What is Idli Manchurian?
Chilli Idli, or idli manchurian is an Indian Chinese fusion snack. It is made with idlis coated in cornstarch, fried till crisp, and tossed in sauces and vegetables. The dish got its name from the famous Indian Chinese fusion main course Manchurian – which has a similar cooking process. A Manchurian can be made with – cauliflower, vegetarian meatballs, mushroom, soya chunks, or paneer. In this idli manchurian recipe, we have used steamed idli as the main ingredient. Feel free to add desired vegetables of your choice to the Manchurian, such as – capsicum, red bell pepper, baby corn, beans, or mushroom.
What kind of idli is BEST for making chilli idli?
Any idli variety is suitable for making manchurian. There is no hard and fast rule. You can use plain rice idli, masala idli, or Kanchipuram idli for making chilli idli fry. On many occasions, I have used the instant rava idli for this Manchurian recipe, and the result was gratifying.
Watch Chilli Idli Video
Serving Suggestion
These idli fry bites make an excellent starter for an Indo-Chinese party, potluck, or kid’s birthday party. You can enjoy them as a teatime snack also. I should confess that this chilli idli fry recipe is a regular teatime snack in our family because I always end up with an extra batch of idli from breakfast or lunch. And what could be a better way to use them than making Indian Chinese style idli Manchurian. You can pack them for the school lunchbox also. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter or follow us on Youtube for video recipes.
