Ghee Podi Idli: What It Is, Easy Recipe and Calories

Ghee podi idli is soft idli coated in podi, a spicy roasted lentil powder, and soaked in hot ghee. It takes about 15 minutes once you have idlis and podi ready, and it is the dish that made the Rameshwaram Cafe in Bengaluru famous.

Below: what it is, a full home recipe with quantities, thatte and button idli versions, a rough calorie count, and how the Rameshwaram Cafe version is described and priced in published sources.

Main ingredients: Idli, podi (gunpowder), ghee
Time: About 15 minutes with ready idlis; 20 minutes extra for podi
Serves: 2 (recipe below)
Calories (estimate): About 350 kcal for 4 idlis, 1 tbsp podi, 1 tbsp ghee
Rameshwaram Cafe price: Rs 80 reported (Bengaluru board copy, Apr 2024)

What is ghee podi idli?

Ghee podi idli is steamed idli tossed in two things: podi, a dry powder of roasted lentils, red chillies and sesame (often called gunpowder), and plenty of hot ghee. The ghee soaks in and makes the podi cling to every piece, so you get a soft centre with a spicy, nutty coating.

It is a Karnataka and Tamil Nadu tiffin item, usually eaten with coconut chutney and sambar on the side. The name changes with the idli used:

Ghee podi thatte idli: made with thatte idli, the large, flat "plate" idli of Karnataka.
Ghee podi button idli: made with tiny button (mini) idlis, which take on more podi because of the extra surface.
Ghee karam podi idli: the Andhra style, with a hotter karam podi.

Ghee podi idli recipe

This makes 2 servings. Use leftover idlis or fresh ones, and make the podi once to last a few weeks.

For the podi (about 1 cup)

Urad dal: 1/2 cup
Chana dal: 1/4 cup
Dry red chillies: 8 to 10 (mix Byadgi for colour and Guntur for heat)
White sesame seeds: 2 tbsp
Curry leaves: 1 sprig
Asafoetida (hing): 1/4 tsp
Jaggery or sugar: 1 tsp (optional, Karnataka style)
Salt: 1 tsp, or to taste
Oil: 1 tsp

For the idlis

Idlis: 8 regular, 4 thatte idlis, or about 24 button idlis
Ghee: 3 to 4 tbsp
Podi: 3 to 4 tbsp
To serve: coconut chutney and sambar

Heat the oil in a heavy pan on low heat. Roast the urad dal and chana dal until golden and fragrant, about 6 to 8 minutes. Remove to a plate.
In the same pan, roast the red chillies for a minute until crisp, then the curry leaves until dry, then the sesame seeds until they start to pop. Add the hing at the end.
Cool everything fully. Grind with salt and jaggery to a coarse powder. Do not over-grind or it turns oily.
Steam or warm the idlis. Cut regular or thatte idlis into halves or quarters; leave button idlis whole.
Melt the ghee in a wide pan on low heat. Add the idlis and toss for a minute.
Sprinkle the podi over and toss gently until every piece is coated. Pour a little extra ghee on top just before serving.
Serve hot with chutney and sambar.

Store the podi in an airtight jar for up to a month. A spoon of podi mixed with ghee also works as a quick dip for plain idli or dosa.

Variations

Podi idli without ghee: use sesame oil (gingelly oil), as many Tamil homes do.
Garlic podi: roast 6 to 8 garlic cloves with the chillies for a sharper flavour.
Less spicy: cut the chillies to 4 or 5 and add a little extra sesame.
Lunch box idli: pack podi-coated button idlis; they stay soft and do not need chutney.
Ghee podi khara bath or dosa: the same podi and ghee finish is used on upma (khara bath) and dosa at many darshinis.

Ghee podi idli at the Rameshwaram Cafe

Ghee podi idli is the dish most closely tied to the Rameshwaram Cafe. Time Out lists it among the things the brand is known for, together with benne dosas, filter coffee and generous use of ghee. On a third-party copy of the Bengaluru price board from April 2024, "Ghee Pudi Idli" is one of the marked signature items.

Reported price, Bengaluru: Rs 80 (third-party transcription of the dine-in board, Apr 2024). The board also lists ghee sambar button idli at Rs 75 and ghee pudi khara bhath at Rs 75.
Reported price, airport: Rs 315 at the Kempegowda International Airport outlet, per a traveller's bill reported by Asianet Newsable in February 2026 (news report).
Timings on the board: listed under breakfast and tiffin, 6:30 to 11:30 AM and again from 4 PM to 1 AM (Apr 2024 board copy).
Other idlis named by the brand: butter idli, ghee button idli, ghee thatte idli, lemon idli and Kanchipuram idli.

There is no official price list online. Prices differ by outlet and city, delivery app prices are higher than counter prices, and the 2024 figures above are likely out of date. Check the outlet board or app before you order.

For the full board, see the Rameshwaram Cafe menu guide. For what to pair it with, see what to order.

Ghee podi idli calories

Calories depend mostly on how much ghee goes on. Using generic values from the FatSecret food database (about 40 kcal for one plain idli, 63 kcal for one tablespoon of idli podi and 127 kcal for one tablespoon of ghee), a rough estimate for one home serving is:

Serving	Approx. calories
4 regular idlis, plain	about 160 kcal
plus 1 tbsp podi	about 63 kcal
plus 1 tbsp ghee	about 127 kcal
Total	about 350 kcal

This is an estimate for a home portion, not a figure for any cafe. A cafe plate with more ghee, or larger thatte idlis, will be higher. Each extra teaspoon of ghee adds about 42 kcal.

Where else to eat ghee podi idli in Bangalore

Cafe Amudham and IDC Kitchen: a Bangalore food blogger lists both for the same ghee-soaked podi thatte idli style. See cafes in Koramangala.
Babai Tiffins, HSR Layout: known for ghee karam podi idli (PlateLicker, Aug 2026). See cafes in HSR Layout.
Brahmins' Thatte Idli, Malleshwaram: a thatte idli specialist at 133/2-1, 8th Main Rd, Malleshwaram, where reviewers mention a ghee podi idli. Listed hours 7 AM to 9 PM (Yappe listing, timetable updated Jan 2024). No menu prices were published in our source, so check the board on arrival.

Questions and answers

What is podi in ghee podi idli?

Podi is a dry powder of roasted urad dal, chana dal, red chillies and sesame, often called gunpowder. It is tossed with ghee and idli.

What is the difference between ghee podi thatte idli and button idli?

Thatte idli is a large, flat Karnataka idli, while button idlis are tiny. Button idlis hold more podi per bite.

How much is ghee podi idli at the Rameshwaram Cafe?

A third-party copy of the Bengaluru board showed Rs 80 in April 2024, and the airport outlet charged Rs 315 per a February 2026 news report. Prices change, so check the outlet.

How many calories are in ghee podi idli?

A home serving of 4 idlis with 1 tbsp podi and 1 tbsp ghee is roughly 350 kcal, based on generic food database values. Cafe portions with more ghee will be higher.

Can I make podi idli without ghee?

Yes. Sesame oil is a common substitute and gives a Tamil-style flavour.

Is ghee podi idli vegetarian?

Yes. It is vegetarian, though not vegan because of the ghee. Use sesame oil for a vegan version.

Sources

Last checked: 14 October 2026