Exotic and Ethnic Idly: Ultra Healthy - Sweet and Salt Idlies or Dumplings Steamed in Turmeric Leaves

Turmeric as we know is a popular tuber here in India, it has medicinal properties. It is used as food colour enhancer(Yellow), it is auspicious to use it during Marriages and Festivals.

In the market recently I discovered them selling the fresh leaves of this tuber. Here in the Konkan coast along Goa, Udupi and Mangalore Banana leaves, Jackfruit leaves or leaves of turmeric are used to make Steamed Dumplings. So I decided to use these Turmeric Leaves I try out this recipe. 

I made two versions of these Dumplings with usual Idly batter; one Sweet and the other Salty. Both are steamed in Turmeric Leaves.

Fresh cleaned Turmeric leaves

Idly batter

mixture of grated  green chillies,ginger,fresh coconut

spice mix 

Idly batter topping with mixture of spices on turmeric leaf(a drop of ghee or vegetable oil brush it on leaf)

mixture of grated dry coconut and powdered sugar and 1/2 a tea spoon of cardamom powder (for flavor) sweet mix 

Sweet filling on turmeric leaf

after filling fold it 

filling with folded leaves arranged for  steaming in Idly cooker plate

dumplings are steaming in idly cooker

steamed dumplings are ready to serve

hot and flavored steamed sweet dumplings ready to serve topping with little ghee(clarified butter)

nice aromatic Steamed Salt and Spicy dumplings ready to serve with coconut chutney or sambar or Idly podi