What is dosa batter?
Dosa batter originates from South India and the first mention of it was around the 1st century AD according to food historian KT Achaya. Since then, South Indians have been making their idli/ dosa batter at home by soaking rice and pulses and grinding them to make a thick batter that is fermented and then spread over a hot pan/ tava like a crepe.
Dosa is a staple food in South India and has become extremely popular across India and also found a place in the hearts of many other countries too. Dosa is usually served hot with sambar, molaga podi, potato masala, onions, and different types of chutney. In India, batters are made for several kinds of dishes such as idli, Uthappam, punugulu, dhokla, handawa, panyaram, etc.
Previously there used to be dosa batter made only from rice and pulses but nowadays there are a plethora of options for a healthier and tastier dosa batter. There are : ragi dosa, Oats dosa, millet dosa, buckwheat dosa, Rava dosa, green moong/ sprouts dosa, yellow moong/ poha dosa, multigrain dosa, etc. Prices of dosa batters in Chennai:
1. Regular dosa batters :
These are approximately ₹60 for a 1kg packet from brands like ID, KPN, and Thaayar. These brands are the most popular in Chennai as they are available in almost all small grocery stores and big supermarkets. There is also Asal dosa batter which is ₹70 per 1 kg pouch.
2. Rava dosa, ragi dosa, oats dosa :
These are mainly found in supermarkets under the MTR brand. These batters are sold in the form of powder as a mix. They require you to add in a few extra ingredients such as curd and water in order to form the consistency of the batter. The prices for these mixes range from ₹120 - ₹155 for 500g. The prices vary for the different types. Rava dosa mix is also sold by Aachi company which is about ₹40 for 200g. This is ideal for making a small batch of dosas that are healthy as well.
3. Millet dosa:
Slurrp farm is a new company introduced in Chennai, they have healthy alternatives for a variety of breakfast products including dosa batter mix. They have millet dosa mix in different flavors such as beetroot dosa mix and spinach dosa mix. These are prices at ₹40 per 50g packet.
4. Homemade dosa batter:
While the other companies make their dosa batters and mix in factories in large batches, Sheplates offers homemade dosa batter that is made fresh without and preservatives. These are made with love by home chefs. These are priced at ₹30 per 1 kg pouch and are delivered fresh to your doorstep.
The prices of dosa batter are almost similar, but Sheplates offers it at a cheaper rate, and as a bonus, it is also homemade and free of any preservatives. There are many varieties of dosas to choose from, which one would you choose and why? Let us know in the comments below!