Crispy and Delicious Dosa with Coconut Chutney and Sambar
Dosa is a delicious and crispy South Indian crepe made with fermented rice and lentil batter. It is usually served with coconut chutney and sambar, a spicy lentil soup. Here are the steps to make dosa from scratch:
Step 1: Soaking the Ingredients
Soak 1 cup of rice (preferably idli rice or parboiled rice) and 1/4 cup of urad dal (husked and split black gram) separately in water for 4 to 5 hours. For added crispiness and protein, you can include 2 tablespoons of chana dal (husked and split Bengal gram) or other lentils.
Step 2: Grinding the Batter
Drain the water from the soaked ingredients. Grind the rice and urad dal separately using a blender or wet grinder. Adjust the consistency by adding water as needed. The rice batter should remain slightly coarse, while the urad dal batter should be fluffy and airy.
Step 3: Mixing and Fermenting
In a large bowl, mix the rice and urad dal batter thoroughly. Add salt to taste, cover the bowl, and leave it in a warm place to ferment for 8 to 10 hours or overnight. The batter will rise and develop bubbles, indicating proper fermentation.
Step 4: Preparing the Dosa
- Heat a cast-iron griddle or a non-stick pan over medium-high heat. Grease it lightly with oil.
- Pour a ladleful of batter onto the center of the griddle and quickly spread it in a circular motion to form a thin crepe.
- Drizzle some oil or ghee around the edges and on the surface.
- Cook until the bottom turns golden and crisp. Flip the dosa and cook for a few seconds on the other side if desired.
- Fold or roll the dosa and serve hot with coconut chutney and sambar.
Step 5: Making the Spicy Potato Filling (Optional)
- Boil and mash 4 medium potatoes.
- Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a pan. Add 1 teaspoon of mustard seeds, 1/2 teaspoon of cumin seeds, a pinch of asafoetida, and a few curry leaves. Let them splutter.
- Add 1 chopped onion, 2 chopped green chilies, 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric, salt to taste, and 1/4 cup of water. Cook until the onion softens.
- Stir in the mashed potatoes and mix well. Add chopped coriander leaves and a squeeze of lemon juice for freshness.
Step 6: Assembling the Masala Dosa
Place 2 tablespoons of the spicy potato filling in the center of the dosa. Fold the dosa over the filling and serve hot with coconut chutney and sambar.
Enjoy your crispy and flavorful dosa!
