22 Dosa varieties, South Indian dosa varieties for breakfast - Swasthi's Recipes (2024)

4K Shares

22 Dosa varieties. – Dosa or dosai or dose is one of the most regularly consumed crepes in South India. These are made in so many ways, each differ in proportions of lentils, rice and beaten rice used. While they were made using only rice in the olden days, soon people began to use black gram dal/ urad dal which was widely and easily grown in the dry lands of south India.

22 Dosa varieties, South Indian dosa varieties for breakfast - Swasthi's Recipes (1)

To make most dosa varieties, rice and lentils are soaked for about 4 to 6 hours. Then ground with water to make a thick batter and fermented. This fermentation enhances the nutrition and lends an airy structure to the batter making end product porous and tasty.

The batter is then spreaded to a thin crepe on a hot seasoned griddle and cooked for short time. Since these are cooked only for short time, typically less than 2 to 3 minutes most nutrients are preserved.

With the advent of restaurants serving a dosa varieties they became very popular since they tasted addictively delicious. Various versions like masala dosa, set dosa, benne dosa, neer dosa, egg dosa, chicken dosa, schezwan masala and many such came into existence.

The most commonly made in most homes is the plain dosa also called as sada or khali dose as we call it at home. I have shared few recipes on this blog which I usually make at home. Most of these were shared were by my Mom and SIL, hence they are family recipes that we consider are healthy and nutritious with minimum usage of Rice and more lentils.

Most of these can be made for breakfast or a meal and can be paired with any chutney or vegetable curry or tiffin sambar.

You may also like other collections,
Vada Recipes
Pakora recipes
Sandwich Recipes
Pasta Recipes

22 Dosa varieties

: A complete guide to making perfect crispy delicious and healthy dosas each time. I have shared 4 recipes in this post with various proportions to make sada dosa, crispy homestyle dosas, crispy homestyle dosai with potato masala and one healthy dose.

: This is a detailed post on how to make restaurant style crispy masala and mysore masala dose that are aromatic and delicious. I have also shared the recipe of potato masala for the stuffing.

Set dosa : Karnataka style soft sponge dosas similar to the one we get in karnataka tiffin hotels. These are made with urad dal, poha and rice. They also go well in school box. These are eaten with chutney or sagu.

Pesarattu or moong dosa recipe – A special and unique recipe made of green gram from andhra cuisine. Learn how to make perfect crispy pesarattu at home. This is usually served with upma or with ginger chutney. To make pesarattu, batter needs no fermentation. So it is just soak, blend and use the batter.

Cheese dosa – Street style cheese dosai recipe made with regular batter topped with cheese. To make it spicy you can also smear some chutney, curry or any sauce and then top with cheese.

Adai dosa – High protein mixed lentil dosas from Tamil cuisine. This can be made for breakfast or a meal. It is served with chutney. Very healthy for growing kids, pregnant women and for everyone.

Neer dosa is a popular dish from mangalorean cuisine and is eaten not only for breakfast but also for a meal. These are enjoyed with chutney or any gravy. These are made with just 3 ingredients rice, salt and water. To make these, batter needs no fermentation.

More dosa varieties

Whole wheat or atta dosa – Instant crisp atta dosas made with whole wheat flour. These are very quick to make under 15 minutes and can be served for breakfast, dinner or lunch. Serve wit with any chutney, curry or gravy.

Bajra / millet dosai – Crispy, healthy and delicious dosai that is made with pearl millet known as Bajra in Hindi, kambu in tamil, sajjalu in telugu. These can be enjoyed anytime of the day, not only for breakfast but also for a meal. These also go well in the tiffin or lunch box.

Egg dosai – One of the popular street foods of Tamilnadu known as mutta dosai. This is on the heavier side and is apt to enjoy it for a meal. To make this you can use any dosai batter, then top with egg and other ingredients.

Oats dosa – One of the healthiest ways to consume oats. Make this any time just under 25 minutes. These turns out to be delicious & crisp.

Masala oats dosa – Delicious potato masala inside oats dosas. This would be great to enjoy as a lunch or dinner.

Instant moong dal dosa – Delicious, healthy, crispy and protein rich breakfast or brunch recipe. These are a cheats version of the andhra pesarattu. When you don’t have enough time to soak the greem gram, you can make these instant pesarattu using skinned and split green gram.

More varieties

Ragi dosa – made with finger millet or red millet flour. Ragi is one of the widely used gluten free grain from India. High in iron and absorbable calcium these are a great addition to your menu.

If you have left over dosai batter, you can just add some ragi flour to make these dosas. Healthy and delicious, these are good to enjoy for lunch or evening snack.

Jowar dosa – Healthy thin and crisp dosas made with whole jowar or and urad dal. These are high in calcium and most other nutrients. These can also be served for dinner along with a chutney, sambar or curry.

Chana dosa – Thin crepes made of soaked white chickpeas or kabuli channa. These are a great breakfast for those who are diabetic. These are good even for kids as they are high in protein.

Instant oats green gram dosa – These are protein packed and yet healthy with all the goodness of oats in them.

About Swasthi

I’m Swasthi Shreekanth, the recipe developer, food photographer & food writer behind Swasthi’s Recipes. My aim is to help you cook great Indian food with my time-tested recipes. After 2 decades of experience in practical Indian cooking I started this blog to help people cook better & more often at home. Whether you are a novice or an experienced cook I am sure Swasthi’s Recipes will assist you to enhance your cooking skills. More about me

Follow Swasthi’s Recipes

22 Dosa varieties, South Indian dosa varieties for breakfast - Swasthi's Recipes (2024)

FAQs

How to eat dosa for breakfast? ›

Dosa is a delicious Indian pancake made of rice and black gram. Round and light, dosa is often accompanied by sides like chutney, sambar, and masala. Traditionally in India, dosa is eaten with your hands, but you can also eat it with a fork and knife in more formal situations.

What is the most popular dosa? ›

Masala Dosa – The Classic!

Masala dosa has been India's most popular type of dosa for generations. It's a crispy, light, and soft dosa stuffed with wonderfully spiced potato filling made from mashed boiled potatoes, onions, tomatoes, and a blend of spices.

Is dosa a healthy breakfast? ›

Low on Fat. People suffering from heart diseases or diabetes need to take special care about what they eat. However, dosa is a healthy breakfast option for people who need a keep a check on their fat intake. A high amount of saturated fat increases the risk of heart diseases and a number of other health problems.

Is it OK to eat dosa everyday? ›

The Dosa is so much more than a meal. It's a tasty way for you to keep your cholesterol down and provide much-needed energy for the day ahead. Undoubtedly, with so much benefits, it is considered healthy to eat dosas regularly.

How many dosas should I eat? ›

Usually, one medium to big size dosa (made at home, not the ones they serve in restaurants) has 133 calories. Eating two dosas for a meal is good to keep you full for long. The glycemic index of dosa is 77, which is not too high. So, you can enjoy your dosa meal guilt-free.

What is dosa called in English? ›

Meaning of dosa in English

a type of thin pancake made with crushed lentils and rice, originally from southern India: Dosas are served hot, often with chutney and sambar. My favourite dish is dosa, a big Indian pancake, with all sorts of fillings such as paneer or potato.

Which is best dosa batter? ›

ID Foods is a famous brand that makes yummy Indian food. They make a special batter for idlis and dosas that is really good. They use really good rice and urad dal to make the batter. This makes the idlis soft and fluffy.

What to pair with dosa? ›

The savoury pancake is best enjoyed with certain side dishes. Eating a dosa is incomplete without coconut chutney. Aloo masala is another perfect accompanying dish with a crisp dosa. A hot piping bowl of sambar with seasonal vegetables and dosa are a match made in heaven.

Is dosa healthier than rice? ›

Dosa is considered a healthy dish but it should be consumed in moderation due to the high rice content. Owing to the fermentation process, the dosa batter has a good amount of essential amino acids, making it highly nutritious with low levels of enzyme inhibitors and phytic acid.

Is dosa healthier than roti? ›

Dosa is good for health when compared to chapati as it contains wheat which takes more time for digestion than dosa. In taking chapati would result in affecting our health in a slow process. So dosa is recommendable. Chapati as it has protein, fiber and Carbs.

Which rice is best for dosa? ›

Idli rice is the best rice to make dosas. Dosas made with idli rice have a well balanced flavor, yield dosas with the right amount of crisp and browning, and yield dosas that have a fluffy center.

Which is the most expensive dosa in India? ›

Priced at a whooping 916 rupees, the Dosa has been the point of interest for customers since it has been launched. it looks a very different color as the dosa is made from a special batter unlike the plain battle that is usually used.

What is the difference between dosa and masala dosa? ›

Masala dosa is a roasted dosa served with potato curry, chutney and sambar, while saada (plain) dosa is prepared with a lighter texture; paper dosa is a thin and crisp version. Rava dosa is made crispier using semolina. Newer versions include Chinese dosa, cheese dosa, paneer dosa, and pizza dosa.

Which dosa has least calories? ›

Sada dosa is lower in calories compared to Rava Dosa. Sada dosa is 104 calories per dosa while rava dosa is 147 calories. 5. We feel that rice is a bit healthier than rava.

Is dosa healthy or unhealthy? ›

Dosa is considered a healthy dish but it should be consumed in moderation due to the high rice content. Owing to the fermentation process, the dosa batter has a good amount of essential amino acids, making it highly nutritious with low levels of enzyme inhibitors and phytic acid.

Is dosa good or bad for weight loss? ›

Contrary to the general perception that rice and rice related foods are not good for weight loss, dosa is actually a good food to lose weight especially when you customize it in a healthy manner. Dosa, one of the favorite breakfasts of the country, is rich in protein and fiber and keeps one full for a longer time.

Which is healthier dosa or chapati? ›

Dosa is good for health when compared to chapati as it contains wheat which takes more time for digestion than dosa. In taking chapati would result in affecting our health in a slow process. So dosa is recommendable. Chapati as it has protein, fiber and Carbs.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Saturnina Altenwerth DVM

Last Updated:

Views: 5793

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (44 voted)

Reviews: 91% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Saturnina Altenwerth DVM

Birthday: 1992-08-21

Address: Apt. 237 662 Haag Mills, East Verenaport, MO 57071-5493

Phone: +331850833384

Job: District Real-Estate Architect

Hobby: Skateboarding, Taxidermy, Air sports, Painting, Knife making, Letterboxing, Inline skating

Introduction: My name is Saturnina Altenwerth DVM, I am a witty, perfect, combative, beautiful, determined, fancy, determined person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.