Word Attack!!

Onion Dosa Breakfast and Square Dosa Musings

April 25, 2008 on 5:27 pm | In Food |

I had the most amazing onion dosa for breakfast today! Well, it was the first time i’ve had it, and I don’t know if it could be any better, but I’m a fan now!!

It so happened, that I was passing by Balaji Veg(our local veg fast food resto) and I saw a couple eating some sort of square dosa. I was intrigued. It looked crisp and it must have been pretty good because the man kept leaning over his own masala dosa to try some of this square dosa from the girl. I wanted to try it too, but I didnt know what it was called. I know plain dosa - crisp, flaky dosa that disintegrates beautifully in hot sambhar, I love masala dosa, the portly cousin of the plain dosa, with a handful of potato palya peeping from inside, glimmering because a nice fat blob of butter has been tossed over the palya, before the dosa is wrapped up..I know set dosa, but since i haven’t tasted it yet, I’ll assume it tastes as insipid as it looks. But this one, I didnt know what to ask for. At the counter, the man looked busy. I asked him if they have a square dosa but he shook his head. Maybe in the din he didnt hear me.

SO this morning when i went out with Azhaan, I thought, let me try out all the other dosas they have. One of them will surely be the square one. I asked for Onion dosa and the man nodded and gave me the coupon. I had the strangest feeling as I gave the coupon at the other counter. Like, what the heck are you doing with an Onion dosa coupon? You ALWAYS buy idlis, or vadas or masala dosas…don’t you know what you’re getting into?

I watched avidly as the dosa chef spread the batter. Square, let it be square I thought. But it was the usual round. And to my disappointment, he loaded it with chopped onions and coriander. Obviously. Well, what was I thinking? Onion dosa. Obviously it would have onions.

It seemed to take a longer time than usual to make, and I waited as he finally served it on a plate. Two small bowls, one with chutney, and the other with some red curry were kept ON the dosa, and he plunked some white chutney on it. I took it with me outside because there was no place inside. With Az on my hip, I broke a piece and put it in my mouth. It was fabulous!! The long time he had taken over it, (after flipping it) ensured that both sides were crisp, without becoming papery. The onions were half cooked and half crunchy, but it was just great!

When I finished it, I wondered which one the square dosa was. Next time. Next time I’ll find out. And onion dosa wasn’t bad at all!!