Millet Dosa (Kambu Dosa)

By Swasthi on August 2, 2022, Comments, Jump to Recipe

Millet Dosa also known as Kambu Dosai in South India are delicious thin crepes made with pearl millet. These tiny millets are known as Bajra in Hindi, Kambu in Tamil and Sajjalu in Telugu. Millet Dosas are made with whole grains and are healthy, good in taste and texture. These make a very nutritious Breakfast with good amount of protein, carbs, minerals and iron. This is one of the very old recipes that I have been using. This recipe uses whole bajra, Urad dal and rice as the main ingredients. I had a few requests for bajra recipes, so thought of sharing my tried and tested recipe.

millet dosa - bajra dosa

I have been trying to reduce the usage of ready or store bought flours as we don’t know the quality of flour. Instead I use the whole grains where ever possible, so I have not tried this recipe with bajra flour.

These kambu dosai or bajra dosa turns out crispy but soft dosas can also be made with the same recipe by adding more water to the batter. This recipe uses urad dal, rice and kambu /bajra in equal quantities. You can replace rice with kambu/ bajra but too much of millet consumption and avoiding rice totally is also not good. So these dosas have a balanced nutrition of protein, carbs, minerals and iron. These are good for all age groups including toddlers.

How to Make Millet Dosa

1. Wash urad dal until water runs clear. Soak it in enough water for 4 hours. Wash rice and kambu/ bajra together in a large pot. Soak them in enough water for 4 hours. You can also soak bajra for longer if you prefer.

Wash urad dal and soak

2. Drain the water from both the pots. Add urad dal to a blender jar along with some water. Do not add too much water as it makes the batter too thin.

Add urad dal to a blender jar

3. Blend it until smooth and bubbly.

Blend it until smooth

4. Add bajra and rice to the same jar and pour some more water. If your blender jar is small, first transfer the urad dal batter to a pot, then add the rice and bajra. Do not add too much water.

blend whole grains to make millet dosa

5. Blend until the batter is smooth. The batter must be of the dosa batter consistency. Very thin or runny batter will not ferment well.

Blend until the batter is smooth

6. Transfer this to a large bowl for fermentation. Cover and set aside in a warm place for 4 to 8 hours. Depending on the indoor temperature & climate the timing may vary.

Transfer this to a large bowl for fermentation

7. It usually takes about 16 hours for the batter to rise in my home. Do not let the batter over ferment as it turns sour. These dosas turn slightly hard without fermentation but even little fermentation yields very good dosa. So allow the batter to rise at least a bit.

millet dosa batter

8. Add salt and water as needed. Bring it to a pouring consistency. If you prefer to set some batter in the fridge, then you can put it in without adding salt and water.

Add salt and water as needed

9. Heat a tawa or griddle until hot. If using cast iron pan, sprinkle some oil and grease it well with a kitchen tissue or piece of onion. Wipe off the excess oil. When the pan is hot, pour a ladle full of batter in the center.

Heat a tawa or griddle

10. Spread it to a dosa. You can make thick or thin dosas to your liking.

Spread millet batter to make dosa

11. Sprinkle some oil and allow to cook until the edges begin to leave the pan.

Sprinkle oil

12. Flip and cook on the other side for 1 minute. Flip back and cook until crisp.

Flip

Serve millet dosas hot with your favorite chutney.

kambu dosai - millet dosa

You may like to check these Dosa recipes and Chutney recipes.

Related Recipes

Recipe Card

Millet Dosa (Kambu Dosa)

These Millet Dosa are delicious and make for a wholesome meal. Gluten-free and vegan these are easy to make and go well with a side of chutney.
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For best results follow the step-by-step photos above the recipe card

Prep Time4 hours 30 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time5 hours
Servings12 dosas
AuthorSwasthi

Ingredients (US cup = 240ml )

  • ½ cup pearl millets (bajra / kambu/ sajjalu or substitute with ¾ cup bajra flour)
  • ½ cup urad dal
  • ½ cup rice or pearl millet (parboiled short grain like ponni, masuri or idly rice)
  • ½ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
  • Water as needed
  • 3 to 4 tablespoons Oil or ghee as needed


Instructions

How to make Millet Dosa

  • Add rice and millets/ bajra to a large pot and wash them well at least thrice.
  • Add water and soak them for at least 4 hours.
  • Add urad dal to another pot. Wash it well and soak for 4 hours.
  • Drain the water from both the pots.
  • Add dal to a blender jar along with water just enough to blend. I used about 3/4 to 1 cup.
  • Blend it till smooth and frothy. Transfer it to a large bowl.
  • Add rice and kambu/ bajra to the same jar along with little water. Blend it well until smooth.
  • Mix together the batter. If you live in a cold place you can add non iodized salt at this stage. Cover the bowl.
  • Ferment it in a warm place for 6 to 8 hours or as needed.
  • After fermentation the batter rises well and turns light. Add salt if you have not added before fermenting. Add little water to bring it to a consistency. The consistency must be neither too thick nor too thin (runny). It must be of spreading consistency. Mix well.
  • Grease and heat a dosa tawa/ griddle.
  • When it is hot enough, pour 1 laddle of batter to the center of the tawa. Begin to spread from the center and make a thick or thin dosa as per your preference.
  • Drizzle some oil around the edges. Cook until the edges leave the pan.
  • Flip and cook on the other side. Flip back and cook until crisp.
  • Serve millet dosai hot with any chutney.


Alternative quantities provided in the recipe card are for 1x only, original recipe.

For best results follow my detailed step-by-step photo instructions and tips above the recipe card.

Video

NUTRITION INFO (estimation only)

Nutrition Facts
Millet Dosa (Kambu Dosa)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 89
% Daily Value*
Sodium 1mg0%
Potassium 39mg1%
Carbohydrates 16g5%
Fiber 1g4%
Protein 3g6%
Vitamin C 0.3mg0%
Calcium 11mg1%
Iron 1.5mg8%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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About Swasthi

I’m Swasthi Shreekanth, the recipe developer, food photographer & food writer behind Swasthi’s Recipes. My aim is to help you cook great Indian food with my time-tested recipes. After 2 decades of experience in practical Indian cooking I started this blog to help people cook better & more often at home. Whether you are a novice or an experienced cook I am sure Swasthi’s Recipes will assist you to enhance your cooking skills. More about me

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5 stars
If I’m using bajra flour, can I just add to rice and dal batter

5 stars
I tried your Kambu dosa recipe. Along with urad dhaal, I added little fenugreek seeds. Came out so good..

Can I replace kambu flour with kambu grain? If yes, then how do I do it. What is the ratio of kambu flour I have to take.

5 stars
Hi Swasti,

As we don’t get bajra in whole grain in US, can I use bajra flour?

Thank you

I just tried your kambu dosa recipe .. it came out so well .. thank u