Ingredients

• 3 cups white rice
• 1 cup black gram dhal
• handful of cooked rice (if required)
• pinch of sugar (if desired)
• teaspoon salt

Method

Batter

1. Put the rice and dhal in a large pot and wash twice.
2. Fill with water until submerged by 2 inches. 3. Soak for 6 hours.
3. Grind in an electric grinder, water and all, for 30 minutes. If the weather is cold, grind in a handful of rice and a pinch of sugar to help in fermentation.
4. Let ferment overnight in a warm place. Make sure the pot is twice as large as the amount of batter, as it will rise a great deal.
5. Add salt; at this point the batter can be kept in the refridgerator for more than a week until you wish to fry the dosas.

Dosas

1. Heat a large flat nonstick pan over a high flame.
2. Sprinkle water on the pan to cool it a little.
3. Pour 1/3 cup batter in the middle of the pan, depending on preferred thickness and crispiness.
4. Spread the batter with the back of a spoon, starting from the centre and spiraling outwards until the dosa is about 10 inches across and very thin.
5. Sprinkle a little oil around the edges of the dosa.
6. Cover until the dosa shows brown through the thinnest parts. Fold in half and remove with a metal spatula.