Chettinad Dosa: A Spicy South Indian Delight From Tamil Nadu

By Shreya Sarpal

August 26, 2025

Chettinad dosa is a crispy South Indian delicacy stuffed with a fiery masala made from onions, tomatoes, curry leaves, and bold Chettinad spices like fennel, pepper, and red chillies. Perfect with chutney or sambar, it’s a true spicy delight.

Ingredients

2 cups dosa batter 1 chopped onion 1 chopped tomato 1 tsp ginger-garlic paste 2–3 dry red chillies 1 tsp fennel seeds ½ tsp black pepper Curry leaves coriander leaves Spices: ½ tsp turmeric 1 tsp chilli powder 1 tsp coriander powder Salt as required Oil as required

Step 1

Heat oil in a pan, add fennel seeds, pepper, dry red chillies, curry leaves, and sauté until aromatic.

Step 2

Add chopped onions and fry until golden, then mix in the ginger garlic paste.

Step 3

Stir in chopped tomato, turmeric, chilli powder, coriander powder, salt and cook till the masala releases oil.

Step 4

On a hot tawa, spread dosa batter, drizzle oil, and cook till it turns crispy.

Step 5

Spread chettinad masala filling over the dosa, fold, and serve hot with chutney or sambar.