The classic Masala Dosa/ Masaldosa is a variation of the popular South Indian breakfast food, the dosa. It is made using a batter of ground rice, fenugreek seeds/methi and black lentils with spicy potato and green peas stuffing.Any combination of vegetables can be used as a filling.
It has its origins in Tuluva Mangalorean cuisine of Karnataka, in South India.

Table of Contents
Why is it called Masala Dosa?
Masala dosa is stuffed dosa.
The two parts of the Masala dosa are the dosa/Indian crepe and the masala/stuffing.
- The dosa is prepared in the usual way by soaking rice and lentils overnight in water and then grinding it to a batter.
- The masala/Bhaji/ stuffing is made from boiled potatoes, green chilies and Indian spices .This preparation is then seasoned with mustard seeds and garnished with grated coconut, coriander, and lemon juice.

What are the ingredients in Masala Dosa?
For the Dosa
For the Masala/Bhaji/Stuffing
- Potatoes
- Onion
- Green Chilies
- Cinnamon
- Vegetables (of one’s choice- optional)
- Cumin seeds
- Mustard seeds
- Curry Leaves (for seasoning)
- Cilantro/Coriander leaves
- Lemon juice (for garnish)
- Coconut gratings (for garnish)
Masala Dosa Recipe
Nutrition Facts
- Amount Per ServingCalories925
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 16g 25%
- Saturated Fat 13g 65%
- Sodium 913mg 39%
- Potassium 4303mg 123%
- Total Carbohydrate 179g 60%
- Dietary Fiber 30g 120%
- Sugars 29g
- Protein 24g 48%
- Vitamin A 22%
- Vitamin C 330%
- Calcium 16%
- Iron 50%
* The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
How do you eat masala dosa?
- Indian food is traditionally eaten with our hands
- Tear a small piece of dosa from one edge and dip it in the chutney or sambar that accompanies the dosa, and then eat it.
- While eating masala dosa since the filling is in the center of the dosa, wrap the dosa around some masala/bhaji/filling and then eat it as is, or you can dip the same in the chutney or sambar that accompanies the masala dosa and then eat it.
What does Dosa taste like?
Crispy Plain Dosa is a thin, crisp crepe or pancake. It has a slight tangy taste due to the fermentation, and is savory rather than sweet.
Without the filling, on its own it’s called ‘plain dosa‘ that can be eaten with chutney, sambar or a variety of vegetable curries. With filling it is called Masala Dosa and can be eaten just with the filling, or it Dosa can be layered like a pizza with toppings called Uthappam & can be eaten as such or with curries.Masala Dosa is very appetizing and flavorful.
Why is my Dosa not crispy?
Add half a cup of poha/flattened rice if you’d like your dosa slightly crispy. Even adding brown sugar to the batter just before it is ready to be poured make sit crispy and brown.
List of my Dosa Recipes
The Bottom Line
Dosa has had many variations over time but among them, the most popular remains the plain dosa and masala dosa. The dosa’s unplanned role as culinary ambassador is fast catching up in the western world too and is proved by the fact that there is a wave of South Indian restaurants popping up in every major city around the world.
You can have dosa for breakfast, brunch, lunch or even dinner since it is easily digestible, low on calories and extremely appetizing! With all the knowledge you acquired from this post on making Masala Dosa from scratch are you going to give my Masala Dosa recipe a try?
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Mmmm this looks so good! I love everything you post. I must try some of your recipes.
Thank you, for your kind words, so appreciate it. Feel free to try any recipe & do let us know your feedback when you do.Would love to hear how it turned out for you 🙂
These sound really good! We don’t have an authentic Indian restaurant anywhere near where I live, but I wish we did.
Thank you, for your kind words. Yes, if you are trying it for the first time, try it out in a restaurant & you will know what I am talking about. Here’s wishing you come across an Indian restaurant soon 🙂
I love everything about this! Yum!
Thank you.Do give my recipe a try sometime, it’s delicious.Enjoy!
This looks delicious!
Thank you, so appreciate your kind words
I actually recently pinned this because I wanted to try it out. Sounds delicious and I just need to get to the grocery store to get the ingredients.
How wonderful, that makes me very happy to know that you are planning give my recipe a try. You are going to love it 🙂 Enjoy! So appreciate your kind words.Don’t forget to share your feedback with us , would love to hear how it turned out for you.
Thank you for all the details and for all the photos. It looks so yummy!
Very kind of you to say that. Thank you!
You are an amazing chef. I find my mouth watering just reading your recipies.
So kind of you to say that, you made my day! Thank you. Glad to share, and learn that you enjoy my recipes. They taste even better 😉 do give it a try sometime.
I am always looking for new recipes to try. This sounds very good and not too complex to make. (I hate cooking, so what may seem easy to some is hard for me.) LOL!
Try it in little portions to see how you like it, once you master the art, then you can make them in larger quantities. Good luck & have fun.
Looks delicious! Thanks for sharing the recipe.
You are most welcome.
Sounds delish! Hope to try using brown sugar tip.
Thank you. Yup, adding brown sugar makes them nice & crispy with a golden tinge to the dosas, tempting you to try one immediately…..once you try, then you are hooked with the savory crepe forever 🙂
Woah haven’t heard of this but can’t wait to try it out!
Glad to share. Enjoy!
This looks really tasty. I’ve long been intruiged by the Indian spices and wanted to try a few recipes. My SO is not so interested, so maybe I’ll try it with my mom….she has an adventurous palate.
That’s lovely to note. I have an E-Book on the 25 essential Indian Spices you need to create delicious Indian cuisine. You can get it on my blog if you are curious to learn about spices. coz I have a lot of information in there about how , when & the techniques to use Indian spices to create delicious recipes. I am sure sure you will find it very helpful. If you have friends or family who are interested in Indian spices and learning more about them, my E-Book would be a perfect gift for the holidays too . Enjoy!
It looks like a savory crepe! Sounds super tasty and looks to be plant-based, which is a plus for our household! Yum!
Yup, all of the above .Both kids & grown ups would love it. Give it a try. Tastes good & is healthy too.
I’ve never eaten Indian food before 😬
Then, you must give it a try sometime soon 😉 I will bet, you won’t be disappointed 😀
Looks like something so delicious to try!
Thank you. It definitely is, please do give it a try sometime & share your feedback.
I hadn’t heard of this before, but man you got my mouth watering! It sounds so good!
Glad to hear that. Indian food is delicious, once you taste it. Please do give my recipe a try sometime.
This looks so good! As part of their World Geography course this school year, my daughter and her friend are going to be cooking foods from all over the world. We will have to choose a recipe from your site when we get to India!
How fun. I am so happy to hear that. Please feel free to try my recipes, this or any other on my blog, I have tons of recipes here & how wonderful that your daughter gets to share it with her class in school.I would love to hear your feedback & if you could share some pictures of the recipes that would be lovely too. Good luck & have fun.
I love trying new things! This looks like one I need to make!
Yay! So happy to hear that. Definitely a good start. Do share with us your success story when you do, would love to hear it. Good luck!
I would make this for breakfast now if I could!
Done! You just have to decide & before you know it you will be making some delicious masala dosas at home. Enjoy!
I would love this. It looks amazing and like fancy restaurant food.
Thank you, so appreciate your kind words. It is a favorite among restaurant foods that people order, but now you can do it in your own kitchen…..nothing to beat the joy of that 😉
This looks amazing! I am always intrigued by Indian food but have never tried to make it,
Thank you.It is easy to make once you follow the steps and without a doubt, tastes delicious. Give it a try sometime.So appreciate your kind words 🙂