They say the best cooking comes out of planning with little or no ingredients in the pantry with little time left…and this was just the case with me. I had a big bunch of cauliflower florets and dosa batter and I was wondering If I should try and make a spicy masaal for dosa. I had no potatoes so I knew I pretty much had no luck there! If there was any hope of making any filling with the cauliflower I had to mash it up. I also needed some form of a binding agent so I knew tomatoes…I remember having cauliflower masal with pieces of cashews dunked in them but decided to make it in to a paste. Armed with this basic knowledge and inspired feverishly by Anu I attempted this spicy Cauliflower Dosa and I was in heaven. The masal as it gets cooked smells so amazing that I couldn’t wait to taste it on the dosas! Tasted even more amazing the next day as a filling for sandwiches! Its an amazing side for rotis and parathas….Try it and then  there is no looking back…I mean really…

INGREDIENTS:

1 Cup Finely chopped Onions.

2 Medium Vine Tomatoes chopped finely.

1-1 1/2 Cups Shredded Cauliflower.

8 Pods Garlic peeled and cut in half lengthwise.

2 Tsp Ginger.

1 Green Chilies slit lengthwise.

Curry Leaves.

1/4  Tsp Turmeric.

1/2 Tsp Red Chilli Powder.

1/2 Tsp Dhania Powder.

1 Tsp Sambar Powder.

1 Tsp Rasam Powder.

1 Tbsp Cashew ground to a powder.

Salt.

Seasoning:

Mustard, Curry Leaves, 1 Tsp Cumin Seeds, 3 Red Chilies.

PREPARATION:

• In a flat bottomed pan, add 2 tsp of oil and when hot pop in mustard seeds and cumin. When they splutter away to glory add in the red chilies, curry leaves and the hing.
• Now add the flavorings  – Garlic, Ginger, and saute well until the garlic turns a dull brown.
• Keep your flame on medium low so that the garlic does not burn.
• Toss the diced onions and wait until they turn translucent ,  follow up  with chopped tomatoes and the cashew paste.
• Give it a good mix.
• Now add the shredded cauliflower to the kadai and mix well.
• Spices form the base for the defined taste of this masaala filling  and we add all of them next –  Turmeric, Red Chilli Powder, Sambar Powder, Rasam Powder and salt.
• Stir in all the spice powders and allow to cook well until the contents turn mushy.
• Pick out your favorite ladle or masher and mash the  contents well until they fuse to form a homogeneous mixture.
• The onions, chilies, cauliflower and the tomatoes simply become one mushy goodness!
• Add a spoon of ghee at this stage and allow it to complete the cooking. I found that adding the ghee at this point completely enhances the flavor to a different level!!!
• Garnish with chopped cilantro and transfer to an air tight vessel.
• This is a great filling for Dosa, chappatis and parottas, or bread to make yummy sandwiches.

ASSEMBLING THE MASAAL DOSA:

1. Keep the dosa batter ready and turn on the tava and grease the tava pan.
2. With the help of a dosa ladle or a little cup. scoop out a portion of the batter and slowly spread the dosa to a thin layer. This is important as we do not turn it around and cook it on the other side.
3. Add oil or ghee and immediately spread out the cauliflower masala as a thin layer over the dosa.
4. Allow a couple minutes to cook and gently pry  out the dosa. Fold it in half and serve on the platter with delicious Andhra Tomato Chutney or Coconut Chutney.