Kitchen Recipe Collection
Indian Set Dosa
Soft, incredibly spongy, and thick dosas served in a 'set' of three. They require no oil for cooking and are cooked only on one side.
- Prep
- 480 min
- Cook
- 20 min
- Total
- 500 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- medium
- Cuisine
- indian
Ingredients
Scaled for 4 servings
- idli rice
- poha (flattened rice)
- urad dal (split black gram)
- methi (fenugreek) seeds
- salt
- water
- oil (optional)
Equipment
- Blender
- Flat cast iron tawa with lid
Instructions
- 1
Soak Grains
Wash and soak idli rice, urad dal, and methi seeds together for 5-6 hours.
- 2
Soak Poha
Wash and soak the poha (flattened rice) separately just 30 minutes before grinding. Poha is the secret to the extreme softness.
- 3
Grind Batter
Drain the water and grind everything together (rice, dal, and poha) in a blender until very smooth and fluffy.
- 4
Consistency Check
The batter should be thick but pourable, slightly thicker than regular dosa batter.
- 5
Ferment
Add salt, mix well with your hands to introduce wild yeast, cover, and ferment overnight (8-10 hours) in a warm place.
- 6
Mix Gently
The next morning, the batter will be bubbly and risen. Mix it gently. Do not over-mix and destroy the air bubbles.
- 7
Heat Tawa
Heat a heavy cast iron tawa on medium heat. It should not be smoking hot.
- 8
Pour Batter
Pour a ladleful of batter in the center of the tawa.
- 9
Do NOT Spread
Crucial step: Do not spread the batter thin like a regular dosa. Just spread it very slightly into a thick, small circle (about 5-6 inches).
- 10
Watch the Pores
Almost immediately, hundreds of small pores (holes) will appear on the surface.
- 11
Cover and Cook
Cover with a lid and cook on medium-low heat for 2 minutes. The steam cooks the top; no oil is needed.
- 12
Remove and Serve
Once the top is completely cooked and no longer wet, remove it. Set dosas are never flipped. Serve in a stack of three with coconut chutney and vegetable sagu.
Cooking Tips
- Adding poha (flattened rice) is absolutely essential for the sponge-like texture.
- If you spread the batter too much, the pores will not form and it won't be a Set Dosa.
Variations
- Sponge Dosa: Essentially the same recipe, sometimes made with a handful of puffed rice (murmura) instead of poha.
Chef's Notes & Storage
- A staple in Karnataka restaurants (Darshinis), traditionally served in a set of three (hence the name).
Nutrition Estimate
240 calories · 6g protein · 50g carbs · 1g fat · 2g fiber per serving
