Can I make uttapam with besan chickpea flour and rice flour?

September 5, 2024 3:29 PM

I would like to make uttapam, but I do not have the traditional ingredients for it at the moment, since I would need to order them online. I do have besan chickpea flour, rice flour, all purpose flour, as well as instant yeast and baking soda. I’m not sure if I can mimic a similarity to the traditional ingredients?
posted by RearWindow to Food & Drink (2 answers total)

Ah, yes, but it ceases to be an uthappam the moment you use lentils, peas, or beans in the batter.

What you want to make is called a "tomato omelette" and it doesn't use any rice flour, and is not fermented so no need for yeast or baking soda. None of the lentil-based dosas are ever fermented, see for example ade dose.

An uthappam can sometimes be made very spongy if you prefer, because it's fermented. You won't get the thick spongy texture with any of the lentil/pea/bean based versions of dosa. But they are delicious and much more healthful than the usual types of dosa due to higher protein content and fewer refined carbs from rice.
posted by MiraK at 3:39 PM on September 5 [4 favorites]

Also I would serve lentil-based dosas with a yogurt based dip, or lots of fresh grated veggies drizzled with lemon. IDK about you but eating anything with lots of lentils and/or besan gives me heartburn unless there's yogurt and/or fresh veg.
posted by MiraK at 4:00 PM on September 5 [1 favorite]