With online classes becoming the new way of life, my mornings are busy juggling between my daughter (who wants me to be with her during the class), my son (who needs me to be close to him as he always spends the first hour after waking up in my arms and nowhere else 😍) while preparing breakfast which we have to eat right after the class which gets over by 10 15 am. So, since I can’t spend time in kitchen making dosas, idlis are my best friend these days!! ❤️

I have shared many varieties of idlis which you can check in my Idli recipes collection. They have been very helpful for me nowadays as I can just put them to steam while sitting with both my kids and the idlis get ready by themselves. 😅

My daughter’s first term exam is soon coming (she’s only in 1st std 😄) but I take studies very seriously (aadat se majboor since my school days 😁). So made a little planner last night which I want to share with all of you. I started making such planners for each of her term exams since last year (when she was only in KG 2 😆) but it has been very helpful for both of us. I get to know when her exams are and what to teach her as this is always in front of my eyes. She also reads the spellings daily which makes her learn it very quickly. Sharing in case it is useful for any of you. Teaching small kids is not easy but this way has helped me a lot.

I have stuck it in front of our dining table or our makeshift study table or mainly our artist’s table 😄 as both my kids love to draw, colour and paint sitting on it. Here is a glimpse of it with my son wondering what Amma is upto 😅 while my daughter is busy writing.

Life changes a lot post kids and all our attention goes into their studies plus playing plus activities plus cooking for them, but I am grateful that they keep me very busy which is essential to not overthink, for the very sensitive me. Whenever I feel I am getting overwhelmed by thoughts, I make myself super busy with them so that I forget everything else. They are my blessings. ❤️❤️🙏🙏

On this note, sharing the recipe of these delicious idlis with all of you. This is a traditional Konkani recipe and makes me so happy to add this on my blog. Happy and healthy cooking! ❤️

RECIPE:

Ingredients: { Makes about 22 idlis }

2 Cups Idli Rava/ Rice Rava

2 Cups peeled and grated Pumpkin

1/2 Cup fresh or desiccated Coconut

1/2 Cup powdered or grated Jaggery

Salt to taste

1/8 tsp Cardamom powder

Note: Skip jaggery to make plain pumpkin idlis.

Step by step recipe:

1. Wash the Idli rava well two to three times. Then drain the water completely. Add grated pumpkin.

2. Now add coconut, salt, cardamom powder and about 2 cups water to make a slightly thick batter.

3. Grease idli moulds with oil/ghee and add the batter into each moulds. Let there be little water in each mould as shown.

Note: I filled half of the moulds with plain idli batter and added jaggery to the rest of the batter. Then filled the rest of the moulds with sweet idli batter.

4. Steam for 20 mins or till done.

Serve hot with a simple coconut chutney or sambar. Sweet ones can be relished with ghee.

Notes:

* If you are not much of a pumpkin or sweet lover, you can make a spicy chutney with these idlis. It masks the pumpkin flavour and balances the sweetness of the idlis well.

* You can skip jaggery completely if making plain ones.

* Cardamom powder is also optional for plain ones but gives a great aroma and flavour.

* You can also make extra sweet ones adding 1/4 Cup more of jaggery with raisins and cashews. Steam them in a vessel and cut into pieces. It is called Dudde Sannan if made that way.

* The 2 cups water is perfect for my idli rava. You can reduce or increase if needed. Don’t make the batter very thick nor very thin. There should be little water in each mould of the idli container. That’s what makes soft idlis.

* They are authentically steamed in Banana leaves but I make them in idli moulds. Still tastes delicious. Add little less water to the batter if steaming in banana leaves.

* I make a similar idli with Cucumber called Thoushe idli or Instant Cucumber idlis.

* One more instant idli with idli rava – Instant Poha Idlis

* You can check all my Idli recipes here – Idli recipes collection.