

Countdown timer doesn't work in VENT position. Set a manual timer for 10 mins.

After 10 mins press CANCEL > NPR
(NPR-natural pressure release).

Soft, fluffy, perfect idlies are ready.

NOTE:
You can also allow water in the instant pot to boil first and then place the batter filled idli plates. If so, opt for 7 minutes manual timer.

Thursday, April 2, 2026

INSTANT POT WHEAT RAVA UPMA RECIPE

 

Instant-pot-upma-recipe

INSTANT POT WHEAT RAVA UPMA VIDEO ๐Ÿ‘‡๐Ÿ‘‡

No LPG? No worries. 

LPG cylinders remain the primary cooking fuel in most Indian homes. 

Using an Instant Pot is an effective solution to manage cooking daily meals without relying on gas. 

While at my son's home in US, I had been using Instant Pot extensively for cooking, and also for fermenting batter, sprouting, yoghurt making etc. Now, it's time to use it in India. 

Instant pot is a "set-and-forget" pressure cooker which cooks Rice, dal, stir fry, porridge, curries, and stews etc. which is very useful in desi cooking as well.

This Instant pot wheat rava upma was done in a 6qt Instant Pot DUO model. 

INGREDIENTS:

Roasted wheat rava - 1 cup
Water - 2+1/4 cups
Mixed vegetables
(Tomato,carrot, peas, beans, cauliflower)
Green or red chillies - 2
Curry leaves - few
Turmeric powder- 1/4 tsp.
Salt - to taste
Hing - 1/4 tsp.
Ghee - optional

To Temper:
Oil - 2 tablespoons
Mustard seeds - 1/4 tsp.
Gram dhal- 1/4 tsp.
Urad dhal - 1/2 tsp.

Coriander leaves - to garnish

METHOD:

Chop vegetables and tomatoes. 

Switch on instant pot, select SAUTE MODE > ON > HOT
Pour oil, temper with given ingredients, add vegetables, green chillies, curry leaves, sautรฉ for a minute, add roasated rava, mix well, add 2+1/4 cups water, stir. If you want a mushy upma add some more water.

CLOSE LID > SEALING POSITION 
Change settings:
SEALED POSITION > CANCEL SAUTE
PRESSURE COOK > LOW PRESSURE > 5 MINUTES > NPR (No Pressure release)

When done, fluff with a fork, drizzle a spoon of ghee, garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot with chutney or sambar. 

STOVE TOP METHOD LINK: https://www.shanthisthaligai.com/2009/11/vegetable-wheat-rawa-upma.html?m=0

NOTE: Do not panic if you get a BURN message, just stop the cooking cycle. Turn the knob to VENT position. Scrape off if anything is stuck to the bottom. Sprinkle some water if necessary. Cook on SAUTE for few minutes, covered with a glass or stainless steel lid and it will be done. 

Wednesday, September 24, 2025

BLACK EYED PEAS SUNDAL RECIPE, KARAMANI SUNDAL RECIPE, LOBIA SUNDAL RECIPE


How-to-make-lobia-karamani-sundal, How-to-make-black-eyed-peas-sundal

Black eyed peas / Lobia, karamani in tamil, rich in fibres and protein, is available in two varieties red and white. 


INGREDIENTS:

White karamani 
(Black eyed peas/Lobia) - 1 cup
Salt - to taste
Coriander leaves- to garnish

To temper:
Mustard seeds - 1/4 tsp.
Urad dhal - 1 tsp.
Turmeric powder- a pinch (optional)
Hing - 1/4 tsp.
Curry leaves - few
Oil - 1 tablespoon

To grind coarsely without water:
Green chillies - 2
Scraped coconut - 1/4 cup

METHOD:

Dry roast karamani, soak for 2 hours and pressure cook along with salt for 2 whistles or until soft. When the pressure releases, take out, drain the water and keep aside.

In a kadai, heat oil, add ingredients given in "to temper", add cooked karamani, mix well, add the coarsely ground mixture, saute for a minute. Mix well. Garnish with coriander leaves. Serve hot or warm