Whole black lentil Dosai with Onion Chutney

Whole black lentil Dosai with Onion Chutney

 கருப்பு உளுந்து தோசை & வெங்காய சட்னி

This is a specialty of my mother and my dad's favourite.
At my Grandmother' place,when the crops arrive from the fields, whole raw rice comes with split and broken ones as well. This broken raw rice, called kurunai in Tamil, is not wasted. It is separated from the whole grain and used to make this dosai.
In modern days whole raw rice is used but the name ' kurunai dosai' still exists. This dosai tastes different from the regular one and you would prefer this to the other.  Taste it to believe it.

Black gram (urad dal or uluntha paruppu) is one of the handful lentils that has essential fatty acids EFA and while fermenting, the bacteria and yeast in the urad dal makes it even more nutritious and this has much beneficial effect.

People accustomed to western food all the time, have more of the sulphite reducing bacteria which produce Hydrogen Sulphide gas, in their stomach. Once they get used to the prebiotic foods like idli / dosas which contain urad dal, the good bacteria in the lower intestines multiply and at the same time produce the very healthy Short Chain Fatty Acids - SCFA, which in turn creates a slightly acidic environment in which the Hydrogen Sulfide producing bacteria cannot live. So in the long term, eating Dosas actually gets rid of the smelly gas problems.

There is even research evidence suggesting that diets containing high contents of Urad Dal prevent Alzheimer's and Dementia. So it is good for even the older generation.

Boiled rice     -  2 cups
Raw rice       -  2cups
Whole black gram - 1 cup
fenugreek  -  1tsp

Mix both the rice and soak for 2hrs. Mix dal and fenugreek and soak for 2hrs. For a quick soaking time,to cut short by 30min, I keep them in refrigerator.
In wet grinder, first grind dal and then grind the rice. Add salt, mix well. Let it ferment overnight.

In the morning, mix the batter well. Heat the dosai tawa, spread the dosai evenly and thick.
This dosai is not made thin and crisp. This is made a bit thick like kal dosai. It will be spongy and tasty.
Serve with onion chutney, which will be a hit. Coconut chutney or sambar can also be served.  

Small Onion Chutney  வெங்காய சட்னி

Ingredients
Dry Red Chillies  - 8
Small Onions - 15 to 18
Curry leaves and a small portion of Tamarind
Mustard & Asafoetida for seasoning

Fry the Chillies in oil, remove them.In the same oil, saute the onions and curry leaves.
Allow it to cool and make a paste. Season it with mustard & asafoetida.

Serve the black gram dosai with onion chutney.