Tricolor Cocktail Idli is a delicious and colourful twist to regular Idlis and is a perfect recipe to celebrate Indian Independence Day. Different purees are added to the batter to get the Tricolor - Saffron, White, and Green.

Idlis are soft and fluffy steamed cakes made with fermented rice and lentil batter. They are popular healthy breakfast food from South India and are often served with Sambar and chutney. Idlis are easily digestible and can be given to all age groups.
For making Tricolor Cocktail Idli, we do not add any artificial food colorings. Different vegetable purees are added to the Idli batter to get the desired color.
Check the Tricolor Idli Recipe from before where I have added Tomato Chili Puree to get the Saffron/Orange color and Coriander leaves and Green Peas for the Green color.
Tricolor Cocktail Idli is an interesting cocktail appetizer of mini idli variety and can be served for potlucks, get-togethers, or parties celebrating Indian Independence Day or Republic Day.
This is vegetarian idli where I have added carrots for the orange color and spinach leaves for the green.
You can cook this dish with your kids and will make for an interesting lunchbox recipe when they'd need to take tricolor foods to school.
Tricolor Cocktail Idlis are
- perfect for celebrating Indian Independence Day and Republic Day
- ideal for potlucks, get-togethers, and kids lunchboxes
- healthy and nutritious
- can be made into regular-sized idlis as well
What more! You can also make regular-sized Idlis using this colorful batter and it will make for a light, healthy breakfast option as well. This recipe will take care of a filling nutritious breakfast since it is prepared with rice, dal, carrot, and spinach- all ingredients best for nourishing.
I have served these colourful mini idlis with tricolor chutneys - tomato onion chutney, coconut white chutney, and mint chutney.
Ingredients You'll Need
All you will need to make Tricolor Cocktail Idli are Idli batter, carrots, and spinach. That said, we can make different variations to this recipe.
Here are few ideas that you can do.
🔪Variations You Can Make
- Idli Batter: You can use readymade storebought idli batter for this recipe. We can also use this recipe with semolina or rava idlis as well.
- Orange Layer: For this recipe, I have used carrots unlike before where I had used tomato. You can also add a little sugar to the diced carrots and idli batter before blending to make it sweet. It will be perfect for kids.
- Green Layer: To make the green layer, I blended spinach leaves with the batter. I have also added a green chili to make it interesting.
⏳ Storage Instructions
- Idli batter can be stored in the refrigerator for upto 2 days. But always make fresh batches of coloured batter.
How to Make Tricolor Cocktail Idli
- Season three cups of idli batter and mix well.
- Divide the idli batter into three equal parts in three different bowls.
- To one bowl, add a cup of diced carrots and a teaspoon of sugar.
- Blend to a smooth batter without adding water.
- To another bowl, add 4 to 5 Spinach leaves and a green chili. You may also add a pinch of turmeric powder and/or turmeric powder to enhance the taste and green color.
- Blend to a smooth batter without adding water.
- Bring water to a boil in a steamer.
- Grease the idli mould with ghee or oil.
- Using a spoon, pour the batter into the moulds and place the idli stand in the steamer.
- Steam for 7 to 10 minutes.
- Open the lid of the steamer and using a toothpick check the doneness. If the toothpick comes out clean, switch off the stove and remove the idli mould from the steamer.
- Let it cool for a couple of minutes.
- Using a spoon, demould the idlis.
Tricolor Idli Recipe Video
If you enjoyed this video, please subscribe to Youtube Channel and click the bell icon so you’ll be the first to know when I post a new video. THANK YOU for subscribing!
What to Eat with Idli
- Idli is often served piping hot with Sambar and chutney.
- One can also sprinkle some ghee over the idli.
- There are many varieties of chutneys that you can serve with Idli. Here are a few examples.
White Coconut Chutney, Red Coconut Chutney, Tomato Chutney, Onion Chutney, Mint Chutney, Peanut Chutney, Raw Mango Chutney.
Tricolor Cocktail Idli Recipe
PrintTricolor Cocktail Idli | Tiranga Mini Idli
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 persons 1x
Description
Tricolor Cocktail Idli is a delicious and colourful twist to regular Idlis and is a perfect recipe to celebrate Indian Independence Day.
Ingredients
- 3 cups Idli Batter
- 1 cup Carrot, diced
- 1 tsp Sugar
- 4-5 nos. Spinach
- 1-2 Green Chilies
- Salt, to taste
Optional:
- A pinch of Red Chili Powder
- A pinch of Turmeric Powder
Instructions
- To make Tricolor Cocktail Idlis, first season idli batter and mix well.
- Divide the idli batter into three equal parts into three different bowls.
- To one bowl, add diced carrots and sugar.
- Blend to a smooth batter without adding water. Keep aside.
- To another bowl, add spinach leaves and green chili. You may also add a pinch of turmeric powder and/or turmeric powder to enhance the taste and green color.
- Blend to a smooth batter without adding water. Keep aside.
- Bring water to a boil in a steamer.
- Grease the idli mould with ghee or oil.
- Using a spoon, pour the batter into the moulds and place the idli stand in the steamer.
- Steam for 7 to 10 minutes.
- Open the lid of the steamer and using a toothpick check doneness. If the toothpick comes out clean, switch off the stove and remove the idli mould from the steamer.
- Let it cool for a couple of minutes.
- Using a spoon, demould the idlis.
- Skewer the idlis in the order of tricolor - orange, followed by white, and green in a toothpick.
- Serve hot with tricolor chutneys- tomato onion chutney, white coconut chutney, mint coriander chutney, preferably.
Notes
Do not add water while blending. If the batter is runny, the idli will not fluff up while steaming. It will result in a flat idly.
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 10 mins
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Indian
Keywords: tricolor idli, cocktail idli, tricolor food, colourful idli, what to eat with idli
✨Try these out next! ✨
Like this recipe? Pin it!
Tag me on Instagram @somethingis_cooking
Don’t miss out on any new updates.
Subscribe to my blog (find the subscription box below and on top of the website).
Share and connect with me on social media.
Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | YouTube
Love love.
Leave a Reply