Paper dosa recipe with step by step photos. This recipe gives you light, crisp papery dosa similar to the one we get in restaurants. The addition of chana dal and rava (sooji) helps in creating a deliciously crisp texture that will have you coming back for more. A vegan recipe.
This restaurant style paper dosa can be served with coconut chutney and sambar. If you have time then you can also make the potato bhaji and make Paper masala dosa.
This paper dosa recipe is similar to the Ghee Roast Dosa I had shared earlier. To make regular crisp dosas you can check this recipe – Masala dosa.
The best part of this recipe is that you don’t need to use parboiled rice or idli rice. You can easily use any rice varieties like sona masuri, gobindbhog, kolam, surti kolam, parmal etc.
Serve paper dosa hot as soon as they are made. You can have them for breakfast, brunch or lunch. At times we even make them for dinner.
A few suggestions for making paper dosa
- While making paper dosa, one important tip is to maintain the temperature of the tawa. If the tawa is even slightly hot, you won’t be able to spread the batter. If the tawa is not hot, the dosa will not become crisp. Thus while cooking, you need to maintain a medium temperature in the tawa. So do regulate the heat while cooking dosa.
- Do use a well seasoned tawa. by seasoned, I mean a tawa which is only used for making dosas. You can use either non stick tawa or cast iron tawa.
- Paper dosas can be served folded or made into a cone dosa or Topi dosa. If using a cast iron pan, then you can make the cone dosas, as you need to cut the dosa and then fold in a cone. If using a non stick pan, then avoid doing this. Serve them hot as they are prepared for best taste.
Step-by-Step Guide
How to make Paper Dosa
Soaking rice and lentils
1. Firstly take 1.5 cups regular rice (325 grams).
2. Rinse a couple of times in fresh water and then soak them in 1 cup of water.
3. Take ½ cup urad dal (125 grams), 1 tablespoon chana dal and ¼ teaspoon methi seeds in another bowl.
4. Rinse a couple of times and then soak in 1 cup water for 4 to 5 hours.
5. Take ¼ cup thick poha (20 grams) in a small bowl.
6. Rinse poha once or twice with water.
7. Then add the rinsed poha in the rice bowl. Mix. Then cover and soak for 4 to 5 hours.
Making paper dosa batter
8. After 4 to 5 hours, add the lentils along with the soaked water in the grinder jar. Also add ¼ cup of fresh water.
9. Grind the urad dal, chana dal and methi seeds till you get a batter which is light and fluffy. The urad dal has to be ground really well, so that the batter ferments well.
10. Remove the batter in a large bowl or pan.
11. Strain the rice well and drain the water. Then in the same grinder, add the soaked rice and ½ cup fresh water.
You can grind rice in one batch or in two batches. This will depend on the size of the grinder jar. I ground in one batch and added ½ cup water for grinding.
12. Grind rice to a fine grainy consistency like that of idli rava.
13. Now pour the rice+poha batter in the same pan or bowl containing the urad dal batter.
14. Add 3 tablespoons of rava (suji or semolina).
15. Then add 1 teaspoon of rock salt or sea salt or regular salt.
16. Mix the salt very well with the batter. Also mix both the batters very well. Cover and keep aside to ferment for 8 to 9 hours.
You can keep for less or more time and this will depend on the temperature conditions in your city.
17. The batter the next day. I kept it for about 15 hours as it is cold during monsoons here.
18. Now lightly stir the batter, before you begin to make dosa. you will also see tiny air pockets in the batter.
Cooking paper dosa
19. Now heat a thick bottomed cast iron griddle or non stick pan. The pan should be medium hot. You can keep the heat to a low or medium while making paper dosas. If using an iron pan, then spread ¼ to ½ teaspoon oil or ghee all over the pan. Use a silicon brush or spoon or kitchen towel or onion halve to spread the oil/ghee.
Do not spread oil or ghee on a non stick pan. Do keep the heat on low to low-medium, so that you are easily able to spread the batter. If the pan base is very thick, then keep the heat to medium. Pour a ladle of the batter in the center.
20. With the ladle gently begin to spread the batter in round circles. If the pan is very hot, you won’t be able to spread the batter in a round circle. So for a nonstick pan, just lift the pan from the flame and keep outside for some seconds or half a minute. Then again place it on the fire.
For a iron griddle, you can sprinkle some water on the pan. This reduces the temperature of the cast iron griddle. Please do not sprinkle water on non stick pan. The non stick coating can wear off.
21. Spread the batter to a neat, round shaped thin dosa.
22. On a low to medium heat, begin to cook.
23. Let the top side get cooked.
24. Then with a spoon drizzle and spread some oil on the dosa. you can add less or more oil as per your requirements.
25. Keep cooking till you see the base becoming golden. The more the base becomes golden, the paper dosa becomes more crisp.
26. Now with a spatula fold the crisp paper dosa.
27. Serve paper dosa hot with coconut chutney and sambar. Same way make paper dosa with the remaining batter and serve them hot for the best taste and texture.
Leftover batter can be refrigerated and stays good for 2 to 3 days.
More Tasty dosa varieties
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Paper Dosa
Tasty paper dosa served with coconut chutney and potato masala is a foodie’s delight. This recipe gives you light, crisp papery dosa similar to the one we get in restaurants.
Prep Time 9 hrs
Cook Time 20 mins
Total Time 9 hrs 20 mins
Prevent your screen from going dark while making the recipe
soaking lentils and rice
Firstly take 1.5 cups regular rice (325 grams).
Rinse a couple of times and then soak in 1 cup water.
Take ½ cup urad dal (125 grams), 1 tablespoon chana dal and ¼ teaspoon methi seeds in another bowl.
Rinse a couple of times and then soak in 1 cup water for 4 to 5 hours.
Take ¼ cup thick poha (20 grams) in a small bowl.
Rinse poha once or twice with water.
Then add the rinsed poha in the rice bowl. Mix. Then cover and soak for 4 to 5 hours.
making paper dosa batter
After 4 to 5 hours, add the lentils along with the soaked water in the grinder jar. Also add ¼ cup of fresh water.
Grind the urad dal, chana dal and methi seeds till you get a batter which is light and fluffy. The urad dal has to be ground really well, so that the batter ferments well.
Remove the batter in a large bowl or pan.
Strain the rice well and drain the water. Then in the same grinder, add the soaked rice and ½ cup fresh water. You can grind rice in one batch or in two batches. This will depend on the size of the grinder jar. I ground in one batch and added ½ cup water for grinding.
Grind rice to a fine grainy consistency like that of idli rava.
Now pour the rice+poha batter in the same pan or bowl containing the urad dal batter.
Add 3 tablespoons rava and 1 teaspoon rock salt or sea salt or regular salt.
Mix the salt very well with the batter. Also mix both the batters very well. Cover and keep aside to ferment for 8 to 9 hours. You can keep for less or more time and this will depend on the temperature conditions in your city.
making paper dosa
Now lightly stir the batter, before you begin to make dosa. You will also see tiny air pockets in the batter.
Now heat a thick bottomed cast iron griddle or non stick pan. The pan should be medium hot. You can keep the flame to a low or medium while making dosas. If using an iron pan, then spread ¼ to ½ tsp oil/ghee all over the pan. Use a silicon brush or spoon or kitchen towel or onion halve to spread the oil/ghee. Do not spread oil/ghee on a non stick pan.
Do keep the flame on low to low-medium flame, so that you are easily able to spread the batter. If the pan base is very thick, then keep the flame to medium. Pour a ladle of the batter in the center.
With the ladle gently begin to spread the batter in round circles. If the pan is very hot, you won’t be able to spread the batter in a round circle.
Spread the batter to a neat, round shaped thin dosa.
On a low to medium flame, begin to cook.
Let the top side get cooked.
Then with a spoon drizzle and spread some oil on the dosa. You can add less or more oil as per your requirements.
Keep cooking till you see the base becoming golden. The more the base becomes golden, the paper dosa becomes more crisp.
Now with a spatula fold the crisp paper dosa.
Serve with coconut chutney and sambar. Same way make paper dosas with the remaining batter. Leftover batter can be refrigerated and stays good for 2 to 3 days.
- This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled.
- I recommend using a well seasoned tawa that is only used for making dosas. You can use either a non-stick tawa or a cast-iron tawa.
Nutrition Facts
Paper Dosa
Amount Per Serving
Calories 443 Calories from Fat 36
% Daily Value*
Fat 4g6%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Sodium 605mg26%
Potassium 105mg3%
Carbohydrates 85g28%
Fiber 7g29%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 13g26%
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) 1mg67%
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 1mg59%
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) 2mg10%
Vitamin B6 1mg50%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Vitamin E 2mg13%
Calcium 98mg10%
Vitamin B9 (Folate) 15µg4%
Iron 5mg28%
Magnesium 24mg6%
Phosphorus 112mg11%
Zinc 1mg7%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
This Paper Dosa post from the blog archives first published on September 2017 has been updated and republished on December 2022.
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