Breakfast
Tricolor Goli Idli | Masala Goli Idli

Tricolor Goli Idli | Masala Goli Idli


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Tricolor Goli Idli | Masala Goli Idli is a quick and simple recipe made from steamed rice flour balls. This is an ideal breakfast or snack meal.

The three colors used here resonate jubilant pride in the Indian national flag. Feel free to make with any other colored purees or no purees at all.

Masala Goli Idli revives memories of marbles that children, specially small boys played in days gone by. Whereby they would knock another marble (kancha) with their own kancha by flicking it just as one would use a catapult. Also, orange flavored Parle candy sweets were nicknamed as goli. So fast time flies, but memories linger on.

By now one would have guessed that goli idli balls are small cute dainty looking. Yes! These Tiranga Goli Idli balls look exuberantly vibrant. Read on to know how to make these edible beauties.

Why should you make Tricolor Goli Idli

  • Quick instant snack
  • Very few ingredients needed
  • Is versatile – can make in different color using natural colors
  • Visually appealing
  • Can be made ahead
tricolor goli idli 2

What is Masala Goli Idli

Masala Goli Idli is an instant alternative to fermented idli. These are soft , spongy pebble like balls made by steaming rice flour balls and then tempered with mustard seeds, sesame seeds, chilies, curry leaves and urad dal. No fermentation and soda is required in this recipe.

You could check out these snacks and appetizers too.

Crispy Aloo tikki

Beetroot Cutlet

Exotic Suran Tikki

Quinoa with Oats and Nuts Patties

Ingredients

goli idli ingredients
Goli idli ingredients

For Measurements refer to the RECIPE CARD further below.

  • Rice flour – You can use store bought rice flour
  • Ghee
  • Salt
  • Ginger chili paste – for spicy flavor
  • Purees for color – Carrot puree for orange color, coriander paste/puree for green color.
  • Water – Hot water
tempering ingredients
Tempering ingredients
  • Tempering – oil, mustard seeds, urad dal, sesame seeds, green chilies chopped, curry leaves, coriander leaves – for garnish

How To Make Tricolour Goli Idli

1. Take a cup of water in a saucepan and heat it. Add ghee, salt and ginger-chili paste.

1. Bring water to boil with salt, ghee and ginger-chili paste.

2. Let water come to a rolling boil.

3. Now add flour gradually. Mix continuously so that no lumps are formed.

2. Add rice flour to boiling water.

4. Mix well and keep covered for ten minutes.

5. After 10 minutes mix and smoothen out the rice mixture.

6. Divide the goli idli mixture into three parts.

3. Divide flour into three portions.

7. For white color, keep the first goli idli mixture plain.

4. Smoothen the plain dough.

8. For Orange color, mix in 2-3 tsp of carrot puree to the second Goli Idli mixture portion.

5. Add carrot puree to second portion and smoothen it.

9. For Green color, mix coriander puree with third goli idli mixture portion.  Now you have three colored mixtures to make the rice balls.

6. Add coriander paste to third portion and smoothen it.

10. Grease you palms and make small balls.

7. Make even size balls.

11. Steam them in a steamer for 10 minutes. Remove the balls from steamer.

8. Place goli idli in a steamer.

12. Heat a tbsp of oil. To this add mustard seeds. When they crackle add urad dal, sesame seeds, curry leaves and a pinch of asafoetida.

10. Prepare tempering.

13. Then add in the goli idli balls and gently mix.

11. Add goli idli to tempering.

14. Lastly, garnish with chopped coriander leaves.

What to serve with

Serve Goli Idli as an evening snack with coriander mint chutney , hot chili garlic sauce or coconut chutney and a cup of freshly brewed Coffee, Kadak Chai or Cardamom Caffe Latte.

You could serve at a snacking bar alongside others snacks such as Veggie Gunta Ponganalu , Mirchi Pakoda, Spinach Corn Bites.

Tips for Perfect Masala Goli Idli

  • There should be no cracks in the Goli Idli balls.
  • You could use other colored vegetable purees that suit party theme. At the time of writing this post, I had in mind the Indian National Flag. Similarly you could work out other colors too. Example turmeric powder for yellow color, beetroot puree for red color and so on.
  • While steaming the Goli Idli Balls should not snuggle to each other. Keep them separate so that they retain their perfectly spherical shape while steaming.
  • As much as possible try to consume the same day. Just in case if there are leftovers for the following day, then steam them a bit. If heating in a pan, then splash some water before heating. This will soften the goli idli balls.
  • Make small sized goli idli balls.
  • While tempering, you could add roasted chopped peanuts or cashew nuts.

FAQ

Yes by all means. You can omit vegetable purees. In that case you may have to sprinkle some more warm water to make smooth goli idli dough. Use flavors of your choice.

Sprinkle some more warm water on the mixture.

Over steaming may lead to hard Goli Idli

When tempering you could saute grated carrot, bell pepper or corn, spring onions and then toss in the goli idli.

Recipe Card

Masala Goli Idli pin recipe

Tricolor Goli Idli | Masala Goli Idli

Tricolor Goli Idli | Masala Goli Idli is a quick and simple recipe made from steamed rice flour balls. This is an ideal breakfast or snack meal. It is an instant alternative to fermented idli. These are soft , spongy pebble like balls made by steaming rice flour balls and then tempered with mustard seeds, sesame seeds, chilies, curry leaves and urad dal. No fermentation and soda is required in this recipe.
5 from 3 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Course Breakfast, Snacks
Cuisine Indian
Servings 30 goli balls

Equipment

  • Steamer
  • Big mixing bowl
  • Small mixing bowls
  • spatula

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup rice flour
  • 1 tbsp ghee
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp ginger chili paste
  • 1/8 cup carrot puree
  • 1/8 cup coriander paste/puree.
  • 1.25 cup water

Tempering:

  • 1 tbsp cooking oil You may use peanut oil, sesame seeds oil or ghee.
  • ½ tsp mustard seeds
  • 1 tsp urad dal
  • 1.5 tsp sesame seeds
  • 2 green chilies chopped.
  • 1 sprig curry leaves
  • 1 pinch asafoetida hing
  • Coriander leaves for garnish

Instructions
 

Make Goli Idli mixture/ dough

  • Take a cup of water in a saucepan and heat it. Add ghee, salt and ginger-chili paste.
  • Let water come to a rolling boil.
  • Now add flour gradually. Mix continuously so that no lumps are formed.
  • Mix well and keep covered for ten minutes.
  • After 10 minutes mix and smoothen out the rice flour mixture.

How to make Tricolor Goli Idli Mixture/Dough

  • Divide the goli idli mixture into three parts.
  • For white color, keep the first goli idli mixture plain.
  • For Orange color, mix in 2-3 tsp of carrot puree to the second Goli Idli mixture part.
  • For Green color, mix coriander puree with third goli idli mixture portion.  Now you have three coloured mixtures to make the rice balls.

How to shape  and steam Goli Idli

  • Grease you palms and make small balls.
  • Steam them in a steamer for 10 minutes. Remove the balls from steamer.

Tempering

  • Heat a tbsp of oil. To this add mustard seeds. When they crackle add urad dal, sesame seeds, curry leaves and a pinch of asafoetida.
  • Then add in the goli idli balls and gently mix.
  • Lastly, garnish with chopped coriander leaves.

What to serve with

Video

Flavorful Tricolor Goli Idli | Masala Goli Idli | Masala Goli Kadubu | Kaara Kozhukattai

Notes

  • There should be no cracks in the Goli Idli balls.
  • You could use other colored vegetable purees that suit party theme.  Example turmeric powder for yellow color, beetroot puree for red color and so on.
  • While steaming, the Goli Idli Balls should not snuggle to each other. Keep them separate so that they retain their perfectly spherical shape while steaming.
  • As much as possible try to consume Goli Idli the same day. Just in case if there are leftovers for the following day, then steam them a bit. If heating in a pan, then sprinkle some water before heating. This will soften the goli idli balls.
Keyword tiranga goli idli, Tri color goli idli recipe, tricolour goli idli, uppu urandai recipe

If you have liked Tricolour Goli Idli | Masala Goli Idli | Masala Goli Kadubu | Uppu Urandai | How to make Tiranga Goli Idli with step by step instructions video, do Subscribe to My Culinary Expressions YouTube Channel for more interesting videos.

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Mayuri Patel
9 months ago

5 stars
Love goli idli and make it often for breakfast.. mostly the plain one but whenever I have some carrot or spinach puree, then make them green or orange. Such a healthy and delicious snack.

Jayashree..T.Rao
9 months ago

5 stars

This is similar to ammini kozhukottai which I often prepare but I make only the white colour. It is one of the favourite food at home. The tri-colour goll idli looks so good.

Priya Srinivasan
9 months ago

5 stars

Tricolor Goli idli looks fabulous neha, infusing colors with vegetable purees adds to the nutrition quotient of this delish dish. Though we make it often, making it attractive with these natural colors is a great idea, will definitely try your way!