Masala Dosa
Course: Uncategorized4
servings30
minutes10
minutes40
minutesIngredients
- Dosa
1 cup urad dal (black gram, split or whole)
2 cups rice (idli rice or sona masoori; any white rice works)
¼ cup chana dal (optional for color)
½ teaspoon fenugreek seeds (methi to aide fermentation)
1 tsp cumin seeds (optional)
- For Masala Bhaji
2 medium size onion chopped length wise
2 big potatoes boiled peeled and cut in to small cubes
1 tsp. urad dhal
1 tsp cashew pieces
1 tsp. mustard seeds
Few curry leaves +
3 slit green chilies
1 big pinch turmeric powder
Salt to taste
- chutney
1 cup coconut gratings
3 to 4 green chilies
1 tbsp. coriander seeds
1 bunch of coriander/cilantro leaves
1 marble size dry tamarind
1/2 cup (or as needed) water to grind
Directions
- Wash and soak all dosa ingredients in water for at least 6 hours. Note that urad dal swells when soaked—it absorbs water and nearly doubles in volume.
- Grind the soaked rice and urad dal in a mixer into a batter, using water in roughly 1:2 ratio (soaked pulses: water). The batter should be of pouring consistency—slightly thinner than pancake batter, but thicker than crepe batter.
- Leave the batter to ferment overnight in a warm place.
- In colder climates, try one of these methods:
- Oven method: Preheat oven to 150°F, then turn it off. After a few minutes, place the batter (in a large vessel, as it will double in volume) inside the oven.
- Instant Pot method: Add water to the Instant Pot container. Place the batter in a separate pot inside, select the Yoghurt setting, and let it ferment.
- Next Morning, once fermented, add salt to taste and 1 teaspoon cumin seeds (optional). Mix well before making dosas.
- Masala Bhaji Direction
- Warm 2 tablespoons oil in a kadai (wok or deep pan).
- Add mustard seeds, cashew pieces and urad dal; let them splutter.
- Add slit green chilies and sliced onions.
- Stir until the onions turn translucent.
- Add turmeric & pre-boiled & chopped potatoes
- Stir till integrated.
- Chutney Direction
- Grind all ingredients together with water needed to grind to a paste
- Mix chutney into the bhaji.
- Making the Dosa
- Heat the tava (griddle): Place a flat tava on medium heat until hot. Check for readiness by sprinkling some water drops, if it sizzles and evaporates the tava is ready.
- Before spreading every dosa, condition the tava by lightly rubbing it with a cut onion to prevent sticking and ensure even cooking.
- Pour the batter: Add 1 dessert spoon of dosa batter to the center of the tava.
- Spread the dosa: Using the back of the spoon, spread the batter evenly in a circular motion from the center outward to form a thin dosa.
- Drizzle oil or ghee: Apply a light layer of oil or ghee evenly over the surface.
- Cook until crisp: Allow the dosa to turn golden reddish-brown and crisp.
- Add the filling: Place 1 tablespoon of baji (masala filling) on the cooked side, then fold the dosa.
- Serve hot
Recipe Video
My homemade masala dosa is such a family favorite that they prefer it over restaurant versions. This recipe, passed down from my mom, is one I’ve mastered and tailored to my taste—for example, I add extra onions to the bhaji and chana daal to the batter for a reddish-brown, crispier finish.

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