Thursday, April 23, 2009

Sweet Mango Dosa

Mango Dosa
It's mango season,and I just had to try something different.I tweaked this traditional Manglorean(a small seaside town in South India that my side of the family is originally from)Sweet Dosa recipe and added mangoes instead of cucumbers.As a kid,I grew up watching my mom and gran starting the next day's breakfast preparations a day in advance.We always woke up smelling the wonderful aromas wafting from the kitchen. This recipe too is no exception,I had to soak the rice once we were done with breakfast,grind it in the evening and let it ferment overnight,and voila the batter for the next day's breakfast was ready.
Traditionally it's made with either Southekai(Kannada for cucumber) or with watermelon. Otherwise it has all the original ingredients like:Beaten/Flattened Rice: 'Poha' is rice that is dehusked and then flattened into light flakes. Traditionally flattened with iron rods,it used to contain more iron than regular rice.
Jaggery: or 'gur',is a traditional non-refined sugar(made from either cane sugar or from date palm) which is rich in non-heme iron and other mineral salts.
Fenugreek seeds: 'Methi' seeds as it's commonly known in India, is a known galactagogue and recent studies have shown that it has cholesterol and serum glucose lowering properties as well.
Ingredients:
  • Rice: 1 cup
  • Flattened rice/Poha: 1/2 cup
  • Jaggery(scraped): 3/4th cup (or sugar-1/2 cup)
  • Yogurt(preferably homemade)-1/2 cup
  • Fenugreek/Methi seeds-1/2 teaspoon
  • Ripe Mango:1 big or 2 small
  • Salt:1/2 teaspoon
Method:
  1. Wash the rice and the fenugreek seeds,then soak it in water for at least 6-7 hours.
  2. Wash and drain the flattened rice and let it stand for about 10-15 mins.
  3. Grind all ingredients(except the mango) till you get a fine batter.Let it ferment for at least 8-9 hours or overnight(works well in warm weather). The batter will double in volume.
  4. Make a puree of the mango pulp(when sugar is added to this pulp,it's called 'aamras').If using cucumber instead of mangoes,then grate half (a big) cucumber and mix with the batter.
  5. Mix this puree with the batter and pour a ladle of the batter onto a hot non-stick pan and spread.
  6. Cover with a lid and cook on medium flame for two or three minutes. Then cook uncovered till the dosa is done.
  7. Serve hot(you can serve it with cut mangoes or even with some 'aamras').
Note:
  1. If the weather is not warm enough(as was the case when I made it),the batter will not ferment and the dosa will not get tiny little holes on it( the dosa will be flat as seen in the snap).
  2. The jaggery tends to add a brownish colour to the dosa(if you add sugar,the dosa will turn out a lovely yellow colour) but the dosas are more nutritious when made with jaggery.
  3. Traditionally the dosa is eaten hot with a little ghee spread on top. Since the dosas are sweet, you can eat it as it is.
  4. I used the Scarlet Sweet mango for this recipe,you could use any of the sweet mangoes available.

24 comments:

VINAYAK PUROHIT said...

Sounds Yummy and it tasted yummy too...Love ya..

edivaldo rossetto said...

very interesting, congratulations

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

Very interesting dish. I love learning about other cusines.

Pearl said...

how cool! i love how you post these recipes :)

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

Re: Shrimp

You can probably use the shells from the shrimp and make a seafood stock, but using the stock will completely change the texture of the sauce. Maybe go half stock and half water.

Anonymous said...

My daughter would love this as she is currently very much into mango (me too!). I hope I can find jaggery and Fenugreek seeds.

LK- Healthy Delicious said...

this looks delicious! never heard of flattened rice of jaggery though.

chow and chatter said...

looks great um mango in dosa mix, I know its so hard to get it to ferment when its not warm this happened last time i tried it and I have been too chicken to try again !!, but I will go and get some idly rice and try soon and let you know, I even have a grinder from India!!, come and help me! Love Rebecca

Sweta (My Indian Dietitian) said...

Vin-it's so nice to have someone appreciate all the effort, luv u 2 :)
Edivaldo,Katherine,Pearl-thank u.
5 Star Foodie and LK-Healthy delicious- you'll find all the ingredients in any Indian store.
Rebecca-I'd love to come and help,an excuse to meet Jas and you!

Jenn said...

I love mangos. Would definitely love to try this.

kristen :) said...

looks wonderful! I'm going to have to find a store that sells these ingredients, I love trying new things :)

-kristen

Sweta (My Indian Dietitian) said...

Jenn,Kristen-thank you.
Kristen-search for an Indian store around your place,you'll find all the ingredients there.

saffronapron.blogspot.com said...

Hey Sweta,
I've never heard of such a great combination. I love dosa and mangoes.( well who doesn't). Wow! How do u come up with such unique combos. I'm balled over:)
Cheers!

Anonymous said...

This is one awesome recipe. The combination is really unique.

theUngourmet said...

I have never used Fenugreek for some reason! You have some really fun recipes on here!

Thanks for stopping by my blog today! I am sure that chicken would be every bit as good with the Verde Salsa!

Have a great weekend!

Anonymous said...

freaking delicious looking! you are a godsend, because guess what? I've been craving dosas these last few days! I stumbled upon your blog at a timely manner, huh?

Sweta (My Indian Dietitian) said...

Smitha,Priyanka-just had to try something new ;)
Ungourmet-FYI,fenugreek can turn the dish bitter if you use too much.
Burpandslurp-he he he,come over and I'll serve you some hot off the griddle :)

Anonymous said...

What rice should i be using? ponni boiled rice or idly rice?

Sweta (My Indian Dietitian) said...

I used basmati(I didn't have any other).Dosa/idly rice will be just right-or use whatever you would generally use for making dosa :)

Pooja said...

This looks delicious Sweta :) I love both dosa and mangoes and the combo is great.Completely knew to me..reading your post takes me back to my childhood days waking up in the morning to the aroma of freshly made breakfast!

Sweta (My Indian Dietitian) said...

Pooja-wasn't it great!I'm not too fond of breakfast cereals,just use it for convenience.Gimme homemade breakfast any day!

Pavithra Elangovan said...

Thats looking delicious..first time here..very informative

Lori said...

This sounds delicious! I love reading about how mangos are used differently in various cultures. Thanks for submitting! ;)

Sweta (My Indian Dietitian) said...

Pavithra,Lori- :)