Learn to make String Hoppers, the easiest way, with roasted rice flour! String Hoppers are a very popular breakfast dish in Sri Lanka, and some Indian states (Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka). In Sri Lanka, it is called Indiappa and is typically served with curry gravies and spicy coconut condiment (Pol Sambol).
Learn to Make String Hoppers
(Sri Lankan Indiappa)
String Hoppers or Indiappa is a very popular Sri Lankan breakfast dish that everyone loves. It is also a very popular breakfast dish in some Indian states (Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka). They are also popular in Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia.
In India, it’s known by many names such as Idiyappam, Noolputtu, Noolappam, Chomai, Semige, Sevai, Santhagai, and Ottu Shavige. It is also known as Putu Mayam in Malaysia and Singapore, and Putu Mayang in Indonesia. (Thanks goes to Wikipedia)
In this post, I’ll show you how to make ‘String Hoppers’, the easy way, with roasted rice flour. Here you’ll find an easy-to-follow recipe with a step-by-step guide. You will also find helpful info and top tips for making the best String Hoppers. I hope you will try the recipe and enjoy ‘String Hoppers’ as much as I do!!
What are String Hoppers?
String Hoppers are a type of steamed rice noodle. They have a unique shape that looks like a kind of noodle nest. The dough is typically made with rice flour, salt, and hot water. The dough is pressed into noodle nests using a string hopper maker on the string hopper plates or mats. Then, it is steamed till done.
String hoppers made with white rice flour are very common. You can also use other flour types such as brown or red rice flour. Wheat flour, white or whole wheat, is another choice. You could also try finger millet (ragi) flour.
Ingredients
Rice Flour-You will need good quality smoothly-ground long-grain white rice flour to make the best taste string hoppers. You can make a fresh batch of homemade rice flour with good quality raw rice. I prefer making rice flour myself and storing it in the refrigerator. Click here for the recipe How to Make Rice Flour at Home
Boiled Water-You will need boiled water for making string hopper dough.
Salt-You can add salt either to rice flour or to water and then mix well. The choice is yours.
Cooking oil-I added a tablespoon of oil (and salt) to the water before boiling it. I find that adding some oil helps to make a smooth dough.
Check out the detailed recipe with step-by-step cooking instructions on How to Make Rice Flour at Home
equipment you will need
a string hopper maker
The string hopper maker is typically hand-operated, requiring some force to extrude the fine noodles through small holes. There are various types of string hopper makers including wooden, stainless steel, or even brass. You can easily order your choice of string hopper maker online.
Steamer
For steaming the string hoppers, you will need a steamer. If you already have a steamer at home, you could use it.
string hopper plates/mats
There are various types of string hopper plates/mats. These include bamboo, plastic, and stainless steel. You can buy them online.
Serving Suggestions
I love string hoppers simply with pol sambol (spicy coconut condiment). It also goes well with curries (meat, fish, potato, egg, lentil) together with pol sambol.
Here are the best Sri Lankan Condiment Recipes to try!!
- Sri Lankan Pol Sambol (With Desiccated Coconut)
- Pol Sambol Thel Dala (Sri Lankan Stir-Fried Coconut Sambol)
- Seeni Sambol (Sri Lankan Onion Relish)
- Lunu Miris (Sri Lankan Chili Condiment)
More Sri Lankan Breakfast Recipes
String Hoppers (With Roasted Rice Flour) Step-by-step recipe
Prep time 30 mins
Cooking time 15 mins
Total time 45 mins
Yield 6 to 10
Ingredients
200 g white rice flour, roasted
200 ml hot water, adjust as needed
Salt to taste
1 tablespoon cooking oil
Instruction
You will need homemade or store-bought long-grain white rice flour
In a heavy-bottomed large pan, dry roast the rice flour for about 5 minutes over low heat. Stir continuously so as not to burn the flour to black. When the flour at the bottom becomes slightly brown remove the pan from the heat.
Transfer the roasted flour to a plate immediately and let it cool.
In a large bowl, place the roasted rice flour.
Heat water with oil and salt in a small pan. Once the water starts to boil, turn off the flame.
Immediately, pour about half of the hot water on top of the rice flour. Mix with a wooden spoon.
Continue to add the water little by little so that the water and the rice flour mix nicely. Adjust the amount of water you use as needed.
Cover with plastic wrap and leave it for about 5 minutes until the mixture comes to a touchable temperature.
Grease your palm with oil. Knead until a soft, smooth, and non-sticky dough is formed. Cover with plastic wrap.
Grease your palm with oil again and make a few balls.
Grease the plate with some oil.
Now, fill the dough in the string hopper maker.
Gently press the dough onto the plate/mats as shown in the picture below.
Heat the water in a steamer. Once the water boiled, place the plate in the steamer. Cook covered for about 5 minutes until cooked through.
Now, take off the plate and let it cool down a bit.
Gently remove string hoppers from the plate and transfer it to a plate. Repeat this process until you are done with the dough.
Serve with your choice of curry and pol sambol. ENJOY!
THANK YOU FOR STOPPING BY
I love hearing from you so feel free to leave a comment on the post. If you make any of my recipes, I’d love to see pics of your creations #joyofeatingtheworld or @joyofeatingtheworld
String Hoppers (With Roasted Rice Flour)
Ingredients
- 200 g white rice flour roasted
- 200 ml water boiled, adjust as needed
- Salt to taste
- 1 tablespoon cooking oil
Instructions
- You will need homemade or store-bought long-grain white rice flour.
- In a heavy-bottomed large pan, dry roast the rice flour for about 5 minutes over low heat. Stir continuously not to burn the flour to black. When the flour at the bottom becomes slightly brown remove the pan from the heat.
- Transfer the roasted flour into a plate immediately and set aside.
- In a large bowl, place the roasted rice flour.
- Heat water with oil and salt in a small pan. Once the water starts to boil, turn off the flame.
- Immediately, pour about half of the hot water on top of the rice flour. Mix with a wooden spoon.
- Continue to add the water little by little so that the water and the rice flour mix nicely. Adjust the amount of water you use as needed.
- Cover with plastic wrap and leave it for about 5 minutes until the mixture come to a touchable temperature.
- Grease your palm with oil. Knead until a soft, smooth, and non-sticky dough is formed. Cover with plastic wrap.
- Grease your palm with oil again and make a few balls.
- Grease the plate with some oil.
- Now, fill the dough in the string hopper maker.
- Gently press the dough onto the plate/mats as shown in the picture below.
- Heat the water in a steamer. Once the water boiled, place the plate in the steamer. Cook covered for about 5 mins, until cooked through.
- Now, take off the plate and let it cool down a bit.
- Gently remove string hoppers from the plate and transfer to a plate. Repeat this process until you done with the dough.
- Serve with your choice of curry. ENJOY!
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Sri Lankan Curry recipes to try
- Coconut Tuna Fish Curry (Malu Kirata)
- Red Lentil Curry (Parippu Kirata)
- Coconut Egg Curry (Biththara kirata)
- Spicy Tuna Fish Curry (Malu Mirisata)
- Red Chicken Curry (Kukul Mas Kari)
- Spicy Chicken Curry (Kukul Mas Kari)
