Idiyappam is prepared from a dough prepared with rice flour. The idiyappa podi (idiyappam flour) is available in the stores, but it can be prepared at home as well.

In order to prepare the rice flour, soak raw rice in water for 3 hours. Drain the water and spread the rice on a cloth for 15 minutes. Grind the rice to a very fine powder.

If you are buying the flour from the store, you dont have to roast the powder, since it is already roasted. If the powder is prepared at home, roast the powder till it turns brown in colour.

Heat water in a vessel and add salt to it. Add the idiyappam flour to it and mix well till a smooth dough is prepared. Add coconut milk to it to improve the smoothness.

Add a little bit of grated coconut to all the moulds in the idli steamer. Add the dough to the idiyappam sieve and press it over each mould in the idli steamer in a circular motion. Strings of the dough would fall through the sieve.

Steam the idiyappam in a pressure cooker for 10 minutes. You would need 2.5 cups of water.

Pop out the idiyappams from the idli steamer and serve with coconut milk or stew.