MASALA TIMES RECIPES

Steps:

• Make the dosa batter: Put rice in a bowl, rinse well and cover with 4 cups cold water. Put urad dal and fenugreek seeds in a small bowl, rinse well and add cold water to cover. Leave both to soak for 4 to 6 hours.
• Drain rice and dal-fenugreek mixture in separate colanders. Put rice in a food processor, blender or wet-dry grinder. Add 1 cup cold water and grind to a smooth paste. It will take about 10 minutes, and it may be necessary to work in batches. Repeat the process with the dal-fenugreek mixture.
• Combine the two pastes in a medium mixing bowl. Whisk together, adding enough water to obtain a medium-thick batter. You should have about 6 cups. Cover bowl with a kitchen towel and set in a warm place. Let ferment until the surface is bubbly, about 8 hours. Stir in the salt. Use the batter straight away or refrigerate for later use. (Batter will keep for up to a week, refrigerated. Thin with water if necessary before proceeding.)
• Make the potato filling: Put ghee in a wide skillet over medium heat. When oil is wavy, add mustard seeds and cumin seeds. Wait for seeds to pop, about 1 minute, then add red peppers and onion. Cook, stirring until onions have softened, about 5 minutes. Season lightly with salt. Add turmeric, asafetida, ginger, curry leaves, garlic and green chile. Stir to coat and let sizzle for 1 minute.
• Add potatoes and 1/2 cup water. Cook, stirring well to combine, until liquid has evaporated, about 5 minutes. Mash potatoes a bit with the back of a wooden spoon. Season well with salt, add cilantro, then set aside at room temperature. (Potato filling may be prepared up to a day in advance.)
• To make dosas, set a griddle or cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Brush with about 1 teaspoon vegetable oil. Ladle 1/4 cup batter in the center of griddle. Using bottom of ladle, quickly spread batter outward in a circular motion to a diameter of about 7 inches. Drizzle 1/2 teaspoon oil over the top. Leave dosa batter to brown gradually until outer edges begin to look dry, about 2 minutes, cooking on one side only. With a spatula, carefully loosen dosa from griddle. Bottom should be crisp and beautifully browned. Spoon 1/2 cup potato filling onto top of dosa, centering it as a strip in the middle of the round dosa. Flatten the potato mixture slightly. Using the spatula, fold the sides of the dosa around the filling to make a cylindrical shape. Serve immediately. Continue making dosas one at a time.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, stir together the chicken, chutneys, garlic and ginger pastes, and yogurt. Stir in 2 tablespoons of the oil and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. Proceed right away, or cover and marinate in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
• Add the remaining 3 tablespoons oil to a large, 12-inch lidded skillet. Warm the oil, uncovered, over high heat until shimmering, then decrease the heat to medium-high and add the chopped onion and garlic. Season with a pinch of salt, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion softens, about 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium, put the lid on the skillet and cook for an additional 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion has gone from translucent to lightly golden, shrunken and soft.
• Return the heat to medium-high, scrape in the chicken along with all the marinade, and cook, stirring occasionally, for 4 minutes. Put the lid back on, and cook for 2 more minutes. Uncover the skillet; the chicken should be just about cooked through and the sauce bubbling and thick. Cook for 2 to 4 more minutes to thicken the sauce (it shouldn’t be soupy), but be careful not to overcook the chicken.
• Serve over rice or other whole grains, or with flatbread like chapati on the side.