BHA & BHT Free Vegan Masala Dosa
Masala dosa is one of those dishes that rewards patience — the overnight soak, the slow ferment, the careful spread of batter across a hot pan — and every step is completely worth it. The filling is a warmly spiced, chunky potato masala fragrant with mustard seeds, curry leaves, fresh ginger, and turmeric, all tucked inside a paper-thin, deeply golden crepe that shatters at the edges when you bite in. Because every component here is made entirely from scratch using whole, recognizable ingredients, there are no processed preservatives like BHA or BHT hiding in the mix — just rice, lentils, fresh vegetables, coconut, and spices you can see and smell. That matters more than it might seem, since packaged chutneys, spice blends, and even some cooking oils can quietly contain synthetic antioxidants that are easy to overlook on a label. The coconut chutney comes together in minutes and gets a gorgeous finishing touch from a quick tempering of mustard seeds, curry leaves, and dried red chile poured right over the top. This is a recipe that takes time but very little active effort, and the result is a restaurant-quality plate that's entirely clean from start to finish. Serve everything hot and don't skip the chutney — it ties the whole thing together beautifully.
About FigFig is a food discovery app that helps you find foods and recipes that fit your dietary needs. Whether you have food allergies, intolerances, or follow a specific diet, Fig makes it easy to eat with confidence.
Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the dosa batter
- 2 cups long-grain white rice
- ½ cup urad dal (split black lentils)
- ¼ tsp fenugreek seeds
- 1 tsp salt
For the potato masala
- 1 ½ lb yukon gold potatoes (about 4 medium), peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
- 3 tbsp neutral oil (such as canola or sunflower), divided
- 1 tsp mustard seeds
- ½ tsp cumin seeds
- 10 fresh curry leaves
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
- 2 green chiles (such as serrano or thai), thinly sliced
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger, finely grated
- ½ tsp ground turmeric
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, roughly chopped
For cooking
- 2–3 tbsp neutral oil, for cooking the dosas
For the coconut chutney
- 1 cup fresh or frozen grated coconut (or unsweetened desiccated coconut)
- 1 green chile, roughly chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger, roughly chopped
- ½ tsp salt
- ⅓ cup water
- 1 tbsp neutral oil
- ½ tsp mustard seeds
- 5 fresh curry leaves
- 1 dried red chile
Instructions
- 1
Rinse the rice and urad dal separately under cold water until the water runs clear. Combine them in a large bowl with the fenugreek seeds and cover with cold water by at least 2 inches. Soak for 6–8 hours or overnight at room temperature.
- 2
Drain the soaked rice and dal. Working in two batches if needed, blend the rice with just enough fresh cold water (start with 1/2 cup per batch) until the batter is smooth but with a very slight graininess — it should pour like thick cream. Blend the dal and fenugreek separately until completely smooth and airy, adding water a tablespoon at a time. Combine both in the large bowl, stir in the salt, and mix well. Cover and let the batter ferment at room temperature for 8 hours, until it has risen slightly and smells faintly tangy. (In a cold kitchen, place the covered bowl in an oven with just the light on.)
Want the full recipe?
Create a Fig account for step-by-step instructions, access to our full recipe library, and more!