Vella Dosai (Sweet Dosa Pancakes)

We loved sweet and tasty Vella Dosai as children when Amma served them with freshly churned butter; perfect special after-school treats! They are quite easy to make also.

I have included my lightened version that makes use of a little Stevia extract so that the amount sugar is reduced without affecting the taste. If you prefer not to use Stevia, double the amount of brown sugar. Ghee adds a lovely aroma to the vella dosai; but Indian sesame or other oil may be used to cook them.

To make a good thing even better, a mashed banana, chopped jack fruit or apples may be added; when using fruit, add them to the blender after pureeing the coconut until the fruit is incorporated but not pulverized. Yummy!

Ingredients:

1 cup Whole Wheat Flour
2 Tbsp Rice flour
1/4 cup Jaggery/Brown Sugar
Stevia Extract as needed
1/4 to 1/2 cup fresh grated Coconut or 2-4 Tbsp dry
3-4 pods Cardamoms
1/4 tsp Sea Salt

Oil or Ghee for cooking

Method:

Combine whole wheat and rice flours in a medium sized bowl.

Crush the cardamom pods slightly and gather the seeds; discard skins. Crush the seeds into a powder.

Place coconut, cardamom seeds, jaggery and salt in the carafe of a blender. Add just enough water - about 1/2 cup - to make blending possible and blend into a fairly smooth puree.

Pour the puree into the flours and mix well with a wire whisk until smooth; stir in the Stevia extract and additional water as needed to make a moderately thick but pourable batter.

The batter may be prepared in the blender by adding the flours to the coconut mixture and blending on low speed until well combined.

Allow to rest covered for about 15 minutes to let the flours hydrate well.

Heat a griddle or skillet to prepare thin dosas on low to medium heat until well-cooked on both sides; it is essential to adjust the heat as the dosas tend to burn because of their sugar content.

If the dosa turn out too thick, add a little water to thin the batter.

Serve warm with fresh soft unsalted butter or homemade Ghee. Enjoy!!