Ragi Dosa (Finger Millet Crepe)

Dosa has long been a most popular Indian breakfast delicacy and there are so many varieties and versions to making Dosa.

Traditionally rice & urid daal are soaked, ground and fermented, but what about those that want to try a healthier gluten free option? Replacing the rice with super food Ragi or Finger Millet gives not only a healthier option, but is equally as delicious!

Here it is, my version of RAGI DOSA:

Ingredients: 1 cup Ragi flour, 2 tablespoons rice flour, 1 cup urid daal, 2 tablespoons poha, 1 teaspoon fenugreek seeds, salt.

Make: 

1. Wash then soak urid daal, poha and fenugreek seeds for about 4 hours.

2. After 4 hours, grind the soaked mixture into a thick smooth paste. 

3. In a bowl, mix Ragi flour and rice flour with water into a smooth paste without lumps. Add in the ground urid daal mixture to this, add salt and mix completely. Use water as needed to get a thick but not watery batter.

4. Cover the bowl and leave it to ferment overnight. If the weather is cold, you can use a 1/2 spoon baking soda mixed in too.

5. After fermentation the batter should have risen and be airy. Make Dosas on a non stick pan as normal. 

Enjoy crispy, delicious, healthy Ragi Dosa with your favourite chutney!

Instant Besan-Rava Dosa/Crepe

When it's a Dosa breakfast, it's bound to be a good day! Even better if that Dosa batter doesn't involve hours of work in soaking, fermentation and grinding - instant Dosa to the rescue! 

The traditional rice/urid daal Dosa made in the authentic method is hard to beat, however there are so many other forms of Dosa that are both nutritious and delicious. I've shared my Moong Daal Dosa and Tomato Rava Dosa, this yummy one is similar too.

Here it is, my version of BESAN RAVA DOSA:

Ingredients: 1 cup Besan/Chickpea flour, 1/2 rice flour, 1/2 fine rava/semolina, 1/2 cup plain yogurt/curds, handful of coriander chopped, 1 tbsp cumin seeds, 1/2 tsp asetofida, chopped chillies as desired, salt to taste, water.

Make: 

1. In a mixing bowl, add in all the flours above and mix together. Now add in the yogurt/curds and water bit by bit, mixing to ensure no lumps. The batter should be thin like a Rava Dosa batter.

2. Add in asetofida, cumin seeds, salt, chopped coriander and chillies if using. Mix it all well and rest for 5 minutes. 

3. On a hot flat pan, ladle the batter to make to the Dosa, one ladle full for each Dosa. This is not a thick batter like a traditional Dosa so just ladle without rubbing to shape the Dosa. The heat will create the holes which will be crispy once cooked. Cook on each side for a few minutes until golden brown.

Serve the crispy hot Besan Rava Dosa with chutney. Enjoy!

Tomato Rava Dosa - Tomato Semolina Crepe

Weekend breakfasts mean a lovely start to the day with family enjoying yummy food. This is even better when the morning's breakfast treat doesn't need to be pre-planned like a fermented Dosa batter. 

This instant batter for this delicious Dosa can be whipped up in minutes so ofcourse it's family favourite! 

Here it is, my version of TOMATO RAVA DOSA: 

Ingredients: 1 cup rice flour, 1/2 cup fine semolina, 3 or 4 tomatoes pureed(with skin), handful curry leaves chopped, 1 tsp cumin seeds, 1 tsp chopped ginger, chillies, salt. 

Make:

1. Puree 3 or 4 tomatoes including skin, using a little water so it's smooth. 

2. In a dish, mix in rice flour, semolina, chopped curry leaves, ginger, chillies, cumin seeds and salt. 

3. Add in pureed tomato, mix well, add water as needed to make a smooth liquid batter (like a smoothie consistency). 

4. Heat a flat frypan and pour batter, one ladle full for one Dosa. Sprinkle oil, cover and cook for a few minutes then flip and cook without cover until crisp. Repeat for more Dosas. 

Enjoy hot crispy Tomato Rava Dosas with your favourite chutney/sides.

Moong Dal Dosa - No Fermentation quick Dosa

Weekend breakfasts for us often involve delicious South Indian delicacies and Dosa is a popular one! There are so many different variants of Dosa but I especially like trying versions that do not require the long fermentation process.

Moong Dal (split yellow lentil) is a healthy, high protein ingredient which makes some seriously good, crispy yummy Dosa! The best benefit is no soaking-grinding-fermenting long process, not to mention its low GI qualities.

Here it is, my version of Moong Dal Dosa:

Ingredients: 1.5 cups Moong Dal, 4 to 5 tbsp rice flour, 1 tbsp crushed ginger, pinch of baking soda, salt to taste.

Make:

1. Wash and soak the Moong Dal for about 4 hours (or overnight if wanting to make Dosa for breakfast)

2. After soaking, transfer the Moong Dal into a grinder, add the rice flour, ginger and salt. Add water to adjust consistency and grind into a smooth batter.

3. Add a pinch of baking soda, mix and let the batter rest for 10 minutes.

4. On a hot pan, ladle the batter and make delicious crisp Dosas.

Enjoy hot with your favourite chutney or sides!