Preparing Masala Dosa Mix

Masala Dosa or Plain Dosa is a typical South Indian Dish. It can be compared to a Crêpe for its flatness, but the similarities stop right there. As a completed product, the Dosa looks like a large flat goldern brown disc, crisp enough to be yummy, but soft enough to be rolled with filling – like a burrito.

It has become such a huge favorite in the other areas of India too. It is a unique and yummy food item. I will offer the Recipe for making Masala Dosas right here on this site. But first, I would like to give you the recipe to prepare the groundwork for making yummy Masala Dosas. So this recipe is just for preparing the Dosa batter.

It may look like it has a lot of steps to perform. But in reality, it is like describing the steps of how to walk! It is easier done than describing! Besides, the first time it may be cumbersome. But later… well it is always a little cumbersome! But think of the numerous Masala Dosas you can make with one batch of batter!

Here is a picture of Masala Dosas filled with a mildly spices veggie filling.

Masala Dosa…with spicy veggies

Masala Dosa Mix

Masala Dosa Fermented Batter Featured

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Serves	8
Prep time	10 minutes
Cook time	10 minutes
Total time	20 minutes
Dietary	Diabetic, Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
Meal type	Lunch, Main Dish
Misc	Child Friendly, Pre-preparable
Region	Indian

Ingredients

4 cups Plain Long Grain Rice (White Rice or Brown Rice ) (Soaked in lukewarm water for at least 4 hours)
1 cup Urad Dahl (Soaked in lukewarm water for at least 4 hours.)
2 teaspoons Salt

Optional

1 teaspoon Fenugreek seeds (Add this to the soaking Urad Dahl)

Directions

Step 1
In the afternoon, anywhere between 4 and 7 pm, prepare the Dosa Mixture. First, drain the soaked rice.
Step 2
Add the rice, one cup at a time, to the Blender Jar - until the jar is half full. Add water until the water level is just above the rice.
Step 3
Start the blender with low speed, increase it to medium and then high. Grind the rice until it is smooth. If the mixture is too thick and the blender gets stuck, add a little more water until the grinding process is smooth. It should be a thick mixture, not runny. Like thick pancake batter.
Step 4
Pour the mixture into a large 8 quart sauce pan or a stock pot, that has a cover.
Step 5
Repeat Steps 2 through 4 until all the rice has been processed.
Step 6
Drain the Urad Dahl. Add the fenugreek to the blender jar.
Step 7
Add the urad dahl to the Blender Jar - until the jar is one third full. Add water until the water level is half inch above the dahl.
Step 8
Start the blender with low speed, increase it to medium and then high. Grind the dahl until it is smooth. If the mixture is too thick and the blender gets stuck, add a little more water until the grinding process is smooth. It should be a thick mixture, not runny. Like thick pancake batter.
Step 9
Pour the Urad Dahl Mix into the same large sauce pan which should already contain the Rice Mix.
Step 10
Repeat Steps 7 through 9 until all the Urad Dahl has been processed.
Step 11
Add salt to the mixture in the pan.
Step 12
Wash your hand. With your hand, blend and mix the contents of the sauce pan thoroughly.
Step 13
Wash you hand. Cover the sauce pan.
Step 14
Just have the lowest rack in your regular oven. Remove the other racks. Place 2 large strips of aluminum foil on top of the rack, covering almost all of the rack. (This is avoid any spillage due to fermentation on to the oven bottom. ) Place the sauce pan on top of the aluminum foil. Turn on the oven lights.
Step 15
Depending upon the climatic conditions and the warmth coming from the oven lights, the Dosa Mix will ferment ranging from a little to a lot.
Step 16
The next morning, open the oven. If the Dosa Mix fermented a lot, you may see it even overflowing out of the pan.
Step 17
Remove the pan from the oven and open it. The mixture should have risen up at least a little. If the mixture looks just the way it was the previous evening, return the pan to the oven and let it stay there for several hours in the oven light warmth.
Step 18
If the mixture has risen up, switch off the oven lights. Mix the Dosa Mix with a long spoon. You can refrigerate the Dosa Mix at the end of the day.
Step 19
The Dosa Mix under perfect conditions should smell fine. Sometimes due to the forced fermentation, the smell could be a little strong and a little unpleasant. Not to worry. When you make the Dosa, this will disappear.
Step 20
Even after several repeated attempts if the Dosa Mix does not ferment, don't worry. See my Recipe (coming up soon) to make a wonderful Dosa with unfermented Mix.