Hailing from South India, dosas are Indian crêpes, made from fermented rice and lentil batter and cooked on a hot griddle. Savory, crispy, and thin, these crêpes are rolled to form a long cylinder instead of folded into triangles like French crêpes. The treats are often eaten at breakfast and lunch in South India and can with a variety of fillings. They typically come with sambar, which is a vegetable stew, and multiple chutneys for dipping.
While South Indian fare isn’t as widely accessible in the U.S. as northern Indian cuisine, NoVA has several spots where you can find dosas in tasty, creative forms.
Amma’s Vegetarian Kitchen’s Rava Dosa
Amma means mother in many South Indian languages, so you know that the food you are getting at this casual venue is true homestyle cooking! The dosas here come in different shapes, depending on which one you order: Some come in the traditional cylinder form, while others come shaped as cones, folded in half, or folded into squares. Try the rava dosa, made with semolina and rice flour instead of the traditional rice and black gram batter. It’s cooked on the griddle to form a lacy crêpe, and ginger and cumin in the batter provide extra flavor. 344 Maple Ave. E., Vienna
Chennai Express’ Podi Dosa
A podi dosa is one that is cooked and often served round or in a half-moon shape and is sprinkled with podi, a dry South Indian spice blend. The combination of spices includes curry leaves, chilis, lentils, sesame seeds, turmeric, dried coconut, and asafetida. The spices are cooked on the stove and then ground to form a bold, powdery flavor-bomb. Just a sprinkling of this spice mix makes the dosa so flavorful you can eat it plain, without sambar or chutney, the typical accompaniments. 14516 Lee Rd. Unit B, Chantilly
Dosa Grill’s Ghee Roast Dosa
This dosa is cooked in clarified butter, making it particularly crunchy and rich. Served with the classic pairings of sambar (a spicy coconut curry chock full of veggies like carrots and green beans) and coconut chutney, you will love every buttery bite. 24630 Dulles Landing Dr., Ste. 135, Dulles
Saravana Palace’s Paper Masala Dosa
As the name indicates, paper dosas are extra thin, which means they’re extra crispy and super long. The one at Saravana Palace is a quintessential paper dosa, like those found in India. This satisfying masala version comes filled with potatoes fried with onions and peas and spiced with cumin, curry leaves, and mustard seed. 11725 Lee Hwy., Ste. A15, Fairfax
Feature image courtesy Dosa Grill
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