'Millet' Pesarattu / Proso Millet - Green Gram Dosa / Varigula Pesarattu

Green gram / mung beans are called pesalu / pesarapappu and dosa is attu in Telugu language. Basically pesarattu are green gram dosas which need soaking and grinding but no fermentation. If ingredients are soaked overnight then the batter can be ground in a mixer / bender in about 5 minutes for the morning breakfast. Or the batter can be ground ahead and refrigerated for a convenient meal anytime of the day. These are quite healthier since they are legume based and are protein rich. These dosas from Andhra are made with mostly green gram alone with out adding split black gram (urad dal) or rice, the common ingredients of a dosa preparation. At most a spoonful of rice is added to the green gram in a standard traditional recipe.

 I haven't seen anyone in either side of our families getting enthusiastic over a stack of pesarattu though pesarattu seems to top when searching for Andhra cuisine online. However the combo of pesarattu, upma and allam pachadi / ginger chutney really tastes good and an ideal one if looking for a healthy, nutritious and filling breakfast or a meal.  My husband is not a great fan of pesarattu prepared with green gram alone and I tend to add some rice / millet as well to the batter and serve it along with some spicy - sweet ginger chutney which is a classic combo. 

I added proso millet in today's recipe but any other kind like barnyard, foxtail, little millet or kodo millet works too. Or rice can be substituted in place of millet. One way to enjoy these pesarattu is to make them thinner and cook longer to make them crispier. 

Ingredients: (Yield 10 dosas)
1/2 cup proso millet
1/2 cup green gram
1 inch piece of ginger
2 green chillies
1 tsp. cumin seeds
Salt to taste
1/8 tsp. turmeric powder (optional)
Oil to make dosas

Directions:
* Soak millet and green gram in water overnight or for at least 3 hours.

* Drain the water and rinse them once with fresh water. Grind the drained millet, green gram, ginger, green chillies and cumin to a smooth batter, adding about a cup of water.

* Transfer the ground batter to a bowl and add salt and turmeric to it. Mix well to combine using a ladle.
* Heat a tawa / skillet. To check whether the skillet is hot, sprinkle some water over the hot pan. If it sizzles and evaporates, then the skillet is ready to make dosas. If not, heat the skillet a little more but don't bring it to a smoking point.
* Pour a ladleful of batter at the center and spread it into a thin circle. Add 1/2 tsp. of oil around the edges. Flip it when the surface appears dry. Let it cook the other side as well, about a minute or so and then remove.

* Repeat the steps with remaining batter.
* Serve the dosas piping hot with ginger chutney or any spicy chutney. They taste good when they are hot.

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