Adai with Rice, Three Dals and Curry Leaves
Lalkila Kitchen · Plant based · Vegetarian · Breakfast · Main dishes · Tamil Nadu
Rice and three split pulses make a semi-coarse batter for these substantial pancakes. This adaptation uses the source’s unfermented method. Add the fresh onion and herbs after the resting stage, just before cooking.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup rice
- 1/4 cup each chana dal, urad dal and toor dal
- 2 mild dried red chillies, deseeded
- 1 1/2 cups water for soaking
- 1 1/2 tsp chopped ginger
- 1 generous pinch asafoetida
- 2/3–3/4 cup water for grinding, adjusted as needed
- 1/3 cup finely chopped onion
- 2 tsp finely chopped curry leaves
- 1/4 cup chopped coriander leaves
- Salt to taste
- Neutral oil for the tava
Method
- Rinse rice and dals and soak with chillies for 2–3 hours. Drain.
- Grind with ginger, asafoetida and grinding water to a semi-coarse, medium-thick batter. Rest covered for 20 minutes.
- Stir in onion, curry leaves, coriander and salt.
- Oil a heated tava, spread a ladle of batter into a round and make a small central hole. Drizzle oil around the edge and in the hole. Cook over moderate heat, then turn and cook until both sides are golden and the centre is cooked.
Cooking notes
Do not grind this batter as finely as a smooth crepe batter. Keep the tava at a heat that lets the inside cook before the surface becomes too dark. If holding batter for another day, refrigerate promptly and add onion and herbs only to the portion being cooked.
Pantry shopping at Lalkila.com
For cooking and serving, explore Pulses & Dals and Rice & Grains. Read the actual product details and obtain fresh ingredients locally as needed.
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Source and adaptation
Adapted from Dassana Amit’s Adai Recipe, Dassana’s Veg Recipes. Original recipe.
Selected plain rice and the unfermented option; omitted optional green chilli, cumin and coconut. Retained the documented 20-minute minimum rest and central-hole cooking technique.
This is an editorial adaptation, not kitchen-tested by Lalkila. FoodSafety.gov cooking temperatures and safe food handling provide the safety references. The featured image is a generated illustration of this recipe.