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masala dosa recipe, how to make masala dosa recipe restaurant style

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masala dosa recipe restaurant style
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masala dosa recipe with step by step photos – recipe of restaurant or hotel style masala dosa, where the dosa is crisp and served with a delicious potato masala. recipe post shares both the method of preparing dosa batter as well as the potato masala.

masala dosa is a famous south indian tiffin snack popular not only in india but outside india too. masala dosa is on the menu list of many north indian restaurants too. though making masala dosa is a long process, but its worth it.

usually the first day i make idlis from the batter and then the next day i make dosa. for making dosa, the batter has to be slightly thin than the idli batter. the leftover batter can always be refrigerated and used when required.

the basic plain dosa recipe calls for soaking urad dal (husked black lentils) and rice. the soaked lentils and rice are then ground and fermented overnight. warm temperature is important for the idli-dosa batter to ferment well.

to prepare this hotel style masala dosa, i have used idli-dosa rice. you can also use parboiled rice. i also add some thick poha (flattened rice). addition of poha gives a crisp dosa and at the same time the dosa is soft too. poha also helps in giving a golden color to the dosa. chana dal is also added to make the dosa crisp.

methi seeds are added to aid the fermentation process. the proportion i use is 3:1 of the rice and lentils for making crisp dosas. in the recipe i have you could use 1.5 cups dosa rice with ½ cup of urad dal. these recipe proportions yields crisp dosa, but one which is still soft. i use the same recipe proportions to prepare ghee roast dosa.

the potato masala or potato sabzi recipe is the way i prepare it. there are lot of onions added which impart a subtle sweet taste to the potato masala. the taste of the potato masala is similar to the ones we get in restaurants. there are few more delicious variations of masala dosa recipes like:

without the potato masala, the dosa becomes a plain dosa or sada dosa which can be had with coconut chutney and sambar.

to make the masala dosa taste more better, you could use butter or ghee instead of oil. you could also apply red chutney made from garlic and red chillies on the dosa while making it and make mysore masala dosa.

if you are looking for more dosa recipes then do check oats dosa, neer dosa, rava dosa and hotel style rava dosa recipe.

masala dosa recipe below:

restaurant style masala dosa recipe

masala dosa recipe

restaurant style masala dosa recipe : crisp rice & lentil crepes stuffed with spiced potato masala.
print
course breakfasts, snacks
cuisine south indian
prep time 9 hours
cook time 30 minutes
total time 9 hours 30 minutes
servings 20 masala dosa
calories 111 kcal
author dassana amit

ingredients (1 cup = 250 ml)

ingredients for dosa batter:

  • 330 grams idli rice (parboiled rice, ukda chawal, sela chawal) or 1.5 cups idli rice
  • 125 grams urad dal or ½ cup husked whole or split black gram
  • 35 grams thick poha or ¼ cup thick poha (flattened rice)
  • 1 tablespoon chana dal (husked & split bengal gram)
  • 20 methi seeds (fenugreek seeds)
  • 1 cup water for soaking urad dal
  • 2 cups water for soaking rice
  • 1 cup water for grinding rice & poha
  • ½ cup water for grinding dal
  • ½ teaspoon rock salt or add as required

ingredients for potato masala:

  • 300 grams potatoes or 4 medium sized potatoes or 2 cups boiled & chopped or crumbled potatoes
  • 2 tablespoons oil
  • ½ teaspoon mustard seeds (rai)
  • 1 tablespoon chana dal (husked & split bengal gram) soaked in ¼ cup hot water for 30 minutes
  • 150 grams onions or 2 medium to large onions, thinly sliced or 1.25 cups thinly sliced onions
  • 1 inch ginger, finely chopped or 1 teaspoon finely chopped ginger
  • 8 to 10 curry leaves (kadi patta)
  • 1 to 2 green chillies, chopped
  • ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder (haldi)
  • 1 pinch of asafoetida (hing)
  • ½ cup water
  • 3 tablespoons chopped coriander leaves (dhania patta)
  • 8 to 10 cashews (kaju), optional
  • ¼ teaspoon sugar, optional
  • salt as required

how to make recipe

soaking rice & lentils:

  1. first take all the ingredients in bowls. take rice and poha in separate bowls. take the lentils and methi seeds in one bowl.
  2. rinse the lentils and methi seeds a couple of times. then soak them in 1 cup water for 4 to 5 hours.
  3. rinse the rice a couple of times and keep aside.
  4. rinse poha once or twice and then add to the rice.
  5. pour 2 cups water. stir and soak both rice and poha together for 4 to 5 hours.

grinding dosa batter:

  1. before grinding, strain the water from the soaked lentils and keep it for grinding urad dal.
  2. add the lentils in the grinder jar. also add ½ cup of the soaked and strained water to the dal.
  3. grind the urad dal, chana dal and methi seeds till you get a batter which is light and fluffy. the urad dal has to be ground really well, so that the batter ferments well.
  4. remove the batter in a bowl or pan with a spatula.
  5. strain the rice well. then in the same grinder, add the soaked rice and 1 cup fresh water. you can grind rice in one batch or in two to three batches. this will depend on the size of the grinder jar. i ground in one batch and added 1 cup water for grinding. you can even add ¾ cup water while grinding. addition of water will depend on the quality of rice.
  6. grind the rice till you get a fine grainy consistency in it. the rice batter should have a fine rawa like consistency.
  7. now pour the batter in the same pan or bowl containing the urad dal batter.
  8. add ½ teaspoon rock salt or add as per taste.
  9. mix the salt very well with the batter. also mix both the batters very well. cover and keep aside to ferment for 8 to 9 hours. you can keep batter to ferment for less or more time and this will depend on the temperature conditions in your city.

making potato masala for masala dosa:

  1. first rinse and then boil 4 medium sized potatoes in 2 cups water for 5 to 6 whistles in a pressure cooker. you can also boil potatoes in a pan. the potatoes have to be completely cooked
  2. when the potaoes are cooking, soak the chana dal in hot water for 30 minutes. then drain the chana dal and keep aside.
  3. when the pressure settles down on its own in the cooker, remove the lid. drain the potatoes and let them become warm. then peel them and chop them. also slice the onions and chop the green chilies, ginger and coriander leaves.
  4. heat oil or ghee. fry cashews and keep aside. this step of frying cashews is optional.
  5. lower the flame and add mustard seeds and let them splutter. then add the chana dal.
  6. saute the chana dal for 2 to 3 minutes on a low flame or till they turn light golden or golden. now add the sliced onions, curry leaves, green chilies and ginger.
  7. saute the onions till they soften and turn translucent.
  8. add the turmeric powder and asafoetida. mix very well.
  9. again mix well and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes.
  10. next add the boiled chopped potatoes and mix very well.
  11. season with salt. also add 1/4 teaspoon sugar for a slight sweet taste.
  12. simmer on a low flame for 3 to 4 minutes stirring occasionally.
  13. switch off the flame and then add chopped coriander leaves.
  14. stir and keep the potato masala aside.

making masala dosa:

  1. lightly stir the batter, before you begin to make dosa. you will also see tiny air pockets in the batter
  2. heat a cast iron pan or a flat non-stick pan. the pan should be medium hot. smear some oil if using an iron pan or griddle. don't smear oil on a non stick pan, as then you won't be able to spread the dosa batter.
  3. keep the flame to a low, while spreading dosa batter.
  4. spread the dosa batter in a circular way on the pan.
  5. on a medium flame, cook the dosa.
  6. sprinkle some oil on top and edges
  7. cover the dosa with a lid and let it cook.
  8. cook the dosa till its base becomes golden and crisp.
  9. when you see the base has become golden, place a portion of the potato masala on the dosa. you can spread it a bit if you want.
  10. now fold the dosa and serve.
  11. serve crisp restaurant style masala dosa hot with coconut chutney and sambar

recipe notes

tips for making masala dosa recipe:

  • to get golden brown dosa, the pan should be hot. but the flip side is that if the pan is very hot, then you cannot spread the dosa batter nicely. either sprinkle water on the pan and then wipe it. this brings down the temperature of the pan. do this method on a cast iron pan. don't do this on a non stick pan. it might affect the non stick coating. or you can heat the pan first, then reduce the flame to a low. then spread the dosa batter. increase the flame to medium and then cook the dosa. 
  • also if using a non stick pan than as soon as one dosa is done, reduce the flame. spread the dosa batter on the pan. now increase the flame and let the dosa cook.
  • you can add  teaspoon ½ cumin seeds while tempering.
  • the dosa batter has to be fermented well. if you live in a cold region, then keep the batter in a warm place or keep the batter for more time to get fermented well. 

rough nutrition info per masala dosa:

Nutrition Facts
masala dosa recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 111 Calories from Fat 9
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 1g 2%
Sodium 65mg 3%
Potassium 111mg 3%
Total Carbohydrates 20g 7%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Protein 3g 6%
Vitamin A 0.1%
Vitamin C 3.1%
Calcium 1.7%
Iron 8.6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
 


i have divided the entire hotel style masala dosa recipe post in three steps so that it is easy to understand and follow:

  • making dosa batter
  • making potato masala filling
  • making masala dosa

how to make step by step masala dosa recipe:

making dosa batter:

1. first take all the ingredients in three bowls:

  • 1.5 cups idli rice or parboiled rice in one bowl
  • ½ cup urad dal + 1 tablespoon chana dal + 20 methi seeds (fenugreek seeds) in a second bowl
  • ⅓ cup thick poha in a third bowl.

rice and dal for masala dosa recipe

2. rinse the lentils and methi seeds a couple of times. then soak them in 1 cup water for 4 to 5 hours.

dal for masala dosa recipe

3. rinse the rice a couple of times and keep aside.

rice for masala dosa recipe

4. rinse poha once or twice and then add to the rice.

poha for masala dosa recipe

5. pour 2 cups water. stir and soak both rice and poha together for 4 to 5 hours.

poha for masala dosa recipe

6. before grinding, strain the water from the soaked lentils+methi seeds and keep it for grinding urad dal.

making masala dosa recipe

7. add the lentils in the grinder jar. also add ½ cup of the soaked and strained water to the dal.

making masala dosa recipe

8. grind the urad dal, chana dal and methi seeds till you get a batter which is light and fluffy. the urad dal has to be ground really well, so that the batter ferments well.

batter to make masala dosa recipe

9. remove the batter in a bowl or pan with a spatula. here is a pic showing the consistency of the batter.

batter to make masala dosa recipe

10. strain the rice well. then in the same grinder, add the soaked rice and 1 cup fresh water. you can grind rice in one batch or in two to three batches. this will depend on the size of the grinder jar. i ground in one batch and added 1 cup water for grinding. you can even add ¾ cup water while grinding. addition of water will depend on the quality of rice.

preparing batter for masala dosa recipe

11. grind the rice till you get a fine grainy consistency in it. the rice batter should have a fine rava like consistency in the batter.

preparing batter for masala dosa recipe

12. now pour the rice+poha batter in the same pan or bowl containing the urad dal batter.

batter for masala dosa recipe

13. add ½ teaspoon rock salt or add as per taste.

batter for masala dosa recipe

14. mix the salt very well with the batter. also mix both the batters very well. cover and keep aside to ferment for 8 to 9 hours. you can keep for less or more time and this will depend on the temperature conditions in your city.

batter for masala dosa recipe

15. the batter the next day. i kept for about 13 hours and 35 minutes as it is cold during monsoons here.

batter for masala dosa recipe

preparing potato masala filling for masala dosa recipe:

1. first rinse and then boil 4 medium sized potatoes in 2 cups water for 5 to 6 whistles in a pressure cooker. you can also boil potatoes in a pan. the potatoes have to be completely cooked.

potaotes for masala dosa recipe

2. when the potatoes are cooking, soak the chana dal in hot water for 30 minutes. then drain the chana dal and keep aside.

chana dal for masala dosa recipe

3. when the pressure settles down on its own in the cooker, remove the lid. drain the potatoes and let them become warm.

potaotes for masala dosa recipe

4. then peel them and chop them. also slice the onions and chop the green chilies, ginger and coriander leaves.

potaotes for masala dosa recipe

5. heat oil or ghee. if using cashews, then fry cashews at this step and keep them aside. lower the flame and add mustard seeds and let them splutter.

mustard for masala dosa recipe

6. then add the chana dal.

chana dal for preparing masala dosa recipe

7. saute the chana dal for 2 to 3 minutes on a low flame or till they turn light golden or golden.

chana dal for preparing masala dosa recipe

8. now add the sliced onions, curry leaves, green chilies and ginger.

onions for preparing masala dosa recipe

9. saute the onions till they soften and turn translucent.

onions for preparing masala dosa recipe

10. add the turmeric powder and asafoetida.

preparing hotel style masala dosa recipe

11. mix very well.

preparing hotel style masala dosa recipe

11. now add water.

preparing hotel style masala dosa recipe

12. again mix well and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes or till the mixture thickens a bit.

making hotel style masala dosa recipe

12. next add the boiled chopped potatoes.

potatoes for masala dosa recipe

13. mix very well.

potatoes for masala dosa recipe

14. season with salt. also add ¼ teaspoon sugar for a slight sweet taste.

making masala dosa recipe

14. and stir again.

potatoes for masala dosa recipe

15.  simmer on a low flame for 3 to 4 minutes stirring occasionally.

potatoes for masala dosa recipe

16. switch off the flame and then add chopped coriander leaves.

making masala dosa recipe

15. stir and keep the potato masala aside. this is your basic potato masala for the dosa.

potato masala for masala dosa recipe

making masala dosa:

1. now lightly stir the batter, before you begin to make dosa. you will also see tiny air pockets in the batter.

batter to make masala dosa recipe

2. heat a cast iron pan or a flat non-stick pan. the pan should be medium hot. smear some oil if using an iron pan or griddle. don’t smear oil on a non stick pan, as then you won’t be able to spread the dosa batter.

batter to make masala dosa recipe

3. keep the flame to a low, while spreading dosa batter.

dosa batter to make masala dosa recipe

4. spread the dosa batter in a circular way on the pan. on a medium flame, cook the dosa.

dosa batter to make masala dosa recipe

5. sprinkle some oil on top and edges.

making dosa - masala dosa recipe

6. cover the dosa with a lid and let it cook.

cooking dosa - masala dosa recipe

7. cook the dosa till its base becomes golden and crisp.

cooking dosa - masala dosa recipe

8. when you see the base has become golden, place a portion of the potato masala on the dosa. you can spread it a bit if you want.

cooking dosa - masala dosa recipe

9. now fold the dosa and serve.

cooking dosa - masala dosa recipe

10. serve crisp restaurant style masala dosa hot with with sambar and coconut chutney.

masala dosa recipe hotel style




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{ 271 Responses }

  2. Hello Mam / Sir all your recipes are really amazing. i want to contact you. can you please mail me on my given email id?Thank you

  3. Hi..
    Tried your masala dosa recipe…must say it came out really well..I love to cook and try new. And I ve tried even few of your other recipes.. Your instructions are really simple to understand and it shows your effort and dedication before sharing them.. Thanks a bunch from me and my family..

    • Welcome Jenevia. Thanks for sharing your positive feedback on masala dosa recipe. Glad to know that you like the recipes presentation. Do try some more recipes.

  4. Hi
    Good recipe
    But can you please elaborate how to cook dosa on iron tawa….as my does always sticks on it!

    • you need to season the iron tawa. for seasining, heat the tawa and spread some oil on it and heat it for a minute. then wipe this oil and spread second layer of oil. you can do this step one or twice more if you want. then for the last spread of oil, switch off the flame and keep the tawa with the oil coating for a couple of days or a week before you use it. then heat the tawa, wipe the oil. spread another layer of oil. wipe this too and then start making dosas. also do note that use this tawa for making only dosa or for shallow frying. do not make rotis on this tawa. for rotis you can use a separate tawa.

  6. For the First time I fell in love with Dosa😍😍…. Thank you sooooooo much for this recipe🙏

  7. Thanks Dassana, you always reply to the queries. love you for this and I really appreciate your efforts. I became a big fan of you. I was confused between rock and lodge as there are so many good reviews about lodge but is very expensive. I think I should go for rock.

    • welcome shilpa. yes lodge is expensive. rock is also good. i have read the reviews also. just buy the one which is smaller in size. i had purchased one for my mom and it was too large. but the tawa was very good, just that my mom was finding it difficult to lift it as its very heavy,

  8. Hi Dassana

    I have some questions if you can help:

    1. I want to use regular rice. So what wI’ll be the proportion of rice to urad daal for ‘crispier’ and ‘brown’ dosa?
    2. Can you please suggest some good cast iron tawa for making dosa available online?
    Or should I buy it from the local market?
    3. I want to buy cast iron kadhai also. So I want to ask is it good for everyday cooking? ( From health point of view?

    Thanks in advance. 🙂

    • shilpa, your queries answered below:

      1. you can add some more urad dal. you can either use this recipe proportion for regular rice or use half cup of urad dal for 1 to 1.25 cups of rice. but when the proportion of urad dal is more, you will get more of its taste in the dosa. if its fine with you, then you can use the above proportion.
      2. you can use zishta or rock brand available on amazon.in. you can also use lodge brand, but it will be expensive compared to indian brands. i have zishta iron kadais and dosa tawa. the dosa tawa is concave shaped but i have made dosas in it and they are good. buy the smaller size as even that one is too big. do note that these cast iron pans are very heavy to lift. you can also buy from local market. i have one cast iron pan purchased locally and it works very well for making dosa. i also have a lodge pan and even that is good.
      3. i have a set of 3 cast iron kadais from zishta brand. they are good. i use them for deep frying as well as making veggie dishes. but do note that if the recipe has too much of acidic ingredients like tomatoes or curd, then better to use a steel pan and not make them in iron pans.

  9. Hi

    As for the batter consistency after ferment – in your pic it looks like the “liquid level” is high. But in my batter after long hours of ferment – it’s not so liquid. Should I add water ? When – after grinding or after ferment ?
    Thank!

    • noam, of course you can add water after fermentation. for dosa, the batter is usually of medium consistency. i also add water after fermentation if the batter looks thick. the batter has to be easily spreadable on the pan, so you can add water accordingly.

  10. Hi Dassana, I am a fan of yours. I tried many south recipes from your website and all were good. Nariyal laddu were awesome. Dassana I have tried your dosa recipe too and it also turned out great. Please tell me can we make dosa on marble Stone as patthar kabab or patthar gosht is made? Please reply soon.

  11. hi again

    I tried the recipe and its really good! can u please give us tips about how to make the dosa even more crispy?

    thanks!

    • noam, apart from coconut chutney, you can use onion chutney, tomato chutney, onion-tomato chutney and peanut chutney. all recipes are already posted on website.

  13. Hi and thanks for the detailed recipe.

    I wanted to know in which percent should the batter become bigger after the fermentation ? should the butter become double ? add only 50% etc.

    thanks.

    • batter becomes doubled or tripled. if it gets more fermented, it will be triple or even increase more in volume. the signs of proper fermentation should be that the batter will be doubled, it will have tiny air bubbles and will have a pleasant sour aroma.

  14. Thanks dassana. .my family loved the masala dosa..and best my 4 years old daughter loved it ..thank you so much

  15. Hi Dassana , Thanks for the recipe, Gr8 outcome , To get 5 dosas what should be the size?I assume this recipe makes 1ltr of batter ? thanks in advance

  16. Hi,
    I have always observed that my batter for idli/ dosa does not ferment well. The problem is, batter has the sourness next day but it does not raise upi.e the next moening.The quantity is same but no fluffiness of the batter is there.w hat could be reason for this?

    • lija, firstly grind the urad dal batter really well. it should have a soft fluffy like consistency. also try adding some water to the idli batter. i hope this solves the problem you are facing.

  18. hi

    after grinding the rice, it’s still grainy, i thought it will be more cream – is it ok?

    is the salt help the fragment process?

    • Noam, the rice can be a fine grainy consistency. in cold region, avoid salt. in warm places add salt so that the batter is not over fermented. it slows down the fermentation.

  19. Hi Dassana
    This recipe of yours did wonders for me.
    I have tried dosa once before and I was so unsatisfied with the result.
    But this recipe is a big hit with my hubby who is great fan of South Indian cuisine. And he said, he never had a dosa as amazing as this one.

    I followed the coconut chutney recipe too from your blog and it again tastsd amazing.
    Thanx a ton for your recipes.
    Looking forward for more, specially Chat Masala recipe, of you can include in your blog.
    Thanx a lot again ?

  21. Made dosa for first time ever..and that too for my in-laws ..thnk u so so so much for this recipe..it came out great!!!!…pics helped the most!

  23. Which mixer grinder are you using? I am living in US and I am planning to buy a mixer grinder to make dosa and chutney. Which grinder do you suggest?

    • archana, i am using preethi mixer grinder (blue leaf brand, 750 watts) with 4 jars (2 wet & dry grinders, 1 spice & chutney grinder and 1 juicer). till now this mixie has been working for a long time as compared to the other mixer grinders which worked only for some months. i use the mixer-grinder heavily as i make all idli and dosa batter in it, plus making coconut chutney and grinding coconut based masala. you can check the pic on this resources page – https://www.vegrecipesofindia.com/kitchen-resources-appliances/

    • thanks. non stick is safe provided you don’t scratch the non stick surface with steel spoons or spatula and also do not use the pan on a high flame. for dosas i use two pans, one is this one which you see in the pics and the other is a cast iron pan. this one is a granite look non stick pan from wonderchef.

  27. Hi Dassanaji, have tried posting my comments few times but somehow I think it doesn’t get posted. Hope this one does ?. First of all thank you very much for providing such great and simple to understand recipes. I have made dosa with your recipe number of times but every time the crispness is different. I need super crisp dosa that’s how my husband likes it. What can be done for that? I use basmati 1 cup and sona masoori 1 cup and rest similar to your ingredients. Please help.
    Thank you
    Shraddha?

    • shraddha, i have only received one comment from you and its in the bombay pav post. i do check the spam folders, but your comments are not there. for a super crisp dosa, you can add chana dal and some poha. a pinch of sugar also helps. i have posted a recipe of ghee roast dosa, that really gives crisp dosa. while making dosa, do keep the flame on a low or sim, so that you can spread the batter thinly. when the dosa is cooked from top, then spread oil or ghee all over the dosa. this also helps in crispiness of the dosa. you can check the ghee dosa recipe on this link – https://www.vegrecipesofindia.com/ghee-roast-dosa-recipe/

  28. while I’m searching for any recipe…. by mistake one word wrongly typed… then it shows nothing found… and app is slow… while I’m using fast internet… other than this…. your recipes are awesome…. and I learn lots of recipes from you….

    • thanks for letting me know shalini. the app search is based on the website search. so if anything is wrongly typed or the search word is not there in any of the posts, then there will be no results. for app being slow, i will check. thanks again.

  33. Today I tried Dosa sambhar, n it was my first attempt for Dosa… But your recipe made it PERFECT……thank you

    • christine, you will need a mixer-grinder or a table-top grinder to make dosa batter. if you have a blender, than the blender has to be a sturdy one and with high speed. i have seen some people using vitamix blender.

    • sakchi, poha is flattened rice. parboiled rice is rice which has been partially cooked and then husked and pounded. you will get them easily in grocery stores or super markets.

  36. I just recieved a wet grinder and am new to making dosa. Would thick or thin poha be preferable? This recipe looks delicious I can’t wait to try it! Thanks!

  39. when I make dosa, it starts to leave from the corner automatically before getting cooked. Why does this happen??

  40. Thanks so much for the dosa batter recipe!
    Worked out great in my very first attempt. I was expecting to take a couple of tries before getting it right… 🙂
    But I must say all your recipes that I have tried have always worked great for me.

    Thanks again!

  41. What is parboiled rice? What else can i use instead of dat? I think i wont find it here in australia

  42. Description of making a receipe is nice nd easy to do….good going……I tried masala dosa nd carrot halwa it comes out well

  43. Hiii… Please tell me that do we have to cover the lid while leaving rice and urad dal paste for fermentation or not?

  44. I love your site! Thanks for making Indian cooking accessible to others. Question: When you make your dosas, do you use a nonstick pan? The pictures above look like nonstick. If so, do you have a brand that you like? Thanks a lot!

    • thanks CJ. the one used in this post is a non stick pan. its an international brand and i do not remember the name now. this was from a set and belonged to the owner of the house, which we had rented around this time and i do not have these pans now.

  45. Hi,

    First, many thanks for all the recipes on this website.

    I like dosas, but, unfortunately, where I live right now urad dal is not available. Can I use some other dal instead, and get similar results? Will moong dal and masoor dal ferment like urad?

  46. Thank you so much!!!! I read the whole thing. Seems very promising. I am going to try it soon. Thank you for sharing. Do you have a sambar recipe as well? Can you please share.

  47. Hello Dassana,

    Thank you for the dosa/idli batter recipe. I did try out. I dint add the piha though. I released that the idlys were hard and the disas were very crispy and hard like pappads. Was it because of poha alone? Or should have ground the batter more?

    Nikhila

    • hi nikhila, looks like the batter did not ferment well. when the batter does not ferment well, then the idlis turn out hard. addition of poha does help in making the idlis more soft, but if you don’t add then also it fine. fermentation is one of the most important aspects of an idli or dosa batter and it depends on conditions like temperature, humidity, age and quality of urad dal and rice, water content in the batter etc. i am not sure what exactly has contributed to the batter not fermenting well. the batter should double or triple after fermenting. the batter also needs to be ground well.

  48. I wanna knw how vl i cme to knw abt the consistency of batter as the recipe z ol abt batter. How much water to b added while makng batter.

    • for dosa the batter has to be a bit thin than idli batter. difficult to tell the amount of water as it depends on the quality of rice, urad dal and the type of grinder used. the consistency has to be pouring but slightly on the thicker side. hope this helps.

  49. I really love your recipes… I have tried Hyderabadi paneer and kadhai paneer recipes
    . n they taste awesome.. Thank u so much..for so simple and helpful recipes…:*

  50. Hi Amit, thank you for the recipe, you always make everything too simple to understand. I came to know about your site when I was searching the recipe of instant coffee. The way you explain the recipes along with pictures is a unique approach. I don’t even want to visit any other site after I get to know about yours.
    The things which I like about your blog is:
    1- First of all you give a nice introduction of the dish, after which you explain everything step by step very clearly. And at the end you give the whole recipe in a nutshell.
    2- Your approach of explaining the recipes that is with PICTURES. I am in love with this.
    3- Everything is given in layman’s language.
    4- You reply to most of the comments which means you read them and efforts of the readers (those who write the comments) are not in vain.
    Thank you so much and Good Luck 🙂

  51. I made this at home and it was an instant hit…. Also the green chutney sandwich with coriander leaves…. My dad even called it five-star like 🙂 ….. ( this was the first time my parents ate a sandwich made out of coriander leaves) …… It made my day …. Thank you …. 🙂

  56. Hi Dassana,
    Can u please post khichda recipe, and not khichdiii.
    gehu ka kuta hua khichda banate hai alag alag caste ke log like muslim and others too. I want you to post it….

  57. Hi Amit,
    I too simply love ur site. Each time I see get so excited that I think of making all the dishes in one single day.
    I want to ask one query.I did all that was mentioned above for making dosa batter, but the batter didn’t rise no were near like urs did. I guess it did not even rise or got fermented. What could hav3 been the reason.
    And also I was unable to grind the rice batter to a very thin paste, despite grinding the batter for 3 times.It still had little touch of very small granules feel.
    plz help.

    • the fermentation or doubling, tripling of the batter depends on the temperature. a warm temperature is always good. do you live in a cold climate or is it cold season where you live. if yes then its due to the cold temperature. i always preheat the oven at a very low temperature for 15 to 20 minutes. switch off and then keep the batter in the oven. you can also wrap the batter in a warm towel and keep near a warm place. fine rice granules in the batter are fine. it need not be a paste.

  58. Hey Buddy !!
    Well I guess u r keeping gud. I must tell you that I m your really big fan, actually I am ca student and whenever I get bored and exhausted I try out your recepies and its quiet relaxing. Its lyk I want ur autograph …… Your recepies are amazziiinnnngggggg ……. These exotic recepies really are marvellous.. I’ve tried quiet many .. A grand salute to u for being so diversingly talented. Hope I cud meet u some day!!
    Lots of affection and wishes 4 u…. GUD DAY!!
    Byyeee…….

  59. Hey dassana
    your recipes are really wonderful
    I have cooked many food items followed by your recipes.
    thanks a lot.

  60. I love to see all ur dishes turning out extremely well. I need some more variations and new recipes for breakfast.

  61. Hi Dassana

    I just love your recipes,they always turn out perfect!

    I really want to make dosa but i can´t get urad dal where i live,can i replace urad dal with anything else? another lentil? grain? bean?

    thanks!!

  62. Hi, I tried this recipe today in not so sunny England and fermented the dough overnight in the oven. It came out perfect and was easy to spread and had nice crispy dosas, I made your coconut chutney as an accompaniment and it was amazing, I will definitely make them again! Thanks!

  64. I’m making some batter right now. My blender couldn’t get the rice batter totally smooth – so I passed it through a sieve. It’s looking promising, now just to see if I can get the fermentation going in an English winter….(I’ve left it in a warm spot)….

    • if there the batter is a bit grainy, its fine. its difficult yo grind rice in a blender. i would suggest to keep the batter in a warm oven (oven which has been preheated before and then switched off) or lighted oven or near a heater wrapped with some warm clothing like a shawl.

  65. Really nicely explained and loved your recipe and plus point of the screen shots . Kudos ! Keeping doing the good work.

  66. Hai, this is the first time I am viewing for site. It is very easy to understand the steps and the photos of the recipes are also making us to get things more easier. Good luck.

  67. Hi,
    the batter was perfect. But I tried on the tawa, it was sticky and not thin like rice paper, I could not proceed. I have freezed the batter, waiting for your advice.
    thanks

  68. Hey Dassna, as a first-timer i had issues in fermentation of batter. After waiting for 3days i added 1/2 teaspoon baking soda and 1/4 teaspoon yeast. It worked! I skipped poha rice as i couldnt find that in Islamabad. And also missed fenugreek seeds. But still your recipe did wonders 🙂 many thanks for sharing!

  69. Hi Dassana:
    Fantastic blog site with fabulous recipes. I tried several different recipes and various ingredients for making the dosa. Each time the dosa comes out very good but still I am not able to replicate the taste of the dosa that is made in Udipi and other South Indian restaurants. I am wondering what is their secret? Do you know what ‘tricks’ they use to get that taste in the restaurants? (I hope it is not patented!)

    Do you know how to make ‘Chakrapongali’ (I am sure there are many variations of this spelling)? A very popular sweet dish made with rice/moongdal/jaggery in Andhra and Tamil Nadu. Please post the recipe, if you know.
    Thanks very much,
    Rom

    • thanks rom. depending on the ratio of rice to urad dal and the kind of rice used, dosas can be spongy, flat, crisp or soft. in udipi restaurants, they serve crisp dosa. to achieve this crispness, you can add 0.35:1 proportion of urad dal to rice. here use regular rice. parboiled rice or idli rice gives a soft texture. for a more soft texture in the dosa 0.5:1 proportion works well. i do know about sakkarai pongal. i was anyways planning to add it for the makar sankranti festival. lets see if i get time to prepare and post it.

      • Dassana, thanks very much. More than the crispiness or softness of the dosa, I am more intrigued by the flavor and taste of the dosas made at most of the South Indian restaurants. Whenever I eat in one of the Udipi or similar restaurants, instead of enjoying the dosa, I try to mentally ‘deformulate’ the product with a hope that I might get some clue as to why it tastes a lot better than homemade dosa. I wonder if they smear ghee as a finishing touch before serving it to their customers. I don’t know..just guessing.

        • its the grinding equipment they use. they use the heavy commercial stone grinders which really grinds the soaked urad dal and rice very well. in a mixer-grinder or blender, we cannot get these results. but in a table top wet grinder which can be used at home, these results can be achieved to some extent. and of course ghee or butter definitely adds to the taste.

          • Dassana, thanks very much for your input. You might be correct about the restaurant style equipment and the resulting taste you get from the final product. I have one of the table top wet grinders (with stone) and I grind the batter using that. Still I am not even close to the taste of the dosa that is served in the restaurants. It’s ok…I just wondered as how the restaurants can create that taste in a dosa.

            • welcome rom. i also have a table top wet grinders with stones. a few of my inputs. firstly the urad dal has to be ground really well. meaning its should be like soft peaks of a whipped cream. this can be achieved with a stone grinder. when i make idli or dosa, i grind the urad dal really well. here the amount of water also helps. so for 1/2 cup of urad dal with 1/4 tsp methi seeds (fenugreek seeds) i take 1.5 cups of water. this is for making dosa. for idli the water can be reduced a bit. then i remove this fluffy soft peaked ground urad dal batter and then add rice with some poha/parched or flattened rice to the grinder. the i grind rice. mix everything in a bowl and add salt. allow to ferment it for 8 to 9 hours. this period of time works well in summers, but in winters i keep the batter for 12 to 14 hours.

  70. I have become a great fan of yours. Everything I make, referring from ur posts, turns out to be great. Thanku for this dosa batter recipe. Worked out very well

  71. i hav tried making dosas bt not able to get it perfect round shape … any special tips?

    • coz the batter has to be a bit thick. then you can spread it evenly. also the tawa should not be very hot. if you use iron tawa, then sprinkle some hot water on the iron tawa or lift the tawa for some seconds away from the fire and then place it again. don’t sprinkle water on a hot non stick tawa. it will remove the non stick coating.

  75. I’ve tried to make dosas so many times….on non – stick tawa and iron griddles too…but dosa batter sticks to the tawa and every time it’s a big disappointment ……Please help.

    • season the tava. heat the tava first. spread oil all over and let the oil get heated gently. remove from flame. once the oil has cooled, wipe it with a cloth. and spread again a fresh thin layer of oil without heating. keep the tava with the oil for a couple of days before using. when about to make dosa, wipe the oil layer. heat the tava and then spread a new layer of oil. let it heat up then again wipe it. then again spread the oil and make the dosa. if non stick, then don’t spread oil. for iron tava, you can spread the oil. use a halved onion to spread the oil. ideally non stick should not give you this issue. only poor quality non stick tavas will have this sticking problem.

  78. Excellent recipe n illustration! Gonna try it out Tom. Waiting for my Thosai batter to be fermented 🙂

  79. Hi
    First of all I would like to tell u dat I am a doc. by profession but a passionate cook too, I am a hard core punjabi. In these days I am on a long break from my profession, for a year and a half or so. So in these days me, my kitchen and my cooking…… All balae-2. Today I thought of making dosa but made it with only soaked rice (One badder Renu abit of mine, neither I learned cooking from anybody nor do I ask or seek any recipe for anything, so just my own mind and my trials and last but not the least they almost turn out to be very good.) so today my dosa didn’t turn out to be as nice like other things. So just tried to fetch out my mistakes and some gud recipe and just landed here….. This seems a very good, simple and yummy one. Thanks a ton….. God bless u. Dr Renu Tiwari.

    • good to know about you renu. in fact cooking without seeking help from anywhere with your creativity is a rare habit and the food turns out good too. with soaked rice only, we make dosas which are called as neer dosa . the batter can be fermented or not. the consistency is thin unlike the regular dosa batter. do try this recipe too. its a good one provided the fermentation conditions are suitable like temperature.

  81. Hello Amit,
    This recipe is vividly written with such illustrations . .. just blows away my mind. I am not a South Indian but with a great love for their food culture. I tried making dosa as directed by you. For a first timer I guess I did well. Thanks for sharing.

  83. Most helpful recipe! I love the illustrations as well as the step by step approach. Thank you so much for taking the time.

  84. I’m a bachelor S/W Engg. I love your website, and your recipes are so well illustrated. Wonderful job.

  86. Excellent website and recipe!
    I live in Kenya. Is it possible to make sweet dosa or idli by adding a little honey?

  87. Hi, I want to try this recipe but I have a question – if the chana dal is dry do you need to soak or pressure cook it? I’m really excited to try this, everything on this site tastes amazing 🙂

  88. Hi
    I can’t understand the parboiled rice meaning…
    so can i use only regular rice instead of using both

      • Hi ..
        I am trying out your recipe today and i do not understand parboiled rice. In your ingredients list, you say to add 1 cup of regular rice and 1 cup of parboiled rice. Can i just add two cups of regular rice instead?

        • Mehz, yes you can add 2 cup of regular rice like sona masuri or kolam or any other rice variety available. parboiled rice is called as ‘ukda chawal’ in hindi. to get a crisp texture you can also add 1 tbsp of chana dal.

  89. Hi there…I followed the same recipe. dosas were quite ok. But it dries out soon, within minutes after taking off from the skillet. I personally think I should reduce the amount of rice and use urad dal instead coz I didn’t like those chewy tiny bits of rice in dosa. Any thoughts?

    • dosas have to be served immediately. otherwise they dry out. you can also keep them in a casserole. but then the crispness is lost. but they don’t dry out. you have to grind the rice more, so that you don’t get the tiny bits of rice. if you increase the urad dal, then the taste is different.

  90. YOU DID A GREAT JOB FOR ILLUSTRATION AND RECIPE. YOU HAVE A GREAT FUTURE IN THIS FIELD….GOOD LUCK.

    THANK YOU
    CHRIS

      • Thanks a lot for the excellent step by step receipe but it seems rather difficult
        for us to make it, however if at all we try to make it, I will let u know the result.

        But having said that, I think it will be much easier to go to small restaurants in
        Karachi and hv the Masala Dosa there which are well made by Malbari Cooks
        and cost Rs.260/

        Raza Dossa – Karachi 8.5.2014

  92. Excellent,especially by givingphotographs, the recipe is clear to understand… Thanks

  93. Ever since my childhood i am in love with this recipe called masala dosa.it was just an awesome cooking blog i could ever find.Your preciseness dat photography my gosh everything was just awesome………:)

  95. Hello Dassana
    Is it possible to make DOSSA using
    • 2 cups regular rice POWDER
    • ½ cup urad dal/skinned & split black gram POWDER
    • ½ cup cooked rice or poha/flattened rice POWDER
    • ¼ tsp methi seeds/fenugreek seeds

    Mix all above to make DOSSA batter and then let the batter ferment for 7-9 hours?Will it be OK?

    • hi zara, yes you can make dosa with the following flours. i just made recently. i used 1.25 cups rice flour. 3/4 cup urad dal flour, salt and water. i did not use methi seeds powder or ground poha. i mixed everything with water except for salt and fermented for 11-12 hours, as its cold here. the dosa made this way turn out crisp and good. not like the dosa made with ground rice and urad dal, but they are still good.

      • Thank you Dassana for your quick response.I am from Dhaka,Bangladesh. We had very few restaurant in Dhaka Specially for Dosa. And I love DOSA very much,Pls don;t mind as I am asking too many question.Will it be fine if add little Chana dal which is called locally BOTER DAL to make little more CHRISPY?

        • no problem zara. you can add chana dal flour which we call besan, but just a bit. so that the taste does not change. you can also add ground chana dal. but again just about 1 to 2 tbsp soaked and ground. if extra is added, then the taste will change. a little makes the dosa crisp and also gives a golden color.

  96. To Linda. To your query about freezing the batter, yes you can safely do it. I would recommend you freeze it in batches so you may thaw and use as per your need. Hope I have been helpful. Warm wishes, Mona.

  97. I had never had Dosa until I visited a friend in India two weeks ago. I fell in love with Dosa and Idli while there. I watched her and figured I can do that. With what I remember and your help, I feel I have made a very good start on the Dosa. Not quite as good as my friend but close. I think I need to thin the mix a little more.
    The problem is I watched my friend make them starting with 3 cups of rice and 1 cup of lentil. Forgetting there is only two of us at home and she was making for 10 with enough to last two to three days, I started with the same amount of rice and lentil, before I found you online.
    I am sure I have too much to use up before it will start to go bad. Do you know if I can freeze the mix and use it later or should I make up lots of Idli’s and give some to all my friends.

    • thanks linda. 3:1 proportion of rice to the lentil proportion works well for crisp dosas. i am not sure about freezing the batter as i have never done it. you can keep the batter for about five days to a week.

  98. Hi Dassana,
    Finally I tried Masala Dosa. I followed exact combination as you told me. It was perfect First I was so, scared to make it but the steps in the recipe helped me a lot. My hubby when he tried he said, better than the restaurant 10/10. Every thing the Dosa, the potato filling was yummy. the coconut chutney’s taste was amazing.
    The Thank you word is not enough for you. God bless you and your family with good health. You have really big heart, that you share your recipes and talent through your blog. This blog is No.1 because of you and your family effort.
    Thank you.

    • chalo, now you will not be scared to make dosa at home. in fact the dosa and idlis made at home (if the batter ferments well) is much better than hotel ones. thanks for your prayers humera. i am touched.

      okay, by the way today i made dosa with urad dal flour and rice flour. they were good. not exactly like the ground urad dal and rice batter one. but still good enough when you want to prepare a hassle free dosa. i will add the recipe in some days.

  100. Hi Dassana,
    I live in Canada. I recently found your Blog. I tried your recipes, The Veg Pizza,Garlic Naan and the Dal tadka. They are a big hit in my family. Thank you for giving us opportunity to be great Cooking Expert like you.
    Now I want to make Masala Dosa with your recipe. This is my first time trying Dosa. I checked my neighbor hood Indian store. I found couple of rice which you mention in your description.
    Sona masoori rice, Idli rice, Basmati rice, Thick poha rice, Thin poha rice, Ragda poha rice(which was little brownish). Parboiled rice I can get it from other grocery store.
    I just want you to help me, which rice combination should I use. So, I can make the Dosa the way you are making it.
    Thanks.

    • thanks humera for trying the recipes as well as for your feedback on them. i suggest to use – 1 cup sona masoori rice + 1 cup idli rice or parboiled rice + 1/4 cup thick poha + 1/2 cup urad dal. the above proportion will give soft as well as crisp dosas. let me know how they turn out.

  102. Hiya Dassana,
    Here in Australia we do not get parboiled rice. I finally got a packet of poha and also have regular rice and rest of the items. Can you please let me know how to make without parboil rice. Thank you Dassana. Much appreciated for taking time and replying. Kindest regards Maya

  103. Thank you for sharing the recipe. My husband and my 1 n half year son loved it..it turned out really awesome

  104. Hello Mam,

    Mam plz tell is there any special idli rava ??? coz in punjab there is only one type….some times its thick n some times very thin….. so plz share recipe wd regular rice …. m eagerly waiting 🙂

    • actually we get fine idli rava here. fine than sooji. i have never seen thick idli rava. with regular rice. use 2 cups of regular rice with 1/2 cup of urad dal and the rest of the ingredients is same as in this recipe. you can omit the poha for uttapams. uttapams are thick so you need a really good tava and spread a thick layer of batter. you can add some onions or tomatoes etc on top. sprinkle some oil. cover and let it cook. you can also turn over and cook if you want.

  105. Hello Mam
    Hws going all…….after so many days m talking to u…..but I do visit ur site daily wdout any miss….as u know m a big fan of u n my day jst didnt complete wdout visiting ur site…..but now a days m helping my bro in his business so get less time for cooking n only enjoying by watching ur recipes ;)…… Mam, I hav 1 ques. abt this recipe is……what is parboiled rice??? how can I make it at home….coz I enable to get this in market in my city … or whats the alternative to it for Uttapam ….I really need to know coz my mom love to hav uttapam …. so plz guide……..
    JGD 🙂

    • hi mehak. thanks dear. such a sweet cooment you have written. parboiled rice is called as ukda chawal. its basically rice which has been partially boiled in its husk and then dried, cooled and milled. its very difficult to get it in north india. you can check if you can get idli rava. if yes, then let me know, i will share uttapam recipe with idli rava. if not then also let me know, i will share uttapam recipe with regular rice.

  106. Just wow!!. Excellent blog. 5 stars. I am hoping to make it exactly following the recipe above. I am sure it will be delicious. Thank you for such wonderful pics and simple explanation. Your blog is highly recommended.

  107. Hello mam. I tried dosa as per ur instructions. It wz awsome. Whole credit goes to u. Hats off to u mam.

  109. Hi, I’m 18 and obviously have not made dosa by myself :p and I really like your website, explanations are superb! And I’ve tried so many of your recipes which turned out really amazing.
    Ive just got a quick question about this recipe. Would it be bad if I leave the mixture for more than the timeframe you have said on this recipe?
    Thanks in advance! 🙂

    • you can keep the batter for a few hours more, only if the batter has not fermented and doubled. in winters i keep the dosa batter for 2-3 hours more. if the batter has fermented well, then no need to keep out. keep in the fridge.

  111. hi dassana
    as u written above to soak the rice and poha… means regular rice or both regular + parboiled rice.. and if not soaking the parboiled rice then when we hav to add it.. plz explain.. thanks in advance

  112. i really love yr site.. love every recipe u post.. the way u teach here.. the pictures the,light technique, the utencils, step by step process including yr tips.. and the best thing is,if anyone have any problem u r always here to solve there problem ..
    im not only giving this recipe 5/5 but i want to give u 10/10 not that enough for me even 1000/1000 is less for u i can say… thanks for ur recipes.. really thankss

  117. Even though we have Dosa almost like every other day, I rarely prepare Masala Dosa. Your Potato Filling “Sabzi” makes me really want to give this a try – at least to know how it tastes with Cashews etc. in them. I do occasionally go for Masala Dosa in the fast foods here in Bangalore but did not find (or observe may be) Sabzi prepared with all the fantastic ingredients. Thanks!

  119. Namaste Dassana, I would like to express my deep gratitude for your work of sharing all the great recipes which are very granma feel recipes. I am adoring indian art of cooking and using in my everyday life since my first visit to India in 1991, when I became vegeterian spontaneously surrounded by all the godly food!!! Thank you!!!

    Mihael from Slovenia

  121. Thank you for the “Masala Dosa” website you have created.Your explanation has helped me in my English project

  124. I was unable to spread the batter on the pan. I made it last Monday. How to make dosa like
    restaurant.

    • dear smita, just add some water to the batter to thin it a little. this way you can spread the batter easily. also the pan should be not very hot. if it is hot, before you spread the batter, the batter starts cooking, so you cannot spread it. if using nonstick pan, then after making each dosa, sprinkle some water on the pan. this brings down the temperature of the pan.

      to make dosa like the restaurant, add about 1 tbsp chana dal and you make the dosa with 1:3 proportion of urad dal and rice respectively. hope this helps.

  125. dassana,
    at the time its quite hot in delhi.. should i soak the ground batter overnight.. should i refrigerate the batter till its time to cook. i am a novice so i need a little help there.

    • dear harvinder, you can ferment the ground batter overnight for at least 5-6 hours or even during the day time. in the hot temperatures if you keep the batter for 9-10 hours or more it becomes very sour and may even start giving foul odour. once the batter has that faint sour aroma and is risen than refrigerate and use when you want to make the idlis or dosa.

  126. what is the ratio of rice to urad dal if i am using basmati rice…
    still 2 cups rice + 1/2 cup dal + 1/4 cup poha…….

    • yes renuka you can add 2 cups rice with 1/2 cup urad dal. poha keep it to 1/4 cup only. if you want you can increase the urad dal quantity to 2/3 cup. for making crisper and golden browned dosa you can also soak about 1 or 2 tbsp of chana dal with the urad dal.

  127. Is there a problem with over soaking the lentils? I’ve never tried this before and want to this long weekend, but would like to do the soaking one night and the fermentation the next (rather than trying to monitor during the days) – is it a problem if the lentils soak longer than 5 hrs?

    • the soaking of lentils for a long time depends on the temperature conditions in the place you live.. well. you might ask how?

      if its a hot climate and you soak the lentils for more than 5 hours, the water will start to give an unpleasant smell and so the lentils.

      in a colder temperatures this does not happen and you can soak the lentils overnight…. no problem. in the winters and cooler climates of bangalore, i would soak the lentils overnight and never had any problem.

      • hi,i followed ur way to make masala dosa which u described above. but the batter coudn’t became fermented.shall i use both regular and parboiled rice to making the batter? or any one from both rice?need to add yeast too?

        • there are many reasons due to which the batter does not ferment well. you can use regular and parboiled rice together. if you use only parboiled rice or regular rice, the texture becomes different. i suggest using both. you can add yeast if the batter does not ferment well. otherwise there is no need.