What is Dosa?
Dosas are a thin and crepe-like, savory Indian dish. The texture is both crisp and soft at the same time. Dosas are commonly made from a fermented rice and lentil batter and are gluten free. Some varieties are made from wheat flour. Restaurant style dosas tend to be large, about a foot in diameter, with a golden brown color. The flavor is savory and mild. Dosas are served plain or filled with vegetables and/or chicken and offered with dipping sauces and chutneys.
Ingredients
...Rice is a grain that is used across the world. It is roughly 5mm in length and white. Some varieties of rice are thin, while others are more rounded and fat. Rice is a starch and when uncooked it is dry and hard. Many of these tiny grains are needed to make one serving size. White rice has the hull, bran and cereal germ removed. When cooked, rice becomes soft while still holding its form. The flavor of rice is mild, and bland. It goes well as a side dish to spicier items and is incredibly versatile as an appetizer, main course and even dessert.
...Yellow Urad Dal, also called yellow lentils are type of legume. The legume is hulled and split in half, so that one side of the tiny lentil is flat and the other is domed. Yellow urad dal is hard when dry, once cooked it becomes soft and has a texture that is both meaty and starchy. The flavor is mild, nutty and somewhat bland on its own. For this reason it pairs well with spices and seasonings.
...Thick poha is a food item made of milled rice that has been flattened and parboiled. The flattening turns the rice into flakes as thin as paper. The texture is dry and starchy. The flavor is bland. Thick poha is used in the making of Indian snacks and deep fried foods. They add texture to any food item.
...Water is a substance and chemical compound made up of hydrogen and oxygen. It is clear, fluid, flavorless and odorless. Water is a necessity in nearly every aspect of life, including cooking, baking and hydrating the human body. Water can be served as a cold beverage, or at any temperature comfortable to the mouth and skin.
...Fenugreek seeds are a small and extremely hard seed. They have a rough square shape and are smaller than an apple seed, with a beige color. When exposed to water these seeds slowly soften and offer a flavor that is sweet and nutty, much like a cross between maple and celery. Fenugreek is used in Indian cuisine as a spice and can be found in various cuisines around the world.
...Salt is a mineral composed mostly of sodium chloride. It is the main flavoring used in food and is naturally occurring in certain foods, such as cheese, beets, meat and celery, plus many others. Salt is white and has finer granules than sugar. Many commercial salts include iodide, while others exclude it. Most salts are white, while some are naturally pale pink with minerals. Salt brings out the flavor of something and can create a tangy mouthfeel, if used in excess.