Hazelnut Free Vegan Masala Dosa
Masala dosa is one of those dishes that feels almost magical the first time you make it — a paper-thin, golden-crisp crepe wrapped around a warmly spiced, chunky potato filling, served with a bright coconut chutney on the side. The batter is built from just rice, urad dal, fenugreek seeds, and salt, fermented overnight until it develops that signature faint tang that makes the dosas so light and satisfying. Every component here is completely plant-based and free from tree nuts of any kind, so you can cook and serve with total confidence. The potato masala gets its depth from mustard seeds, cumin, fresh curry leaves, green chile, and turmeric — nothing hidden, nothing unnecessary. The coconut chutney comes together in a blender and gets finished with a quick tempering of mustard seeds and dried red chile that makes it taste far more complex than the short ingredient list suggests. The technique of spreading the batter in a spiral motion takes one or two practice rounds, but once you get it, you'll be turning out crispy, restaurant-quality dosas right in your own kitchen. This is the kind of recipe that becomes a weekend ritual.
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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.)
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