By Krati Purwar
July 9, 2025
How can you make idli without a steamer? Many people have this question, especially when they are setting up their kitchen. Here is your step-by-step guide to prepare South Indian idli in a cooker without hassle.
Don’t forget to add at least 1.5-2 cups of water to the pressure cooker. This will help to create the steam and cook the idli to perfection.
Grease the idli moulds or containers you are using to cook the batter. A little bit of oil helps to extract without breaking the idli.
Mix the fermented batter to incorporate air and deflate it. This will contribute to the softness of idli and add to the rise.
Pour the batter into moulds and assemble them on a stand. This will help you ensure that all lentil-rice cakes come out perfect.
When you subject the cooker to fire, remove its whistle. You need the batter to cook using steam. Pressure-cooking will disrupt the texture.
Keep the flame medium high for 12-15 minutes and turn off the heat. Wait for 5 minutes before opening the pressure cooker.
If the idli is done, gently remove them from the moulds and serve with sambar or coconut chutney.