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Adai - Protein-rich south Indian tiffin

Adai is a traditional South Indian breakfast recipe. Healthy tasty Indian lentil crepe is a filling breakfast option for school kids. In our home, we also like having Adai for dinner. My version of the Adai recipe is with an extra lentil portion, a kids-friendly spice.

What tastes best with Adai?

Adai tastes best with Aviyal. Butter and jaggery are the other most popular sides for Adai dosa. In our home, we like pairing Adai with Idli podi and tamarind-based Kuzhambu.

Adai Aviyal combo

Can I skip rice for Adai batter?

If you are looking for Adai batter with less rice check Cracked Wheat Adai and quinoa Adai. This is a traditional lentil-rich Adai recipe with a good amount of rice.

Can I alter the lentil proportion?

Given proportion makes the best Adai recipe. The perfect balance of crispness at the same time soft (not dense) Adai that my kids and our family enjoy

Should I grind red chilli into fine paste?

No, it is optional but to make it kids (toddler-friendly spice) I prefer grinding red chilli well.

Should I ferment Adai batter?

Adai batter doesn't require overnight fermenting like idli dosai batter. You can prepare Adai right after grinding however I prefer fermenting the batter for at least 1 hour.

Can I skip the onion?

Yes, onion is optional. You can also use shallots Also sautéing onion is optional but my mother-in-law makes it this way and I like the flavor of the adai with sautéed onions hence I follow the same.

Can I store the leftover adai batter in the fridge?

Adai batter stays good in the fridge for 2-3 days. Kunukku with leftover adai batter is one of our favorite tea-time snacks. You can also prepare Adai again with the leftover batter. If you are planning to keep the batter for 2-3 days, add onion to only the batch you are going to use immediately.

Why coconut oil for the Adai recipe?

In our home, we like adai made with coconut oil but you can add any oil of your choice.

Tips for perfect crispy Adai

Avoid soaking the dal and rice for long time
Always grind coarse batter (idli rava) texture
Avoid resting the batter for a long time
Always cook adai on low- medium flame and add a generous amount of oil

Adai recipe

south indian tiffin breakfast recipe

5 from 3 votes

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Ingredients

To soak

1 cup idli rice
1 cup raw rice
3/4 cup toor dal
3/4 chana dal
1/4 cup moong dal
2 tablespoon urad dal
4 red chilli
1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
3 cups of water

To the batter

A generous portion of asafoetida
1 tablespoon coconut oil
1 big onion finely chopped
Curry leaves few
To prepare Adai
Coconut oil
Curry leaves optional

Instructions

Add all the ingredients except water in a wide vessel and wash well
Pour 3 cups of water (or enough water to soak) and add red chilli according to your taste
Soak for 3 hours. If it is not soft pressed, soak it for more time
In a mixie jar first add soaked chilli, a little rice, dal, and water used for soaking, and grind into a fine mixture
Transfer the batter to a vessel. Coarse grind the rest of the dal, and rice along with a little water used for soaking. like idli rava texture in batches
Before grinding the last batch add turmeric powder and the required salt and grind to a coarse batter
Transfer and mix well
Add a generous portion of asafoetida and mix again
Keep the batter aside for 1 hour
Add oil to a wide pan when the oil is hot add onion and curry leaves
Saute onion till it translucent
Transfer to the batter and mix well. Moisture in the hot sauteed onion might add a little water to the batter. If required add soaked lentil rice water and mix well
Heat the griddle
When it is hot, add a little coconut oil and grease
Add two ladles full of batter into the skillet
Spread the Adai and make a hole in the center. Drizzle oil around the Adai and in the center
Optionally sprinkle curry leaves and cook on low-medium flame
Before flipping take water in a bowl and moisture the ladle
After one side is cooked well, turn and drizzle oil
Cook the other side and serve hot

Video

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Notes

Onion is optional but it gives a nice flavor
In our home we like coconut oil flavor for adai but you can use any oil of your choice
Avoid soaking the dal and rice for longtime
Avoid grinding away batter smooth. Always grind coarse batter (idli rava) texture
Avoid resting the batter for a long time
Always cook adai in low- medium flame and add a generous amount of oil

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Ingredients:

To soak

1 cup idli rice

1 cup raw rice

3/4 cup toor dal

3/4 chana dal

1/4 cup moong dal

2 tablespoon urad dal

4 red chilli

1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder

3 cups of water

To the batter:

A generous portion of asafoetida

1 tablespoon coconut oil

1 big onion, finely chopped

Curry leaves few

To prepare Adai

Coconut oil

Curry leaves optional

How to make Adai with step-by-step pictures:

Add all the ingredients except water in a wide vessel and wash well

Pour 3 cups of water (or enough water to soak) and add red chilli according to your taste

Soak for 3 hours. If it is not soft pressed, soak it for more time

In a mixie jar first add soaked chilli, a little rice, dal, and water used for soaking, and grind into a fine mixture

Transfer the batter to a vessel. Coarse grind the rest of the dal, and rice along with a little water used for soaking. like idli rava texture in batches

Before grinding the last batch add turmeric powder and the required salt and grind to a coarse batter

Transfer and mix well

Add a generous portion of asafoetida and mix again

Keep the batter aside for 1 hour
Add oil to a wide pan when the oil is hot add onion and curry leaves

Saute onion till it translucent

Transfer to the batter and mix well. Moisture in the hot sauteed onion might add a little water to the batter. If required add soaked lentil rice water and mix well