Onion Rava Dosa recipe with step by step photos. Onion rava dosa is one of the most popular breakfast recipes across South India. This is an instant dosa variety that can be made in a jiffy as there is no need to soak or grind any of the ingredients.
Onion Rava Dosa also happens to be one of the most ordered recipe at any hotel for breakfast as they serve it thin and crisp like paper roast with 3 types of chutneys and sambar.
The juicy and succulent onions that you bite in between lends a sweet tinge while its also mildly spicy and flavorsome from the green chilies and whole spices we add to the batter.
My Grandma uses the buttermilk that is left out after churning butter from the curd to make the batter without wasting it instead of using water. We do not drink that buttermilk as it is without any flavor and is also not that tasty to drink. But I use just water as I do not get milk that is rich enough to get butter.
I avoid curry leaves as my kids complain of having to pick them out from Dosa. So first I make dosas for them and then add the freshly torn leaves while I make dosas for myself and the husband.
Our Favorite Video:
I also add finely chopped onions only on top of the dosa. I have seen people sprinkling onion first on the pan and then pouring the batter over them. While both comes out well and tastes the same, in the second method you have to clean the pan of onion pieces that might stick to the pan.
To get crispy & lacy onion rava dosa:
1. Do not grease the pan prior to pouring the batter on to the pan.
2. After you take off one dosa from the pan, wait for the pan to get hot, splash water and then pour the batter. This will make crispy, lacy, paper thin dosas.
3. Make dosas immediately after making the batter. The rava in the batter will keep absorbing water and the more you rest the batter, the more thick it will get.
4. If the batter becomes thick, dilute with enough water and adjust salt accordingly.
5. Since the batter is very thin, the water will stand on top and all the main ingredients will get settled at the bottom. So, mix the batter from the bottom every time before you make a dosa.
You can also check out this other Instant breakfast recipes:
Oats Idli
Ragi Adai
Aval Puttu
Onion Rava Dosa with stepwise photos:
1. In a mixing bowl, mix together rava, rice flour, maida, salt together. Add 4 to 4-1/2 cups water and make a thin batter without any lumps.
2. Add finely chopped green chilies, cumin seeds, black pepper corns, curry leaves (if using)and mix well. If the batter is not thin enough, add more water. Check and adjust salt.
3. Heat a tawa pan or girdle and let it become hot. Scoop some water in your palm and splash it on the pan. The water droplets with sizzle and the pan will dry out. Immediately pour the thin batter in a circular motion. Do not level the top using ladle but fill out the gaps by pouring the batter.
4. Sprinkle onions on top and drizzle a few drops of oil around the dosa. Cook over low flame till it turns crisp.
5. No need to flip it. Just fold in and transfer to a plate. Serve this onion rava dosa piping hot with coconut chutney and sambar.
Onion Rava Dosa Recipe details below:

Onion Rava Dosa Recipe – Instant Onion Rava Dosa Recipe
Ingredients
- Rava or Sooji - 1/2 cup
- Rice flour – 1/2 cup
- All purpose flour or Maida - 1/4 cup
- Cumin seeds – 1 tsp
- Whole black pepper corns – 1/2 tsp
- Onion - 1 finely chopped
- Green chilies - 1 finely chopped
- Ginger - 1/2 tbsp grated
- Curry leaves – 1 sprig torn
- Salt – to taste
- Oil – 2 tbsp
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, mix together rava, rice flour, maida, salt together. Add enough water to make a thin batter of running consistency without any lumps.
- Add finely chopped green chilies, cumin seeds, black pepper corns, ginger, curry leaves (if using)and mix well. If the batter is not thin enough, add more water. Check and adjust salt.
- Heat a tawa pan or girdle and let it become hot. Scoop some water in your palm and splash it on the pan. The water droplets will sizzle and the pan will dry out. Simmer the flame to medium.
- Sprinkle chopped onion evenly over the hot pan.
- Immediately pour the thin batter in a circular motion on top of the onions with a cup. Do not level the top using ladle but just fill out the gaps by pouring the batter.
- Drizzle a few drops of oil evenly around the dosa. Cook over medium low flame till it turns crisp. No need to flip it. Just fold it and transfer to a plate.
- Serve this onion rava dosa piping hot with coconut chutney and sambar.

one of my favorites that I always order at Sarvanan bhavan.. :o)
so crispy so perfectly done!!! love the first pic!!
Perfectly made dosa.. looks tempting!!
Very yummy and beautiful dosa !
This sounds very good.
Wow ! mouth watering here.
yes you right
I m so craving for this right now. Scrumptious and crispy 🙂
Very nice and yummy dosa..
Love this recipe! I have tried rava dosai before but never got those typical hotel like texture with holes! love your presentation
I really Love this recipe as this is my favourite dish…Thanks for posting it…
Excellent recipe , very nice I am so happy.
Very Testy & yummy dosa also time consuming & instant breakfast for all working woman or housewife …
Thanks
Nice easy and yummy thanks
Delightful and a quick version of rava dosa
Steps are as easy as 1,2 & 3 and the results – Just Outstanding!!!! My first attempt in making rava dosa and my husband just loved it. Thank You Radhika.
Full proof recipe!!! Tried it today.. got perfect dosas!! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much Anubha, for your lovely feedback. Glad you liked it.
wow easy & yummy rava dosa.