Instant Rava Uttapam 

(Savory Cream of Wheat Pancake), 

with Eggplant Chutney/Kathirikkai Thogayal (Thuvaiyal)

This made a yummy South Indian breakfast. The Rava Uttapam recipe is from Hebbar's Kitchen. Although this Uttapam batter has to rest for 20 minutes before cooking, it's still "instant" compared to other traditional versions. The Thogayal recipe is from Padhu's Kitchen. This was a great way to start the day!

Hebbar's Kitchen Website, Instant Uttapam Recipe

Hebbar's Kitchen YouTube, Instant Rava Uttapa Recipe

Padhu's Kitchen Website, Brinjal [Eggplant] Chutney -- Kathirikkai Thogayal (Thuvaiyal)

Rava Idli 

(South Indian Savory Dumplings)

Here they are featured with some coconut oil and sprinkled with chutney powder (idli podi). These were from the recipe of Nisha Madhulika. I steamed them in an Instant Pot (not sponsored), using a very special idli rack. (You can get a glimpse of the idli rack, in the back left of the pic.) Yesterday was #worldidliday !

These idlis are considered "instant" although the batter must rest for 20 minutes, as that is still much quicker than the traditional version. The rava/sooji is basically cream of wheat/farina, and is mixed with yogurt. A little baking soda is added just before steaming, to further lighten the idlis.

These were very tasty just eaten plain, and even better as pictured here. I've been eating them for breakfast that way. Yummy!

Nisha Madhulika Website, Rava Idli Recipe

Nisha Madhulika YouTube, Rava Idli Recipe

Almond Halwa 

(Indian Milk Fudge)

I made this with ground almonds, sooji/cream of wheat, milk, sugar, and cardamom. The recipe is from Suneeta Vaswani's Easy Indian Cooking. Halwa is an Indian sweet that's thicker than a pudding. I've seen it described as "fudge." This one stays nicely in the fridge for several days. 

Instant Rava Kuzhi Paniyaram 

(South Indian Savory Dumplings)

These were from the recipe of Hebbar's Kitchen. These dumplings are made from rava/sooji/farina/cream of wheat, mixed with yogurt. They are "instant" even though the batter must rest for 20 minutes, as this is still much quicker than the traditional version. I cooked these in an ebelskiver pan, as I don't have an appam/paniyaram pan.

The results were amazing! Even with using little oil, they were still a bit crispy. The leftovers kept in the fridge weren't crispy, but were still spongy and yummy for the time they lasted. They were good just by themselves with whole-milk yogurt.

Hebbar's Kitchen Website, Instant Kuzhi Paniyaram Rava Appe 

Hebbar's Kitchen YouTube, Paniyaram recipe | Instant appe recipe | Instant rava kuzhi paniyaram 

Instant Rava Toast

(Eggless Indian Savory French Toast)

This was from the recipe of Something's Cooking with Alpa. Basically, rava/sooji/semolina/cream of wheat is mixed with yogurt, spices, and veggies. The mixture is spread on a piece of bread, and fried on a griddle on both sides. (Though the recipe calls for butter, I used my usual oil.) Very yummy! When I ran out of bread, I just fried the remaining rava topping as a pancake (1st photo).

This is a great use for leftover bread. For example, I like Calabrese Italian bread from the store, which is oval; sometimes I have to be creative to use the much smaller slices left at the end. That's what is featured here, with defrosted frozen chopped veggies (mirepoix mix = onion, carrot, celery; and green bell pepper).

Something's Cooking with Alpa Website, Instant Rava Toast Recipe -- Open toast sandwich 

Something's Cooking with Alpa YouTube, Instant Rava Toast Recipe -- Open toast sandwich

Rava Idli 

(South Indian Savory 

Steamed Dumplings)

These were made from rava/sooji/farina (like Cream of Wheat), and steamed in an Instant Pot (not sponsored).

The idli batter is from the Rava Idli recipe of Nisha Madhulika , and is an "instant idli" (no long fermentation required, just a short wait of 20-30 minutes). I used the cooking instructions for the Unicorn Idli of Instapottin' with Poonam. The idli rack was a gift from my sister-in-law, and I was waiting to use it.

I enjoyed the first few Idlis with chutney powder, coconut oil, and whole-milk yogurt. What shall I make with the rest of my new stash of Idlis? Hmmm... 

Nisha Madhulika Website, Rava Idli Recipe 

Nisha Madhulika YouTube, Rava Idli Recipe - Soft & Spongy South Indian Suji Idli

Instapottin' with Poonam Website, Unicorn Idli

Instapottin' with Poonam YouTube, Unicorn Idli in the Instant Pot

Basbousa Madeleines

Basbousa, or Namoura, is a cake-like sweet, soaked in syrup, from the Middle East. Normally, it's in the form of squares, but here, I've been inspired by @ahava_x 's post of August 15, featuring it in Madeleine form. These were very light and yummy.

I used the Basbousa recipe kindly provided, but used ground almonds instead of coconut, and coconut oil instead of butter or margarine. I added a pinch of salt, and then, just "for insurance," a pinch of baking soda. I had an open bottle of rosewater 🌹, so I used that to flavor the syrup. It took about 20 minutes of baking at 350 F to get them "done." (I kept checking on them, at 8 minutes, then 14 minutes, and then every minute or 2 afterwards.)

I added the "insurance" of baking soda, as until recently, every time I made any form of Basbousa, it basically ended up heavy like a brick! Very disappointing. I eventually realized that the recipes I was using for Basbousa, which called for "semolina," actually were referring to semolina *flour* (and not the semolina/farina/sooji/rava, like Cream of Wheat, used in many Indian recipes). However, I still get just a little nervous whenever I make Basbousa, lest it should be another brick.

@ahava_x Instagram, 15 August 2017

Rava Idli (Savory Steamed Dumplings)

These steamed dumplings from South India are from the recipe of Nisha Madhulika on YouTube, and made from rava/sooji/farina/like Cream of Wheat. I steamed them in an Instant Pot (not sponsored 😉), basing it on Instapottin with Poonam's instructions for Dhokla. These Rava Idli were simple but tasty. I used an egg poacher, but now that I know the method that works, I should get an idli steamer! 

Nisha Madhulika Website, Rava Idli Recipe [English] 

Nisha Madhulika YouTube, Rava Idli Recipe  

Instapottin with Poonam Website, Dhokla

Instapottin with Poonam YouTube, Dhokla

Sooji Upma 

(South Indian Savory Porridge)

This was made from sooji/rava/farina/semolina (like Cream of Wheat). This is based on the recipe of @justagirlfrommumbai as seen on a recent Instagram Story, as well as her website. I think I added a little too much turmeric! (which changed the color). Also, I have to grind up cashews, so you can't see them here. However, that has nothing to do with the taste. This dish was warm and comforting, as well as nourishing. It's excellent with yogurt.

Just a Girl from Aamchi Mumbai Website, Another Breakfast Post - Sooji Upma

Dalia 

(Indian breakfast of warm grains, milk, & sugar)

The recipe is from Julie Sahni's Classic Indian Vegetarian and Grain Cooking. My version uses sooji/rava/farina/semolina/like cream of wheat, instead of actual dalia (a kind of cracked wheat) or the bulgar wheat the recipe calls for. So, I guess I should really call it Sooji? Here it is pictured with honey and ground cardamom.