A Guide to Karnataka-Style Dosas: Benne, Mulbagal, Set and More

Ask for “a dosa” in Karnataka and the next question is always “which one?”. The same fermented rice-and-lentil batter turns into very different dishes depending on how thick it is poured, what fat goes on the griddle and what gets spread inside. Here is a quick guide to the dosas we make at Soody’s.

Benne Dosa

Benne means butter in Kannada, and this dosa comes from Davangere in central Karnataka. It is smaller and thicker than the dosa most people in Delhi NCR grew up with: crisp and golden on the outside, soft in the middle. It is the one we would hand to a first-time visitor.

Mulbagal Dosa

Named after the town of Mulbagal in Kolar district. The batter is poured thick in the centre and thin at the edge, so you get a soft, almost cake-like middle with a crisp, lacy rim. We make ours with ghee.

Set Dosa

Small, soft and spongy, served as a set rather than one large crisp sheet. There is nothing crunchy about it, and that is the point. It soaks up chutney and saagu beautifully and is the gentlest option for children.

Mysore Dosa and Podi Masala Dosa

Both add heat on the inside. A Mysore dosa is spread with a red chutney before it is folded. A podi masala dosa is dusted with podi, a dry roasted lentil-and-chilli powder, over the potato filling.

Rava Dosa

Made from semolina instead of the usual ground batter, and poured thin so it sets into a brittle, net-like crisp. Eat it straight away; it does not wait.

Paper Masala Dosa and Ghee Roast

The showpieces. A paper masala dosa is spread as thin as the griddle allows and arrives longer than the plate. A ghee roast is cooked slowly in ghee until it is deep brown and shatters when you break it.

Jini Dosa

The odd one out: a Mumbai street-food invention, stuffed, rolled and sliced into rounds. Order it for the table to share.

Which one first?

• New to all of this: Benne Dosa.
• You like it crisp: Paper Masala Dosa or Rava Dosa.
• You like it soft: Set Dosa or Mulbagal Dosa.
• You like it spicy: Mysore Dosa or Podi Masala Dosa.

See every dosa with prices on our menu, or come and try them at our Gurgaon outlets in Sector 74, Sector 30 and DLF Phase 3.