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top shot of a plate of crispy deep fried idli bites, served with a schezwan chutney dip on the side
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Idli Fry (Fried Idli Recipe)

leftover idli recipe to make idli fry (fried idli recipe)
Course Beginner Recipes, Snack, Tea Time Snack
Cuisine Indian
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 6 leftover idlis

Ingredients

  • 6 idlis usually leftover ones
  • oil / oil spray based on method of frying

Instructions

  • Cut idlis into small bite sized pieces.

Deep Fry

  • Heat up oil in a kadai, and fry the idli bites, till they turn light golden brown & crispy on the outside.

Air Fry (my go-to method)

  • Spray the air fryer basket with oil (or grease the basket with oil), then add the idli bites in.
  • Air fry at 390 F for 10-15 minutes, till idli bites are lightly crispy on the outside. Time might vary based on kind of air fryer, and the level of crisp you prefer.
  • Serve fresh with a dip of your choice.

Video

Notes

  1. Leftover Idlis - You can always make idli fry with fresh idlis, but it's best to use leftover idlis that have dried out a bit, especially after refrigeration. Enjoy freshly steamed idlis with classic white coconut chutney or red coconut chutney. :)
  2. Bite Sized - Do not cut the idli into very small pieces, because there is a higher chance the idli bites will turn overly crispy, and not have the satisfying soft & chewy bite to them. Ideally they should be crisp on the outside & soft & chewy on the inside.
  3. Oven Bake - You can also drizzle a little oil on them and oven bake these idli bites. But I prefer air frying them because it is the quicker, less hassle method in this case, and we prefer the air fried texture too.