Millet dosa - vegan, gluten-free, nutritious South Indian breakfast usually served with sambar and varieties of chutneys. This crispy dosa without rice makes a healthy and diabetic-friendly breakfast.
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Millets are small seed grasses that are considered gluten-free supernatural and nutritious food as they are rich in nutrients, fibre, vitamins, proteins and have umpteen benefits. Millets are the best source of grain for celiac sufferers (people with gluten intolerance).
I have used three different varieties of millets in this dosa recipe- foxtail millet (korralu/thinai/navane), little millet (saamai/saama beyyam/saame akki) and kodo millet (arikelu/varagu/harka). These millet grains are available in the form of rice and semolina.
I’ve used semolina and all these varieties look similar with a slight colour difference. Check millet porridge recipe and how to cook millets in instant pot on the blog prepared with foxtail millet.
Millet dosa is one of the healthy dosa recipes and a great way to include it in a diet specifically for people with diabetes. Millets have a lower glycemic index (GI) than other grains so they help manage blood sugar levels
Tips and Tricks to make perfect Millet Dosa
Making dosa at home is not a big deal, but making perfect and crispy dosa every time and at all-weather conditions might be little difficult. With few simple tips and tricks, you can make the perfect dosa every time.
Ingredients proportion and batter consistency are the deciding factors of the texture of dosa. I find 3 portions millets to 1 portion urad dal always works well. The addition of a fistful poha (flattened rice flakes) while grinding helps to make dosa crisp.
Fermentation is an important step and it could take anywhere between 6-14 hrs depending on the weather where you live. This process takes longer during cold weather and as less as 6 hours during extremely hot and humid weather. In hot weather, batter will ferment easily on a kitchen countertop.
On cold days, add a cup of hot water to the batter, mix well and place the container in a warm place probably in an oven with its lights on. Alternatively, you can ferment batter in Instant Pot to fast up the process on cold days.
Do not skip methi seeds (fenugreek seeds) as it helps in the fermentation process.
Millets must be soaked for a minimum of 6 hrs to make the grains more digestible.
Is wet grinder better than a mixer grinder?
Some people recommend grinding in a wet stone grinder for best results, but for me, a mixer grinder (an electric blender) does an equally good job. I’ve been using it for almost a decade and it gives me good results every time. I personally prefer the mixer grinder due to ease of use, cleaning and the best part is it requires less space for storage than the wet stone grinder.
Don’t have a traditional Indian mixie? Then try powerful blenders such as Vitamix, Nutribullet or Ninja. However, a wet grinder is useful and saves time if you wish to make a big batch of batter.
Substitutions and Variations
You could use any 2 different varieties of millets instead of 3 (such as 1.5 cups of foxtail millet and 1.5 cups of other variety millet), or you could use any 1 type of millet (eg: 3 cups of foxtail millet). But make sure not to alter the millet and urad dal ratio (3 parts of millet: 1-part urad dal).
Add finely chopped onions, green chillies & coriander as toppings on golden brown dosa for extra flavour and taste.
Take the things a notch up by adding grated carrot, chopped coriander, finely chopped capsicum (bell pepper), onion, tomato and spinach. Mix these vegetables in the batter and make uttapam. Make this colurful millet uttapam in different shapes to appeal kids and encourage them to eat their healthy meals without any fuss or tantrums.
Try adding pureed vegetables to help picky kids eat their nutritious meals. This wholesome dosa is specifically an ideal option to help kids struggling with the texture of food.
Serving Suggestions
Like regular rice dosa, this nutritious dosa tastes good with vegetable sambar and any south Indian chutney – peanut coconut chutney, coconut coriander chutney, onion chutney or with simple sides such as tomato kurma, Bombay chutney, plain salna.
This millet dosa without rice tastes equally good with condiments such as kobbari karam, karivepaku podi, ginger chutney, tomato pachadi, eggplant chutney (Vankaya Pachadi), carrot chutney, mango thokku.
It is not only a very healthy breakfast but also a good choice for a light dinner with a simple chutney.
More Indian Breakfast Recipes
Ingredients
Millets and lentils: Foxtail, little millet, kodo millet, urad dal and fenugreek seeds.
Liquids and pantry ingredients: Water to grind and adjust the batter consistency. Salt and Poha(Flattened rice flakes).
Find the quantities and a short video in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Step by Step Instructions
Place all 3 millets in the 1st container and urad dal, and fenugreek seeds in the 2nd container.
Rinse and wash a couple of times with cold water and soak them for 8 hours.
Soak poha (flattened rice flakes) for 20 minutes.
Drain the water from urad dal, poha and millets.
Now grind millets along with urad dal and flattened rice flakes (poha) until smooth batter adding little water when necessary.
Transfer the millet batter into a container, close it with a lid and allow the batter to ferment.
Once the batter ferments well, add salt, and required water and mix until well combined.
Heat the dosa pan over medium flame, pour a ladle full of batter on hot dosa pan and spread it in a circular motion just like a pancake with the back of a ladle.
Drizzle little oil all around the dosa.
Once the base is crispy and light brown, loosen the dosa from the edges, fold gently and place it on a plate.
Enjoy hot and crispy millet dosas with sambar, chutney or any accompaniment of your choice.
Notes
Keep the batter for fermentation in a container that has enough room to raise.
Millets require less water while grinding. So add little water only when required.
Dosa batter should be of pouring consistency. Make sure it's neither too thick nor too thin. The consistency must be of regular dosa. Decide how much water needs to be added depending on the thickness of the batter.
Millet batter may not rise as much as the regular dosa batter after fermentation.
Take out the required amount of fermented batter and store the remaining batter in an airtight container in the fridge.
KEEP IN TOUCH
Do let me know if you make this dietary fiber rich wholegrain millets dosa. If you like this recipe kindly consider rating it using stars in the comment section or on the recipe card to help more people find this recipe online. You can stay up to date by following me on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram or subscribing to my Youtube channel. Or why not subscribe to my blog and get simple recipes straight to your inbox
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📖 Recipe Card
Millet Dosa
Ingredients
1 Cup = 250ml ; 1 Tablespoon = 15ml ; 1 Teaspoon = 5ml
- 1 Cup Foxtail millet/Korralu/Thinai/Kangni
- 1 Cup Little millet/Saamulu/Saamai/Kutki
- 1 Cup Kodo millet/Arikelu/Varagu/Kedrav
- 1 Cup Urad dal
- ½ Cup Poha (Flattened rice flakes)
- ¼ Teaspoon Fenugreek seeds/Methi seeds
- ⅓ Cup Water add as required (you may need little more or less depending on the quality of millets and urad dal)
- Salt as required
Instructions
- Before you get started, scroll up a little and watch a quick recipe video.
- Check the tips and tricks, notes for extra info and help.
- Place all 3 millets in a 1st container.1 Cup Foxtail millet/Korralu/Thinai/Kangni, 1 Cup Little millet/Saamulu/Saamai/Kutki, 1 Cup Kodo millet/Arikelu/Varagu/Kedrav
- Place urad dal, fenugreek seeds in 2nd container.1 Cup Urad dal, ¼ Teaspoon Fenugreek seeds/Methi seeds
- Rinse and wash couple of times with cold water and soak them for 8 hours.
- Soak flattened rice flakes for 20 minutes.½ Cup Poha (Flattened rice flakes)
- Drain the water from urad dal, flattened rice flakes and millets.
- Now grind millets along with urad dal and flattened rice flakes (poha) until smooth adding little water when necessary.⅓ Cup Water
- Transfer the batter into a container, close it with lid and allow batter to ferment.
- Once batter ferments well, add salt, required water and mix until well combined.Salt
- Heat dosa tava on medium heat, pour ladle full batter and spread it in circular motion just like pancake with back of ladle.
- Drizzle 1 teaspoon oil all around dosa.
- Once the base is crispy, loosen the dosa from edges, fold gently and place it on a plate.
- Enjoy hot and crispy dosa with sambar and chutney.
Notes
Nutrition
Welcome to Flavours Treat. I share vegetarian recipes made with wholesome, mostly fresh ingredients. Every recipe has easy-to-follow instructions with process shots (detailed step-wise pictures), a short video and lots of tips to help your cooking journey. Read more
Pooja says
This is a healthy recipe, Now I'm making this recipe weekly.
Geetha Priyanka says
So glad to know that you make it regularly.
Gayathri says
Hi. My batter has not fermented even after leaving in oven all night. What should I do?
Geetha Priyanka says
Hi Gayathri, so sorry to know the batter hasn't fermented. Did you leave the oven lights on for at least 3-4 hours while the batter is inside the oven? Did you try leaving the batter for around 10 - 12 hours as sometimes it takes a little longer to ferment. Or may be the batter has actually fermented perhaps but you didn't realise? Because unlike regular rice and urad dal batter, after fermentation the millet batter won't double up but rather rise a little. Hope this helps troubleshoot the issue.
Jayalakshmi says
Very easy to make and has a yummy taste!
Geetha Priyanka says
Glad you liked it! Thanks for your feedback.
Anukrati says
How much time should I keep the batter for fermentation?
Geetha Priyanka says
It should ferment in 6-10 hours depending on the weather conditions.
Jamal says
Hi - why do you soak the millet in one container, and the urad dal and methi in another?
Geetha Priyanka says
I soaked in different containers because The bowl was not large enough to accomadate everything once they expand. You can obivously use a single big container.
Swati says
Hi
Can I use this batter for making idli?
Geetha Priyanka says
I can't really say how it might turn out as I've never tried it myself. Do let me know how it turned out if you try it.
Isha says
Dosa looks so good...can I use regular basmati cooked rice instead of Poha (Flattened rice flakes) but how much would I use cooked basmati rice to replace half a cup of poha? thanks!
Geetha Priyanka says
Of course, you can use cooked basmati rice instead of poha. 2 handfuls or 1/2 cup rice would be sufficient. Hope you enjoy it.
Saranya says
It looks so crispy. Does this batter double as an idly batter too?
Geetha Priyanka says
Thanks for stopping by Saranya. Yes, millet dosa does turn crispy and tasty but the batter doesn't rise like idly batter. You will notice an increase in volume but not as much as that of idly batter.
Ruchi says
Dosa looks so crispy and wonderful .. a must try recipe ... Lovely share
Geetha Priyanka says
Yes Ruchi It has turned so crispy, best part is it's a healthy and diabetic friendly recipe so you can enjoy guiltfree.
Judith says
Have tried this recipe quite a few times and I have to say I love it. The batter is quite a lot for a small family, so I halve the recipe.
Thank you for this recipe... it yields crispy dosas every single time.
Priyanka says
I'm so glad you like this recipe. Very much appreciate for taking time to leave your feedback.