Idiyappam / String Hoppers with Potato Kurma

Idiyappam or String Hoppers is one of my favorite dish, But, In our house, we do not make this often, as my mom was also working, she never find time for it. But next to our house, one grandma, used to sell this. So my mom used to buy this from her. I do not know how they will make it, but it was the soft and yummy and tasty idiyappams I have ever tasted. After coming here, my hubby used to get the ready made idiyappams as I do not know how to make it. But I want to try this for myself so that I can have my own fresh idiyappams. So last december when I went India, I bought the Sevei press/Idiyappam maker (Called Sevai Nazhi) the one, which is used to make the idiyappams.

My first experience in making idiyappams was really very tough. After 3rd idiyappam, I could not press the sevai at all. My hands were paining so much. I was thinking, why it is so hard to press, though I used to remove and clean the dough from the sevai each time. I actually called my hubby to press and give it for me. You know what happened, he too, could not press it, the dough has become so tight. Then my idiyappam flour, finally turned to kozhukattai. I lost my hope of making it. Three weeks later, I got store bought idiyappam flour and I wanted to give a try again. This time, instead of adding the full flour, I added 1/2 cup flour and added 1.5 cup water and water and started pressing idiyappams when the dough is still hot and to my surprise, it came out so easily. I was so happy. I repeated the same and I find this way to be very easy. I had it with kurma. So, for the beginners like me, you can follow this method. Ok, now lets go to the idiyappam recipe.

You can check how to prepare the other idiyappam below
Ragi idiyappam
Tomato Idiyappam

Idiyappam Recipe

Preparation time: 15 min | Cook Time: 10 min | Serves: 4

Recipe Category: Breakfast | Recipe Cuisine: South Indian

Ingredients

Raw rice flour/Idiyappam flour - 2 cup
Boiling water - 4 cups or as needed
Salt - as per taste
Oil - 1 to 2 tsp

Method to Prepare Idiyappam

1. In a bowl add the rice flour, salt, oil and add the boiling water little by little and start mixing it so that the flour gets cooked and comes to a pliable dough.

2. The dough should be soft and not to be watery. (When you try to make it to a shape, you should able to do it easily without any problem). Make the dough in to oval shapped balls, and fill 3/4 in the idiyappam maker

3. Now grease the idiyappam plates with little oil and press the idiyappam maker slowly in circular motion.

4. Now keep the plates inside the idiyappam cooker or idli cooker and  steam cook the plates as you cook for making idli's. After 8 to 10 minutes, reduce the flame and slight touch your idiyappam to check if it is cooked (The dough should not stick in your fingers).

5. Tasty idiyappam is ready.

My old photo

Notes:

• If using Idiyappam flour, check for the salt first. If you really need the salt, then add it.
• Before steam cooking, you can sprinkle the grated coconut, sugar and little cardamon powder, to make the idiyappams more flavor. As my family members, like to have it with kurma, I did it with potato kurma normally. 
• You can also use the idli plates or the plate which contains holes, so that, the idiyappams can be steam cooked.