Adai is a traditional & popular South Indian crepe made using a combination of dals, rice & chillies. Adai is a tasty alternate to idli & dosa and is commonly relished with avial, coconut chutney & jaggery. Adai Recipe is explained in this post with step by step pictures and video.
Adai Recipe is easy to make but takes little bit of effort & time to prepare the batter & make adai. Adai means thick / dense in Tamil – from which the name had originated. Adai is a protein packed breakfast recipe, I’ve shared a recipe with which you can make both Adai and Adai Dosa, do try out and enjoy!
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About Adai
Adai is thick, flat, round crepe prepared by grinding dal, rice, spices, onion into a batter and then cooking it on a dosa pan like uttapam. Adai is prepared for breakfast or dinner with avial, coconut chutney, jaggery, butter as side dish. Adai is healthy as it is protein & nutrient rich with different dals like toor, urad, moong & chana dal.
Most restaurants serve adai with aviyal but I havent tasted that combination. To me adai with coconut chutney is the best combo with little sugar….hmmm heavenly! It is protein packed wholesome for breakfast/dinner. You can check out millet vadai for an alternate.
Adai needs no fermentation so it is instant just soaking takes time, once the batter is ready you can make adai immediately.
Adai Recipe Video
Why this recipe works?
- This is an age old traditional adai recipe from my grandmother passed on to me.
- One adai batter you can make thick adai or thin adai dosa.
- It tastes so good that even kids would not complain.
Adai – Which one do you prefer ?
Adai gets yellow colour & mild taste with the addition of turmeric powder and with the addition of 2-3 red chillies. In Brahmin style of making Adai, turmeric powder is skipped and the adai is made spicier with 12-15 red chillies. This gives reddish tint to Adai and is called Urappadai meaning “Hot adai”. Both the Adai are equally good and are must try at homes.
Adai & Murungai Keerai Adai Adai is made extra healthier with the addition of Drumstick leaves or murungai keerai (in Tamil). 1 cup of Drumstick leaves is sauteed till it shrinks & the raw smell leaves and are added to the batter to make Murungai Keerai Adai. This is a tasty way of adding greens in your diet!
Adai Batter
Adai Batter is prepared with various proportion of dal & spices in different regions. This proportion for Adai is from ammas recipe book which I am following for years now and it is our family favourite.
Adding small onion is usual for adai but adding garlic makes adai very flavorful and tasty so do try and let me know.
Is Adai & Adai Dosa different?
Adai and Adai Dosa are same basically. However the thickness of it makes the difference. Adai is usually made thick but Adai dosa is made thin more like dosa. Both tastes good in its own way. I love thick version of adai but kids love the crispy thin version. I have given a batter with which you can make both Adai and Adai Dosa.
I can have adai(adai dosa) even daily, I love it so much. This version amma makes – the dosa style is my fav not to thick not too thin.
Adai Ingredients
- Dal : Toor Dal, Urad Dal, Chana Dal & Moong Dal is used in this recipe. You can replace any of the dal with other dal if you do not have stock. Also you can skip urad dal or any of the dal & add masoor dal in its place. Soaking 2-3 hrs along with rice is needed for getting perfect adai both texture and tastewise!
- Rice : Idli Rice, Raw rice is used in this recipe. You can alternate the entire quantity with Idli rice or parboiled rice.
- Spices : Turmeric powder is added for medicinal value & color, red chillies for spiciness, hing, fennel seeds & garlic are added for digestion and flavors. You can add a little amount of crushed ginger additionally.
- Basic Veggies : Big onion, garlic, curry leaves, coriander leaves chopped fine are used in this recipe.
Adai Recipe Step by Step
- To a mixing bowl add 3/4 cup raw rice, 3/4 cup idli rice, 1/4 cup chana dal, 1/4 cup toor dal, 2 tablespoon moong dal and 1/4 cup urad dal.
2.Soak in water till immersing level for 3 hrs atleast minimum.
3.Keep covered and undisturbed.
4.After 3 hours rice and dal must have been soaked well.
5.Now rinse it well atleast twice then drain water completely.
6.Add it to a mixer jar along with 1 and 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds and 6 red chillies, 1/2 teaspoon ginger along with required salt.
7.Add water little by little to grind.
8.Grind it to a thick slightly coarse batter. It should be flowing but thick kind of idli batter consistency. Also you should feel the rice and dal texture while touching the batter it should be slightly coarse as shown below.
9.Transfer batter to the mixing bowl, rinse mixer with 1/2 cup water and add it.
10.Mix this well first. Add water if needed.
11.Add 3/4 cup onion, 1/4 cup garlic, 2 tablespoon curry leaves, 2 tablespoon coriander leaves, 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder and required salt. We have already added salt while grinding so add accordingly.
12.Mix it well. Adai batter is ready.
13.Heat dosa tawa – pour 2 laddles and spread it slightly thick.
14.You can either cook covered or cook it open. Drizzle oil generously.
15.Once the edges start to turn golden and the top looks cooked, you can flip over.
16.Flip over to cook other side.
17.Slightly press it with a laddle.
18.Once both the sides are cooked turn over and remove.
19.Slightly thin the batter by adding little water. You can take a small batch and add water for making adai dosa for those who want crispy adai dosas.
20.To make Adai Dosa : Heat dosa tawa pour 2 laddles of batter and spread it slightly thin like shown. If the batter is too thick to spread sprinkle little water to the batter and then make adai dosa.
21.Spread it slightly thin.
22.Drizzle oil and cook until it turns golden.
23.Flip over and press slightly cook for 2 mins.
24.Flip over fold and serve!
Expert Tips
- If you want adai to be more spicy, add 5 more red chillies while grinding.
- Grind it coarsely not too smooth. Once the batter is ready after grinding, fermentation is not needed like Idli / Dosa batter. You can make adai right away.
- This batter helps in making both thick Adai and thin Adai Dosa.
- Incase if you want to make only thick adai you can grind the batter little more coarse but it will be tough to spread easily just pat it with laddle.
- Make sure not to grind the batter fine the adai will turn out hard. Adai batter is meant to be slightly coarse to get perfect crisp textured adai.
Serving & Storage Suggestions
Serve hot Adai with avial, coconut chutney, jaggery, butter, idli podi as side dish!
For later use, store the batter in refrigerator & it keeps good till next day. I usually grind Adai batter in the noon to make it for dinner and keep the remaining batter for next day use (keeping it refrigerated).
FAQS
1.What is Adai?
Adai is a thick, flat, round crepe prepared by grinding dal, rice, spices, onion into a batter and then cooking it on a dosa pan like uttapam. Adai is prepared for breakfast or dinner with avial, coconut chutney, jaggery, butter, idli podi as side dish.
2.How to make Adai?
- Soak the rice & dal in water and rest for at least 2-3 hours
- Grind it together with red chillies,ginger, salt and fennel seeds to a coarse paste.
- Add salt, turmeric powder, hing, onion, garlic,curry leaves & coriander leaves and mix well.
- Heat the dosa pan, take 1-2 ladle full and spread the batter as we do for dosa. Drizzle little oil and once it is cooked turn to other side and cook till golden brown.
- Adai is ready – serve it hot! with butter, jaggery or coconut chutney.
3.What type of pan is best for making adai?
With no doubt iron dosa tawa is best for making adai crisp and tasty however you can make adai in a nonstick tawa too.
4.My Adai is not spreading & forms into lumps – What can I do?
If your batter is too thick, it may not spread evenly and tend to form odd shapes. Add little bit of water to make it slightly thicker than dosa batter consistency & try.
5.Can Adai batter be stored / freezed?
Adai batter can be stored in fridge and can be used for 2 days but fresh batter always tastes best. I would not suggest the batter to freeze, you can refrigerate and use.
If you have any more questions about this Adai Recipe do mail me at sharmispassions@gmail.com. In addition, follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest ,Youtube and Twitter .
Tried this Adai Recipe? Do let me know how you liked it. Also tag us on Instagram @sharmispassions and hash tag it on #sharmispassions.
📖 Recipe Card
Adai Recipe | Adai Dosa
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup raw rice
- 3/4 cup idli rice
- 1/4 cup urad dal
- 1/4 cup toor dal
- 1/4 cup chana dal
- 2 tablespoon moong dal
- 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
- a generous pinch hing
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
- 6 nos red chillies
- 3/4 cup big onion chopped finely
- 1/4 cup garlic chopped finely
- 2 tablespoon curry leaves
- 2 tablespoon coriander leaves chopped finely
- oil as needed
- salt to taste
Instructions
- To a mixing bowl add 3/4 cup raw rice. 3/4 cup idli rice, 1/4 cup chana dal, 1/4 cup toor dal, 2 tablespoon moong dal and 1/4 cup urad dal.
- Soak in water till immersing level for 3 hrs atleast minimum.
- Keep covered and undisturbed.
- After 3 hours rice and dal must have been soaked well.
- Now rinse it well atleast twice then drain water completely.
- Add it to a mixer jar along with 1.5 teaspoon fennel seeds and 6 red chillies, 1/2 teaspoon ginger along with required salt.
- Add water little by little to grind.
- Grind it to a thick slightly coarse batter. It should be flowing but thick kind of idli batter consistency. Also you should feel the rice and dal while touching the batter it should be slightly coarse.
- Transfer batter to the mixing bowl, rinse mixer with 1/2 cup water and add it.
- Mix this well first.
- Add 3/4 cup onion, 1/4 cup garlic, 2 tablespoon curry leaves, 2 tablespoon coriander leaves, 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder and required salt. We have already added salt while grinding so add accordingly.
- Mix it well. Adai batter is ready.
- Heat dosa tawa – pour 2 laddles and spread it slightly thick.
- You can either cook covered or cook it open itself. Drizzle oil generously.
- Once the edges start to turn golden and the top looks cooked, you can flip over.
- Flip over to cook other side.
- Slightly press it with a laddle.
- Once both the sides are cooked turn over and remove.
- To make Adai Dosa : Heat dosa tawa pour 2 laddles of batter and spread it slightly thin like shown.
- Spread it slightly thin.
- Drizzle oil and cook until it turns golden.
- Flip over and press slightly cook for 2 mins.
- Flip over fold and serve!
Video
Notes
- If you want a more spicy version add 2 more red chillies while grinding.
- Grind it coarsely not too smooth. Once the batter is ready you can make your adais right away. We usually grind it noon to make it for dinner and keep the extra remaining batter till next day morning(keeping it refrigerated)
- You can also spread the batter even more thicker. We prefer this way to get crispy dosa style adais.
- You can also include a small piece of ginger while grinding.
Kavitha Bhargav
next time try with crushed jaggery instead of sugar. I am sure you will love it 🙂
Sharmilee! :)
@Kavitha : My friend suggested that but its not my kind…I love it with sugar and coconut chutney more 🙂
Divi
hi sharmi…u have so good blog with very delicious recipes.thank you for you good work and attractive photography. i made the adai same way…unbelievable that it matches with urs too. adding all dhal varieties equally gives this more crisp texture and also i grind all dhal,rice seperate and grind all the remaining in ur list together and mix with the dhal batter…
Divi
hi sharmi…ur recipes,blog design,photography-excellent. i am so happy to see that i cook adai the same way, the only change is i grind dhals, rice seperate and all other in ur list seperately. finally mix them. also try with equal amount of all dhal it makes them more crispy 🙂
Shobha
Perfect adais..so inviting..
Prathibha
I posted a version recently and have another one in my drafts..nice n protein packed dosa
APARNARAJESHKUMAR
loved it.. but actual combination for adai is jaggery and butter 🙂 the best …..
Divya Kudua
I love adai with coconut chutney too,looks lovely with the braided mat as background!
Torviewtoronto
dosa looks wonderful
Mélange
Wow..that's healthy tasty and flavorful..The color itself calls you there..Yummy.
runnergirlinthekitchen.blogspot.com
yummy… nice recipe very healthy! I loved the clicks
radha
I have it with crushed jaggery and chutney.
Prathima Rao
How I love adai too!!Protein packed breakfast..!! Loved ur version Sharmi…
Prathima Rao
Prats Corner
Suja Manoj
Healthy adai,looks so inviting.
Srimathi
I love adai. Beautifully presented.
Priya
One of my fav,love simply with spicy coconut chutney.
Ramya Bala
Adai looks fabulous…Even i love adai and only thin and crispy :)…I add kondaikadalai to the batter normally
Roshni
loved your presentation. if you have never tried with avial, highly recommend trying it… it just is so special
Shabitha Karthikeyan
I love Adai and I prepare it the same way. Nicely done !!
jeyashrisuresh
I always love adai with honey during my childhood days. without honey i will not touch the adai. Now a days i just have adai as it is. I always love this thin adais.Nice version of adai
saranya
hii lovely dosa.luv it.what can i use instead of raw rice? is thr any othr name.im now in canada,can i use any othr rice varity?
Sharmilee! :)
@Saranya : Raw rice is pacharisi in tamil. If you dont get it just go ahead with idli rice.
saranya
thnks sharmi:).ok, i will try
kalyani
Thanks for the recipie…gonna try tomorrow…is it fennel seeds or cumin seeds..?just a clarification
Sharmilee! :)
Yes it is fennel seeds only…
kavipriya
I have readymade dosa batter, can i just soak the dhals, grind and add it to the batter ..?
SHARMILEE J
Not really sure Kavipriya…but you can try for a small quantity and see
madhumitha
hi sharmi..ur reciepes are excellent and very simple to make.good photography too. i tried this adai and it came out very well. thanks a lot. i suggested this reciepes to many of them.
madhumitha
hi sharmi.. i tried this adai and it came out well.thanks.. ur reciepes are excellent, very simple and easy to make.good photography too.
meenasankari a
Hiiiii sharmi..recently i saw ur website through facebook and ur recipes are too good and i tried adai and tiffin sambar it came out very well…keep posting….
Pavithra
Hi Sharmi,
Thanks for the great recipe.
sriredmars
Good presentation Sharmi, Can i grind it in mixie or should do in grinder only?
SHARMILEE J
Grinder is best, but mixie will yield good adais too….
Ramanathan Kannappan
Should we need to soak red chill, fennel
SHARMILEE J
No need but if soaked it will be more easy to grind ….
Kaajal Bhawnani
Hey… Should we use yellow moong dal or green moong dal?
SHARMILEE J
It is yellow moong dal
Sophie's Blog
This looks great. Whats raw rice? I have idli rice and basmati rice. Can i mix those two?
SHARMILEE J
Raw rice is a type of rice we use for pongal, adai and such tiffin items…You can try replacing it with idli rice itself
Unknown
Tq u mam wonderful adais
Sakthi
Tried this and it came out nice!! 🙂
SHARMILA M
Hi sharmi how r u?/ im fine. Im very new to kitchen so im learning recopies from ur blog..So i like ur blog very much.. Thank you so much. Im glad to inform u that my name is sharmila..
PRIYADARSHINI R L
Hi sharmi.. Should I grind the onion with the batter or is it enough to mix the chopped onion with the batter?
Sharmilee J
Mix chopped onion with batter so that there is a crunch while eating 🙂
Sharmilee J
Sorry thats a typo have changed it
Mamtha
Fermentation is not required for this Adai dosa?
Sharmilee J
no not needed