Ever wish your dosa did more than taste good — like actually fuel your day and help with weight loss goals?
Meet Crispy Horse Gram Dosa. This dosa is a game-changer because it’s crispy, nutty, and higher in protein than the usual rice-urad batter. This horsegram dosa will change your morning routine. It’s a tiny swap (horse gram for part of the rice) with big nutrition and flavor upside.
A little background
Horse gram (kulthi/muthira) is a traditional South Asian pulse used in rustic dishes across India. It’s long been prized in Ayurvedic and rural diets for its high protein, iron and fibre content — which makes it ideal for a hearty dosa that supports weight management and sustained energy.
Turning it into a dosa keeps the comfort-food vibe while making your breakfast more nutrient-dense.
Why you should make this
- High protein & fibre — keeps hunger at bay and stabilizes blood sugar.
- Low cost, shelf-stable — horse gram is inexpensive and easy to store.
- Gluten-free (when you skip additions) and naturally wholesome.
- Crispy edges + soft center — all the texture you love in a dosa.
Ingredients breakdown
- Raw rice — structure and lightness (traditional dosa body).
- Horse gram — protein, nutty flavor, and deeper color.
- Urad dal + fenugreek — fermentation power, fluffy interior, and that signature dosa aroma.
- Poha — helps batter bind and makes dosas softer inside.
- Salt, water, oil/ghee — seasoning, batter consistency, and cooking finish (ghee for flavor, oil for crisp).
Vegan Swap 🌿: Use oil instead of ghee for cooking. For a richer flavor without dairy, finish with a tiny brush of toasted sesame oil.
How the recipe comes together
You’re not reading the recipe card here — think of this as kitchen coaching. First, soak the rice, horse gram, urad and fenugreek so the grains soften and ferment beautifully. Keep the poha separate to soften it briefly before you grind — that small step makes the inside tender while allowing the edges to get super crisp.
When you grind, aim for a smooth but slightly grainy batter — not watery. Salt goes in after fermentation. Let the batter rest overnight (about 8 hours) at room temp so the natural tang develops — that’s where flavour and digestibility come from.
When you spread the dosa on a hot tawa, work fast: a ladleful of batter spread thin, a drizzle of ghee (or oil) on the edges, and let the heat create those crackling, lacy edges. Flip if you like both sides crisp — or keep it one-sided and fold with chutney inside for soft center contrast. The final result should be paper-thin edges and a slightly pillowy center.
Pro Tip 💡: If you want extra crispiness, add a teaspoon of semolina (rava) to the batter right before making dosas. It helps edges brown faster without changing taste.
What goes along
- Coconut chutney (classic)
- Tomato chutney or garlic chutney for a punch
- Sambar — make it a complete South Indian tiffin
- Mint or peanut chutney for variety
How to serve
Serve hot straight from the tava — dosa loses crispness fast. If you’re plating for guests, stack dosas but separate layers with parchment or keep them wrapped in a clean kitchen towel to retain warmth (but expect some softening). Garnish with a smear of ghee or a sprig of coriander for color.
Packing for lunch/tiffin tips
- Pack dosas separately from wet chutneys. Use small condiment pots.
- To keep them from going soggy, place an absorbent paper napkin between stacked dosas.
- Reheat on a hot skillet for 30–60 seconds per side to crisp them up again — avoid microwaves if you want the original texture.
Party & bulk prep
- Make a big batch of batter (double or triple) and ferment in a warm place. Batter keeps 2–3 days refrigerated.
- For crowds, pour smaller dosas (paniyaram style) or make mini dosas as finger foods served with chutney shooters — easy to eat standing up.
- Prep chutneys in advance; reheat dosas quickly on a large griddle when guests arrive.
Other Related Recipes You Might Like:-
- Green Gram Dosa (Weight Loss Recipe) — protein-packed gram-dosa similar in texture and health profile to horse-gram dosa.
- Multigrain Dosa — hearty dosa made with multiple flours for extra fiber and nutty flavor.
- Set Dosa — soft, pillowy dosas that pair well with spicy chutneys.
- Ghee Karam Dosa — ghee-tossed dosa with a rich, aromatic finish.
- Beetroot Dosa — colorful, nutrient-dense dosa with subtle sweetness from beetroot.
- Idli Sambar — classic steamed idlis with sambar — ideal savory accompaniment to dosas.
- Peanut Chutney — creamy, nutty chutney that complements lentil-based dosas.
- Horse Gram Rice — another way to use horse gram — a wholesome rice dish to serve alongside or as an alternate meal.
Horse Gram Dosa
Description
This crispy horse gram dosa is a simple, wholesome breakfast that turns humble ingredients into a protein-rich, satisfying meal — horse gram and urad dal add nutty flavor and extra protein while the overnight fermentation gives the batter a light, tangy lift. the dosas come out thin and super-crispy at the edges with a soft center, perfect with coconut or tomato chutney, and they’re a terrific option if you’re watching calories or aiming to eat more plant protein. it’s easy to make once the batter is ready, and small adjustments to water and heat will help you get consistently perfect results. give it a try — it’s one of those recipes that rewards a little patience with great flavor and nutrition.
Ingredients
Instructions
Prep Work
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Soak rice and dals
Soak the raw rice, horse gram, urad dal and fenugreek seeds in water for 4 hours so they soften for grinding.
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Soak poha
Soak the thick poha in a separate bowl briefly for 30 minutes. Just before you grind the other soaked ingredients so it becomes soft.
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Set up grinder
Have your mixer/grinder jar ready and a bowl to collect batter after grinding. -
Season batter
Transfer the batter to a bowl, stir in salt and mix well so seasoning is even.
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Warm fermenting spot
Choose a warm corner of the kitchen or inside an oven with light on to leave the batter for fermentation overnight or 8 hours.
Method
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Mix after ferment
Gently mix the batter after fermentation so it’s ready to spread; adjust the thickness with a little water if needed to get a pouring consistency.
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Heat the tawa
Heat a flat tawa or nonstick pan and brush or rub a little oil over the surface. -
Spread the dosa
Pour a ladleful of batter on the tawa and spread it out evenly like a regular dosa. -
Add ghee
Dot or brush ghee around the edges of the dosa for flavor and crispness.
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Roast one side
Let the dosa roast on the first side until the edges lift and underside is golden brown and crisp. -
Flip and roast
Flip the dosa and roast the other side briefly until cooked through and crisp.
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Serve hot
Remove the dosa from the pan and serve hot with chutney of choice.
Equipment
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Nutrition Facts
Servings 4
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 392kcal
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 7g11%
- Saturated Fat 2.5g13%
- Sodium 497mg21%
- Total Carbohydrate 66.8g23%
- Dietary Fiber 4.5g18%
- Sugars 2g
- Protein 12.8g26%
- Calcium 45 mg
- Iron 3.1 mg
- Magnesium 74 mg
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
