Neer dosa is a popular Mangalorean breakfast made with rice and salt. Neer means water in tulu & Dosa refers to a traditional crepe from South India. So Neer dosa refers to a dosa that is made with batter of neer consistency i.e water consistency. Unlike the other versions of South Indian dosa, this dosa is made without any lentils and needs no fermentation. It is made with just 3 ingredients – rice, salt and water.

Neer dosa is eaten for breakfast, lunch or anytime with a chutney or curries including the non-vegetarian dishes like fish, egg or Chicken curry. Neer dosa is very light and is best served with a curry if eating for a meal.
Traditionally neer dosa is made on cast iron tawa, but I have made it on a non stick pan. Grease the tawa well every time before pouring the batter. Since these dosas are not cooked with oil the tawa turns dry.
You may like to check these Dosa Recipes and Chutney Recipes.
Preparation for making neer dosa
1. Wash rice thrice in a large pot. Soak it for 4 hours to overnight.

2. Drain the water and add rice to a blender jar. If you have soaked it overnight, give a good rinse first. Drain the water and add it to the blender jar. Pour about 3/4 cup fresh water.

3. Blend it to a smooth batter.

4. Transfer to a bowl and add salt.

5. Add more water to bring it to a thin consistency.

6. The batter must be similar to thin buttermilk. Add more water as needed to bring it to the consistency. I used about 1 & 1/2 to 1 & 3/4 cups water for blending and to bring it to consistency. Set this aside.

How to make neer dosa
7. Heat a pan and drizzle few drops of oil. Using a slice of onions, spread the oil to the pan. Wipe off the excess. You can also skip rubbing with onion and just spread the oil with tissue. You will need to repeat this process before making each dosa.

8. Make sure the pan is hot. We are not going to spread the batter but just pour it like the rava dosa batter. Stir the batter well. Take a ladle full of batter and begin to pour on the tawa all over starting from the edge of the pan.

9. Do not bother much about the shape.

10. Quickly tilt the pan to a side to spread the excess batter.

11. Take some more batter and fill in the gaps.

12. Cover the pan and cook for 2 mins on a medium to high heat.

13. When the dosa is done, you will see the edges slightly leave the pan. Neer dosa is not flipped and cooked to keep it soft.

14. Transfer it to a serving plate. Allow it to cool down for 30 seconds before folding otherwise both the sides will stick up together.

15. Fold it to half.

16. Then to triangle.

To repeat making dosa, grease the pan, stir the batter well before pouring. If needed you can add more water.
Serve neer dosa with chutney or any gravy.

You may like to check these
Poori recipe
Mysore bonda
Medu vada

Neer dosa recipe | How to make neer dosa | Neer dose recipe
For best results follow the step-by-step photos above the recipe card
Ingredients (1 cup = 240ml )
Ingredients for neer dosa
- 1 cup rice (any aged rice)
- salt as needed
- 1 ½ to 1¾ cups water (use more if needed)
- Oil for greasing
Instructions
Preparation for Neer dosa
- Wash rice a few times until the water runs clear.
- Soak it in water for at least 4 hours to overnight.
- Drain the water and rinse well if soaked for over night.
- Add the rice to a blender jar and pour 1 cup water.
- Blend until smooth. Transfer to a batter bowl.
- Add salt and another 1/2 cup water.
- Mix well and check the consistency. It has to be like thin or watery. Add more water if needed.
How to make Neer dosa
- Heat a pan and drizzle few drops of oil. Using a kitchen tissue or a piece of onion smear the oil all over the pan. Wipe off excess oil with a kitchen tissue.
- When the pan is hot enough, stir the batter well from the bottom.
- Take a ladle full of batter and pour it over the tawa in a circle. Tilt the pan to spread the excess batter all over. Do not spread the batter like regular dosa batter.
- Fill any gaps in the dosa to make it even.
- Cover it with a lid and cook for 2 to 3 mins until the top part turns non sticky meaning it is cooked.
- Continue to cook until you see the sides come off easily from the pan.
- Take the dosa to a plate and allow to cool for 30 secs to a min and then fold it to halve and then to triangle.
- Serve neer dosa with chutney or curry.
- To make next dosa, repeat greasing the pan with oil and then wipe off the excess.
- Stir the batter every time you make a fresh neer dosa as the botton part of the batter will be thick.
Notes
Alternative quantities provided in the recipe card are for 1x only, original recipe.
For best results follow my detailed step-by-step photo instructions and tips above the recipe card.
Video
Video of Neer dosa recipe
NUTRITION INFO (estimation only)
© Swasthi’s Recipes

Era says
Very helpful…
swasthi says
Thank you
Lira Dā Mello says
Loved your recipe Swasthi. I enjoy trying out good food recipes – and yours look good.
swasthi says
Hi Lira D’Mello
Thank you so much!
Glad you like the recipe
Nidhi bhanushali says
Hi swasthi I tried out this neer dosa receipe but it didn’t come out as good , may be u need more practise for the same before j introduce it to the adult foodies in my family,,, pls let me know what can u do with the leftover rice batter ,, I hv atleast about a cup of batter left about240 ml ..pls revert to me as I don’t want to just throw it…
swasthi says
Hi Nidhi,
The trick to make good neer dosas is in making the batter correctly with right consistency. Hope you read my notes for those trying these first time. It did take a few trails for me as well to get them right. You can refrigerate the batter. Before you make the dosas with the batter, check for the consistency and add more water. I usually add a lot again. Also take a look at my video to understand better. Hope this helps
PAVITHRA says
Hi swathi
I made neer dosa receipe with kara chutney its really so tasty thanks for post this receipe please post like this different receipes. And thank you
swasthi says
Hi Pavithra,
Glad you liked the neer dosa. Thank you! Yes sure will keep posting.
Sujatha ravi says
I made in the same method the beer dosa is very Krispy and sticky to the tawa only
swasthi says
Hi Sujatha,
Not sure where you went wrong. You should grease the tawa very well and cook for longer.
Sunitha says
Hi swasthi,
Nice recipe….may I know which type of rice you have used..? Is it raw rice or parboiled rice..
swasthi says
Hi Sunitha,
I have tried with aged ponni raw rice, parboiled ponni rice and even with raw sona masuri. But idli dosa rice didn’t work out for me.Hope you enjoy making neer dosa.
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Sunitha says
Thanks for the quick reply…I shall try the recipe and let you know the results…:)
Swathi says
I love ur site an ur recipes š Great explanations. Wonderful pics.
Shravani says
Hi Swasthi
I tried these neer dosa for dinner. They turned out awesome with chettinad egg curry. Thank you so much for the easy recipes.
swasthi says
Welcome Shravani
Thanks for the comment
Varsha j says
Which is that chutney in picture with neera dosa
swasthi says
Hi Varsha
It is a red coconut chutney. I have shared here in this coconut chutney recipes post
Swapna says
Hi mam!How r u.i tried this recipe and it is good. Mam can you share egg puf without oven
swasthi says
Hi Swapna,
I am good. Thanks for asking. Yes I noted your request for egg puff without oven. I will share it.
Gulshad says
Hey swasti
I made ur neer dosa, cooker cake and many recipes. All came very well. Thank you for the recipes. Can you pls give me a recipe of chocolate cake with egg to make in cooker.
swasthi says
Welcome Gulshad
Thanks a lot for all the comments. Yes I will try to share