Degchi
A paper-thin, fermented rice-and-lentil crepe fried crisp and golden, folded around a spiced mashed-potato filling. South India's most iconic breakfast, served with coconut chutney and sambar.
Quick answer: 750 min in total · serves 4 · main ingredients: Rice, Split black lentils, Salt, Potato · amounts in metric and US
Ingredients
- 300 g 10.5 oz Rice, soaked 6 hours
- 100 g 3.5 oz Split black lentils, whole, soaked 6 hours
- 1.5 tsp 1.5 tsp Salt, to taste
- 4 pc 4 pc Potato, boiled and mashed
- 1 pc 1 pc Onion, sliced
- 1 tsp 1 tsp Mustard seeds
- 0.5 tsp 0.5 tsp Turmeric
- 4 tbsp 4 tbsp Cooking oil
- 0.5 tsp 0.5 tsp Fenugreek seeds (Optional)
- 10 pc 10 pc Curry leaves (Optional)
- 2 pc 2 pc Green chilli, chopped (Optional)
Steps
Timers run only while this tab is open. The Degchi app keeps them running on a locked phone.
- Soak rice and whole urad lentils separately for 6 hours, then grind each into a smooth batter, combine and stir in the 1.5 tsp salt by hand before fermenting.⏱ Soaking rice and urad · 360 min
- Cover and let the batter ferment in a warm place overnight until it rises and turns slightly sour.⏱ Fermenting batter · 480 min
- For the filling, temper mustard seeds and curry leaves in oil, add onion and fry until soft.⏱ Frying the onion · 4 min
- Add turmeric, green chilli and mashed potato; mix well and season with salt.⏱ Cooking potato filling · 2 min
- Heat a flat griddle over medium-high heat until a few drops of water sizzle and vanish at once. Pour a ladle of batter and spread thin in a circular motion, then lower the heat to medium.
- Drizzle oil around the edges and cook until the base is crisp and golden.⏱ Cooking dosa · 2 min
- Place the potato filling along the centre, fold the dosa over and serve hot with sambar and coconut chutney.
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Frequently asked questions
How long does Masala Dosa take?
750 minutes in total: about 720 minutes of prep and 30 minutes of cooking.
Is Masala Dosa hard to make?
Degchi rates it medium. The method has 7 steps, and 5 of them have a timer you can start on this page.
How many people does Masala Dosa serve?
This recipe serves 4. Use the toggle above the ingredient list to see the amounts in metric or US measures. For more or fewer portions, scale every amount in the same proportion, or use the servings control in the Degchi app.
Is Masala Dosa halal, vegetarian or eggless?
It is marked halal in our recipe data. It is vegetarian. It has no egg. It has no beef. Check the labels on any packaged ingredients for your own needs.
What will I probably need to buy for Masala Dosa?
Everyday staples that Degchi counts as pantry basics: salt, turmeric, cooking oil. Spice-box items: mustard seeds. Fresh items you will probably need to buy: potato, onion. Lentils, grains and other dry goods: rice, split black lentils.
Any tips for making Masala Dosa?
A well-fermented batter is the key — in colder climates, leave it in a switched-off oven with the light on to help it rise. Add the salt to the batter before the overnight ferment. If the first dosa sticks or tears, the griddle is usually too cold or too hot: wipe it with a halved onion or a damp cloth, let it recover for a minute and try again. Thin out a thick batter with a splash of water.
Notes and questions
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