These Uttapam Waffles are tenderly soft savory waffles with a crispy golden-brown crust bursting with onions, tomatoes, chili and Indian spices. It's an easy Indian waffle recipe made with idli dosa batter that is best served for brunch or lunch with chutney or ketchup alongside.
Fusion Take on a Traditional Uttapam Recipe
Uttapam is like a thick dosa (crispy crepe) made from a fermented rice and lentil batter with various toppings. The batter is cooked much the same way as pancakes.
It's a favorite breakfast and brunch dish in my home. But sometimes, I like to take things up a notch and use a waffle maker, which creates a crispy, craggily golden-brown crust scattered with onion, tomato, chili and chaat masala.
I consider these uttapam waffles my fusion take on the traditional Uttapam recipe. We love it for Sunday brunch or a quick lunch on weekdays when I have the idli dosa batter prepped and ready to go.
We love to pair it with coconut chutney or tamarind chutney and enjoy this colorful, filling, plant-based meal that's ready in under 25 minutes!
Healthy, Veggie-Packed Indian Waffle Recipe
If you're looking for a healthy and delicious way to incorporate waffles into your eating repertoire, you've come to the right place. I find myself making this vegetable waffle recipe on the regular because:
- The lentils and rice batter provide a complete plant-based protein.
- The naturally fermented batter is good for our gut flora.
- It's completely customizable based on your choice of veggies.
- The waffles can be made ahead for a portable lunch or snack throughout the week.
- Waffles add that special touch of luxury to your regular Uttapams.
- It makes a healthy, nutritious, gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian meal!
- It's a super hit with kids and adults alike!
Ingredients - Notes & Substitutions
The ingredients include idli dosa batter, a mix of fresh veggies and a touch of Indian spices.
- Idli Dosa Batter: Whenever I have the chance, I make a batch of idli dosa batter at home and keep it in the fridge (one week) or freezer (up to a month). Store-ready batter is another great option when I am short on time - I like Shashta Foods brand. This way, I have batter ready and waiting whenever the waffle craving strikes. Simply adjust the Idli-dosa batter to a pourable consistency by adding 1-2 tablespoons of water.
- Vegetables: My family and I love the combo of onions, tomatoes, green chili and cilantro, but this is when you can get creative. A few of our other favorite add-ins include bell peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots or corn. Shredded cheddar cheese is another good addition, in moderation.
- Chaat Masala: Chaat masala is a mix of amchur (dry mango powder), cumin, coriander, salt, black pepper, asafoetida (hing) and chili powder, and adds a special zing factor.
Step by Step Instructions for Uttapam Waffles
This uttapam waffle recipe is so incredibly easy to make with homemade or store-bought dosa batter. All it takes is a few fresh veggies, your favorite waffle maker and you have fluffy, golden-brown waffles ready in 25 minutes!
- In a small mixing bowl, add chopped onion, tomato, green chili, cilantro and toss it with chaat masala. Keep aside (Pic 1).
- Adjust the idli-dosa batter consistency to match a pourable waffle batter consistency (not too thick or thin) by adding water, about 1-2 tablespoons (Pic 2).
- Preheat your waffle maker as per your brand's instructions. Lightly grease the waffle plates using olive oil or avocado oil (Pic 3).
- Pour about ¼ cup batter in each cavity. Adjust according to your waffle maker (Pic 4).
- Top with 2 tablespoons of the veggie mix. Adjust this quantity to your taste (Pics 5).
- Cook the waffles as per waffle maker's instructions. For my model, it takes 4 minutes 30 seconds for the waffles to be done. Once done, use a wooden spatula and carefully remove the waffles (Pic 6).
- Allow them to cool for 2 minutes before serving. In the meantime, repeat the process and make more waffles. When cooled, cut the waffles and serve with chutney of your choice or good ol' ketchup.
Serving Suggestion- Condiments to Serve
Whether it's breakfast, brunch or lunch, I always pair these savory waffles with coconut green chutney, cilantro chutney, ketchup or good chili sauce. My girls like it with tamarind chutney for a savory-sweet combo that is absolute heaven!
Storage Instructions- Make-Ahead For a Portable Lunch or Snack
These uttapam waffles are an absolute hit with my family and they make a fun cooking project any day of the week. The waffles will keep well for up to 4 days stored in an airtight container in the fridge.
Plus, the waffles are just as delicious cold or room temperature.
This makes them great for a quick lunch or afternoon snack. Wrapped in parchment with your choice of condiment on the side makes them a quick grab-and-go treat, too!
To re-heat them, simply pop them in your toaster for a few minutes at a low setting.
Recipe Tips & Notes:
- Add a few tablespoons of water to reach the right batter consistency. You're looking for the consistency of a traditional waffle batter (not too thin, not too thick). I use about 1-2 tablespoons of water.
- Each square waffle needs ¼ cup batter or ½ cup total at one time. My waffle iron has two square waffle cavities, so I place ¼ cup batter into each. This comes out to ½ cup batter total. However, since some waffle makers come with two or four cavities, and square or round shapes, adjust the quantity accordingly.
- Cook time will depend on your waffle maker. It takes 4 minutes, 30 seconds for my waffles to fully cook. Adjust the time based on your waffle maker. If the waffles are golden-brown and spring back to the touch, they're ready!
- Keep the waffles hot in a warm oven. Place the cooked waffles on a wire rack on top of a baking sheet and keep in a 200 degree F oven while you prepare the remaining batter.
- Meal prep for a quick lunch or snack throughout the week. The waffles will keep for up to 4 days in an airtight container in the fridge. Enjoy cold, room temperature or re-warmed for a few minutes in the toaster.
Uttapam Waffles FAQ
I used my ... square waffle maker, but a round waffle maker will work. Adjust the batter quantity and cooking time based on your waffle maker brand and model.
My favorite brand is Shashta Foods. Look for it in Indian grocery stores or online.
More Indian Breakfast Recipes From My Kitchen
- Instant Pot Idli Recipe: Quick and easy South Indian treat of savory steamed rice cakes to enjoy with sambar and chutney.
- Egg Bhurji Recipe: Tomatoes, onions, veggies and warm Indian spices transform plain scrambled eggs into a substantially satisfying meal ready in 15 minutes!
- Instant Pot Rava Idli: Soft, spongy, melt-in-your-mouth rava idli made with semolina flour come together in only 30 minutes!
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📖 Recipe
Uttapam Waffles (Savory Indian Waffles)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup finely chopped onion
- ½ cup finely chopped tomato about 1 tomato
- 1 serrano chili pepper seeded and finely chopped (or jalapeno)
- ½ cup cilantro chopped
- 1 teaspoon chaat masala
- 2 cups idli dosa batter (Need ¼ cup batter per square waffle - adjust accordingly)
- olive or avocado oil , for greasing
Condiments to Serve
- coconut chutney
- cilantro chutney
- tamarind chutney
- ketchup
Instructions
- In a small mixing bowl, add chopped onion, tomato, green chili, cilantro and toss it with chaat masala. Keep aside.
- Adjust the idli-dosa batter consistency to match a pourable waffle batter consistency (not too thick or thin)
- Preheat your waffle maker as per your brand's instructions. Lightly grease the waffle plates using olive oil or avocado oil.
- Pour about ¼ cup batter in each cavity. Adjust according to your waffle maker.
- Top with 2 tablespoons of the veggie mix. Adjust this quantity to your taste.
- Cook the waffles as per waffle maker's instructions. For my model, it takes 4 minutes 30 seconds for the waffles to be done. Once done, use a wooden spatula and carefully remove the waffles.
- Allow them to cool for 2 minutes before serving. In the meantime, repeat the process and make more waffles. When cooled, cut the waffles and serve with the chutney of your choice - coconut, cilantro, tamarind or good ol' ketchup.
Notes
- Add a few tablespoons of water to reach the right batter consistency. You're looking for the consistency of a traditional waffle batter (not too thin, not too thick). I use about 1-2 tablespoons of water.
- Each square waffle needs ¼ cup batter or ½ cup total at one time. My waffle iron has two square waffle cavities, so I place ¼ cup batter into each. This comes out to ½ cup batter total. However, since some waffle makers come with two or four cavities, and square or round shapes, adjust the quantity accordingly.
- Cook time will depend on your waffle maker. It takes 4 minutes, 30 seconds for my waffles to fully cook. Adjust the time based on your waffle maker. If the waffles are golden-brown and spring back to the touch, they're ready!
- Keep the waffles hot in a warm oven. Place the cooked waffles on a wire rack on top of a baking sheet and keep in a 200 degree F oven while you prepare the remaining batter.
- Meal prep for a quick lunch or snack throughout the week. The waffles will keep for up to 4 days in an airtight container in the fridge. Enjoy cold, room temperature or re-warmed for 3-4 minutes in the oven.
Meena Sharma says
Dear Aneesha, I like the concept making Uttapam as Waffles. How thick the batter you made while grinding? Then you slowly you added the water? I am going to try them.🌸
Aneesha says
Hi Meena, the waffle batter should be slightly thinner than the Idli batter. Hope you enjoy these waffles.
Meera says
My waffles stuck to the base, could not lift them. Any suggestions for it?
Aneesha says
Hi Meera, I can think of two possibilities for that. One, that your waffle iron wasn't hot enough when you added the batter. It's like making dosa, the pan has to be hot so the batter doesn't stick. Second reason could be that the waffle plates weren't greased well. If you keep these two in check, I'm sure you'll have an enjoyable experience the next time.
Ravi Babu says
something different.
thanks
Aneesha says
Thanks Ravi, I hope you enjoy it!