Onion Uttapam is a tasty popular dish of South India made like pan cakes with idli dosa batter with onion topping made in a dosa tawa. Onion Uthappam tastes divine with sambar, chutney or podi. Onion Uttapam Recipe is explained in this post with step by step pictures and video.

Onion Uttapam is a healthy & comforting tiffin that is liked by all for its taste and loved by people who do not prefer crispier dosa. Uthappam is dunked in sambar and served at some hotels as Sambar Uthappam.
About Onion Uttapam
Onion Uttapam is one of the staples at home. I make it atleast once a week.I often make this onion uttapam for mittus breakfast as she loves it. As idli podi is also her favourite I always add it to the onion uttapam and make it as onion podi uttapam.
Tiffin sambar, coconut chutney and onion tomato chutney are the best combo for crispy dosas / uthappams.
Small Onion Uttapam
Onion Uttapam is mostly made using big onion but in some hotels I have seen small onions being used in uttapam and I loved the idea too. I most probably use finely chopped big onion for onion uttapam for ease and convenience. But if I have the time to energy to peel and slice small onion I would always opt for small onion for onion uttapam as the taste is soo good.
Big Onion Uttapam or Small Onion Uthappam?
You can use either small onion or big onion as per convenience and availability. I would suggest to use small onion for uttapam if you prefer taste and ready to spend some time in the kitchen to peel and slice small onion. If you are pressed for time then use finely chopped big onion and am sure no one will say no to it. Onion Uttapam with big onion or small onion it tastes great onlym so use whichever you prefer.

Onion Uttapam Ingredients
- Idli-Dosa Batter: Uttapam does not require special batter. Homemade idli dosa batter or store bought batter is used for making Uthappam. Grinding batter with wet grinder is preferred over grinding in mixer grinder (mixie).
- Ghee / Oil : Use ghee or regular cooking oil (Sunflower / groundnut / gingely) for making Uthappam.
- Onion : You can use big onion chopped or small onions sliced as per your choice.
- Green Chillies : Though green chillies is optional it adds a nice spice to the uttapam and is perfect for spicy food lovers.

Onion Uttapam | Onion Uthappam
Ingredients
- 3 cups idli batter
- 1 no big onion
- 1 long green chilies
- oil / ghee
Video
Notes
- You can add ghee / oil as per your preference.
- Do not add water as we do for dosas, just mix the batter and use it.
- Idli podi is optional but I recommend adding it for the extra flavour.
- Always cook in medium flame to get the perfect golden crust. I always use my iron dosa pan, it is recommended to give even browning.
- You can add either small or big onions as per your preference.

How to make Onion Uttapam
1.We can use the idli dosa batter itself for uttapam also. The batter should be slightly thick so do not add water.Chop onions finely, if using small onion just slice each onion, keep your ingredients ready.

2.The dosa tawa should be hot. Drizzle water to check it should bubble like this. Wipe off with a cloth.

3.Now dosa tawa is ready – add 2 laddles batter to the tawa.

4.Spread it slighlty only. We need slightly thick uttapams.

5.Now uttapam is ready to cook.

6.Sprinkle chopped onion to fill the topping.

7.Add sliced green chillies.

8.Drizzle oil at the sides and also on the top. Add oil generously.

9.Let utaapam cook for 2 mins in low medium flame. I usually do not cover and cook, if you prefer you can cook covered.

10.While is is cooking slightly press the topping with a dosa laddle.

11.Flip over and press it slightly for the onions to get roasted. Cook for 1-2 mins in low medium flame.

12.Onion Uttapam ready!

Small Onion Uttapam
13.Slice small onion and keep it ready.

14.This is a four holed uttapam pan where you can make 4 small uttapam at a time. Add one laddle batter in each hole, sprinkle sliced small onion on top. Add oil generously, cook for 2 mins in low medium flame.

15.Flip to other side cook for a minute then flip over and serve small onion uttapam.

Enjoy hot!

Onion Podi Uttapam | Podi Uthappam
Onion Podi Uthappam is just a variation to Onion Uttapam. Onion Podi Uttapam has small onions and idli podi as topping which is so flavourful and tasty.

Crisp uthappam with small onion flavor easy and tasty breakfast ready!
Idli podi recipe, Onion uthappam, Tiffin sambar
Ingredients
- 2 cups idli batter
- 1/4 cup small onion(sliced)
- idli podi as needed
- gingelly oil as needed
- Take idli batter, do no add water the batter should be thick.Heat dosa tawa.Take 2 laddle fulls of batter and add it to the dosa tawa.Do not spread, it will spread by itself that’s enough.Add chopped small onion on top.
- Sprinkle idli podi.Cook covered for 2 mins in low medium flame.Drizzle oil.
- Now carefully flip over and cook for a minute.Flip over and serve hot.
Serve hot with chutney of your choice.
Expert Tips
- You can add ghee / oil as per your preference.
- Do not add water as we do for dosas, just mix the batter and use it.
- Idli podi is optional but I recommend adding it for the extra flavour.
- Always cook in medium flame to get the perfect golden crust. I always use my iron dosa pan, it is recommended to give even browning.
- You can add either small or big onions as per your preference.
- You can use homemade idli podi ir storebought idli podi too.
- Always cook in low medium flame for crisp oothapam, it should be crisp at the edges and soft inside which is a perfect uttapam.
Variations
- You can either add small onion or big onion as per your taste and preference.
- You can skip green chillies and add coriander leaves instead.
- Vegetables like carrots, capsicum can also be added as topping.
Storing & Serving Suggestions
Onion Uttapam tastes best when hot & warm. Stock the batter for later use. For packing in lunch box, top the Uttapam with generous amount of ghee / oil along with podi or onion or cheese or mixed veggies. Also you can dunk sambar over uthappam to prevent it from getting dry.
Onion Uttapam is served with varieties of sambar, chutney, podi etc.

jeyashrisuresh
Tempting me too much, even i like adding idli podi in uttapams. Lovely clicks
Rashida Shaikh
I like uttapam, lovely clicks as always…
Chitra
wow , pass me here. will try adding podi next time 🙂
Nivedhanams Sowmya
They look lovely!!! very tempting!!
Sowmya
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Hamaree Rasoi
Delicious and stupendous looking onion uttapams. It happens to be one of my favourite breakfast meal. Loved the look of it.
Deepa
Umm Mymoonah
Perfect South Indian Breakfast, nice picture which makes me to crave for some Uthappam.
Vardhini
Looks yummy. I also mix the onions in the batter itself at times.
Vardhini
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Archana
Ho wow.Delicious pics.
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Uma Ramanujam
Banana leaf always add additional taste to any food served in it. Wonderful picture. My kind of breakfast(sometimes dinner)which i order at hotel when nothing prepared at home.
GK Arusuvai
Never made uthapam before. After seeing urs im tempted to try!
Nabanita Das
Yumms… Nice presentation …
radha
Never tried the addition of idli podi. Next time for I will for sure.
nafeesa
wow yummy..nice utthapam..Am a great follower of ur blog sister..u really doing well..none other is giving correct measurement of their receipe's but u have given..tnx for it..whenever am trying out ur receipe..100% i will be in hope of getting a good result..keep posting as many receipe's u can…u r my very big strength in cooking..all the best for ur success..
Nagalakshmi V
that's been cooked perfectly!
Srimathi
Looks very delicious and makes me feel hungry.
Prathibha
One of my fav breakfast,looks delicious
Veena Theagarajan
my favourite.. I can have it any meal.. I am hungry now
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Shobha Kamath
My favaourite breakfast snack. I like your idea of putting podi while frying. Will try it next time. Thanks.
Unknown
Veryyyyyy veryyyyyyyyyyy nice photography
Premalatha Aravindhan
Wow feel like came to a restaurant,luks very tempitng…
Saraswathy Balakrishnan
I made these for dinner few days ago..looking so tasty:)
Priya
Wish i get this flavourful uttapams for my breakfast anyday.
Sushma Madhuchandra
This is tempting me too much 😀
Shweta in the Kitchen
Great clicks & yummy uttappam
Blog – http://shwetainthekitchen.blogspot.com/
Facebook Page – https://www.facebook.com/ShwetaintheKitchen
divya
wooow….drooling here..Looks awesome n so tempting!!!
Sharmilee! :)
@Divya : No there is no need to add….
indianspicemagic
Sharmi, any plans to resturant? wounderfull combination of chutneies and sambar.Resturant style.
Vanamala Hebbar
Looks wonderful
dassana
looking at the uttapam's pics, i am feeling hungry… long time i had uttapams 🙁
Aneeqa Kassim
Omg..I want it now………
Prabir Dutta
my son prefers uttapam in his lunch box as it resembles pizza
Pavithra
Tried this recipe this morning. Hubby loved it. Thanks so much.
Venkatesan Packirisamy
Tempting me…
R.VENKATARAMAN
why do these e commerce walas sell such iron kadais and tawas?