Adai recipe, learn how to make adai recipe, a protein-packed lentil pancake or dosa that’s popular in South India, particularly Tamil Nadu.
The plate of adai above is from my Amma. She made it and the two chutneys, my uncle took the pic, and they sent it over to me a few months back. I kept meaning to post the adai recipe but that never happened.
Then I went back home for Christmas vacation and Amma made it again because I love adai (or ada as we call it) but TH is not a fan and so I have never tried making them myself at the time of writing this. Edited to add: this has changed now, of course. I have sine then used Amma’s adai recipe many times and even made this spinach adai , a healthier and really tasty variation.
But they are delicious and protein-packed although not really an instant option. Just like regular dosas, some prior planning and soaking needs to happen to get them going.
More interesting and different dosa recipes:
Sago dosa
Jowar dosa
Instant rava dosa
Instant wheat dosa
- 1 cup of par-boiled rice (I have tried raw rice and that turns out well too)
- 1 cup of whole skinned urad dal / ulutham paruppu / uzhunnu parippu
- 1 cup of mix of toor dal (or peas dal) and channa dal
- 5 dry red chillies
- A few curry leaves
- 8 shallots sliced thin (or use 1 small onion)
- ¼ tsp of asafoetida powder / perungaayam
- ½ cup of grated coconut (optional)
- 1 tsp of salt (or to taste)
- ¼ tsp of turmeric powder
- Gingelly or Indian sesame oil for cooking the adai
- Soak the rice, urad dal, and the mixed dals separately in water for at least 2 hours and a maximum of 4 hours. Add the red chillies to one of the bowls and let them soak as well (or you can just add 1 tsp red chilli powder when grinding the dals).
- Grind the urad dal first with little water. It doesn't need to be a smooth paste just more or less so. Then grind the rice, again not super smooth but just ground well.
- Finally grind the mixed dals along with the chillies to a paste. Use adequate water to let them grind. You can add in the coconut at this stage too, if using.
- Mix these together along with salt, asafoetida, chopped shallots, turmeric, and curry leaves torn roughly. Mix well with enough water to make a batter that's the consistency of dosa batter.
- Pour one ladleful on an oiled griddle or tawa and spread into a circle. Make sure the dosa is not too thick.
- Flip over after a minute or so and cook the other side until golden brown.
- The above is one way of doing it, just like regular dosas, but I prefer the lacy dosas that amma makes. For that, add more water to the batter and make it much more watery. You won't be able to spread them on the griddle so just pour on it starting from the outer circle, filling the gaps as you go. With this method you end up with lacy adai with crispy edges and it's just delicious.
- We usually serve adai with chutney but avial is a popular combination too
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Soak the rice, urad dal, and the mixed dals separately in water for at least 2 hours and a maximum of 4 hours. Add the red chillies to one of the bowls and let them soak as well (or you can just add 1 tsp red chilli powder when grinding the dals).
2. Grind the urad dal first with little water. It doesn’t need to be a smooth paste just more or less so. Then grind the rice, again not super smooth but just ground well.
3. Finally grind the mixed dals along with the chillies to a paste. Use adequate water to let them grind. You can add in the coconut at this stage too, if using.
4. Mix these together along with salt, asafoetida, chopped shallots, turmeric, and curry leaves torn roughly. Mix well with enough water to make a batter that’s the consistency of dosa batter.
5. Pour one ladleful on an oiled griddle or tawa and spread into a circle. Make sure the dosa is not too thick.
6. Flip over after a minute or so and cook the other side until golden brown.
7. The above is one way of doing it, just like regular dosas, but I prefer the lacy dosas that amma makes. For that, add more water to the batter and make it much “looser”. You won’t be able to spread them on the griddle so just pour on it starting from the outer circle, filling the gaps as you go. I hope the pictures below explain this.
The batter should be loose enough to spread as you pour and cover up the gaps and you can help it along the way by filling the gaps. This way, the crepes take much longer to cook but the patience is worth it. You end up with lacy adai with crispy edges and it’s just delicious.
We usually serve adai with 2 types of chutneys – red chilli chutney and thick coconut chutney (as shows in the first picture) or some random curry that’s left over.
Traditionally, Tamilians serve adai with . In fact, most restaurants serve adai-avial as a combination like puttu and kadala. I don’t think that’s done in Kerala though, correct me if I am wrong.
Oh boy, I am craving adai now. Too bad I have to go bury my face in some unhealthy snacks at work instead!
For adai recipe in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Hindi, Urdu etc please use the Google translate button in the sidebar.
Hanuman says
May 8, 2016 at 10:28 amHealthy and delicious dosas.
Preethi says
March 6, 2013 at 5:46 amCan we use idli rava instead of idli rice?
Nagalakshmi V says
March 6, 2013 at 5:51 amno i don't think idli rava can be used to make adai. just use any par-boiled rice.
Anonymous says
February 19, 2013 at 7:39 amwhen i make this recepie the batter is little bit bitter.how it happens?
Kate Whittum says
August 9, 2012 at 7:09 pmFinally made these last night- a big hit with TH and my 18 mo. old. It took a lot of thinning out to get the batter the proper consistency, I must not have added enough water during grinding. By the 3rd dosa, crispiness was achieved!
Thanks for another winner for my rotation!
Shoba says
July 8, 2012 at 1:19 pmWe eat this adai with butter nd even jackfruit jam or Chaka varati!! It tastes yum.
Anonymous says
April 27, 2012 at 2:46 pmHi Miss Nags- a frequent lurker, I'm coming out of the shadows to third or fourth the request for the chilli chutney recipe in the pic as the accompaniment- looks awesome! Making these adai will be my weekend food project 🙂
On a side note, thanks for all your work on this blog- my husband is Indian, Gujarati from Mumbai, and a very picky eater! And you don't know how many times you have saved me with dinner & lunch ideas – I had just begun learning Indian cooking techniques when we met (so different from Western/French based methods) but books don't help with those little tips like a sister or mom would know, that you give. So, thank you thank you!
All the best,
Kate, Sunnyside NYC
Nagalakshmi V says
May 3, 2012 at 12:47 ami keep forgetting to ask my mom for the chilly chutney recipe. will do this weekend when i call her. also, it's very sweet of you to take the trouble to learn your husband's taste in cooking and the techniques. it's definitely very different from western-style cooking. glad the recipes help. don't hesitate to ask any questions or for help when needed 🙂
Harmony Infotech says
April 7, 2012 at 6:07 amHi Nags
Do you know how to make sponge dosa. If yes then please post its recipe.
swastika says
March 28, 2012 at 10:00 amhii
can u please share the chutney recipie.. it looks yummmmmmmmmmy
swastika says
March 28, 2012 at 9:59 amhii Nags..
can u please share the chutney recipie..
Vimina Bagavath says
March 24, 2012 at 2:14 pmHi Nags, I have been browsing through your blog for a few days now. Made the kathirikkai poriyal, which was super good.
How long does the ada batter stay? Do I have to make it fresh every time?
When amma makes at home, she adds tapioca(kappa) while grinding the batter. It comes out really nice.
Nagalakshmi V says
March 27, 2012 at 7:09 ami think it can stay fresh for a day in the fridge. haven't kept it longer. never heard of adding kappa to the adai batter, very interesting!
Priya Yallapantula says
March 13, 2012 at 4:49 pmwow, that looks superb and so tempting 🙂
Rosh says
March 13, 2012 at 9:52 amMy dosas never come out well. Have come across wonderful recipes but sigh! So I am gonna just drool over your pictures and move on 😀
Chef Al dente
Ongoing event – Gimme GREEN!
Susee says
March 11, 2012 at 2:22 pmhi nags my mom preptn s diff she uses white rice (pacha arisi) instead of urad dhal n idli rice makes adai more gud(juz my opinion) n usin some curry leaves n drumstick leaves also gives more taste 🙂
thnx n bye
Sumi says
March 9, 2012 at 3:18 pmCompletely different recipe for the adai's that we are used too..may be thats why they are called Adai dosa 🙂 I have question though, since the ratio of urad dhal is more, does it need to be kept for some hours/ fermented ? very curious to try this recipe.:)
Nagalakshmi V says
March 10, 2012 at 1:19 amI actually had the same question but amma said she doesn't let it sit for more than 30 mins max. I will double check when I talk to her next 🙂
Nupur says
March 9, 2012 at 12:58 pmWonderful Adai, am only trying to get better on Dosas these days…
Cheers
UK Rasoi
Ongoing event : For you Mum
Jyoti says
March 9, 2012 at 9:23 amI have only made simple dosa at home till now.. Has tasted similar adai at a friends place one.. Will make this soon.. Bookmarked
Anu says
March 9, 2012 at 4:23 amoh myy..:( i was craving for adai while making dosas now, thinking i should ask my mom the recipe..n when i sit down to eat saw this post in fb.. craving so badly now..:( i jus love the lacy version..
pls post the chilli chutney recipe too..looks soo tempting..:))
Soundarya V says
March 9, 2012 at 3:18 amlove the adai..looks awesome..I'm hungry now..
Home Cooked Oriya Food says
March 9, 2012 at 2:08 amlovely ada… nothing like crispy lacy ones your mom has made above…
Kai ruchi says
March 9, 2012 at 1:17 amI like adai a lot, I used to always ask my mom to prepare this for me before marriage. Fortunately my husbands loves it too. So I prepare this often. Great clicks!
Ambika says
March 8, 2012 at 4:53 pmI love adai! Your's look perfectly thin and crisp. Beautiful photos!
Spandana says
March 8, 2012 at 4:07 pmLooks very good.. I always try to make the second way.. like rawa dosa… but somehow it always fails… not able to achieve that thin and crispy texture!
The pics look so delicious!
Hema says
March 8, 2012 at 2:53 pmLooks awesome, in my place it is always adai with tomato chutney..
SJ says
March 8, 2012 at 1:15 pmWhat is with some men and adai?! Even J doesn't like adai and I love it. The adai in the last pic looks so pretty 🙂
RAKS KITCHEN says
March 8, 2012 at 1:14 pmThe last pic, its a killer!! Just now had adai for dinner and still yours makes me crave for more!
Saraswathi Iyer says
March 8, 2012 at 11:24 amToday my nite dinner is this. Nice clicks.
Aarthi says
March 8, 2012 at 11:19 amada dosa looks perfect…this is my all time favorite..
zareena says
March 8, 2012 at 10:57 amI love these. I had them in one of my friends house and they were delicious. Now a days I usually make these for my kid and my Husband is a big fan of this.. Love the lacy version.
Sharmilee! :) says
March 8, 2012 at 10:50 amYou give me this night and day I can have it without complaining luv adai so much. I have seen in most restaurants with aviyal as combination but havent tasted it. I love adai with coconut chutney and sugar 🙂 Crispy and perfect adais, tempting me so much now!
Chitra says
March 8, 2012 at 10:36 amCan u share the recipe of those 2 chutneys. they look tempting. ada with chutney looks mouthwatering !
Nagalakshmi V says
March 9, 2012 at 2:19 amlet me ask amma for the chutney recipes. i have the recipe for the orange coconut chutney but not for the spicier chilly chutney
Srimathi says
March 8, 2012 at 10:22 amThe adai is made with lots of holes like rava dosai. This is a great way to make it. Will try this technique next time. Nothing to beat a plate that Amma makes, its the best.
Archana Chari says
March 8, 2012 at 9:30 amAdai Aviyal is Tam, for sure. I got a super knock out when I asked this at Cochin. It is also served with vellam. Adai also acts as a neat way to sneak keerais, esp murugakeerai. Man, I crave one now too 🙁