Onion Podi Uthappam – Chennai Style Street Food with a Mr. Desi Twist 

If you've ever eaten in a busy tiffin shop in Chennai, you already know how addictive that onion podi uthappam is 😍

Thick, soft, golden-bottom uthappam... sprinkled with juicy onions and our homemade spicy garlic podi... sizzled in ghee till it turns crisp. Oof, that aroma alone makes you hungry again 😋

This version is inspired by a cookery show and also a secret hit from a small shop in Chennai. Of course, they didn’t share the real podi recipe — so we tried our own version. And guess what? It came out spicy, smoky, garlicky, and 100% Mr. Desi-approved. 💯

 Ingredients You’ll Need:

 For the Garlic Podi:

• Channa dal – ¼ cup

• Toor dal – 2 tbsp

• Urad dal – ¼ cup

• Moong dal – 1 tbsp

• Red chillies – 7 to 8

• Sesame seeds – 2 tbsp

• Curry leaves – 4 to 5 sprigs

• Garlic – 6 to 7 fat cloves

• Salt – 1 tsp (or as per taste)

• Oil – 2 tsp

 For the Uthappam:

• Dosa batter – 3 cups

• Finely chopped onions – 2 (medium size)

• Finely chopped coriander + curry leaves – handful

• Ghee – as needed

How to Make Onion Podi Uthappam:

🔸 Step 1: Make the Garlic Podi

1. Heat ½ tsp oil and roast all the dals + red chillies until golden.

2. Remove and set aside. Fry curry leaves till crisp. Remove.

3. Roast sesame seeds just till they pop.

4. Lightly crush garlic, fry for a minute, and set aside.

5. Let everything cool.

6. In a mixer, first grind chillies + curry leaves + salt.

7. Then add dals + sesame, grind coarsely.

8. Lastly, add garlic and just pulse – don’t make it into paste!

9. Your spicy garlic podi is ready 😍

🔸 Step 2: Prep Uthappam

1. Adjust dosa batter consistency (should be slightly thick).

2. Mix chopped onion, coriander, and curry leaves together.

3. Heat dosa tawa and smear a drop of oil.

4. Pour one ladle batter – keep it slightly thick, not like dosa.

5. Sprinkle onion mix + generous garlic podi.

6. Press lightly. Drizzle ghee all around.

7. Cook till bottom is golden. Flip gently.

8. Add more ghee and cook the other side for a min.

9. Remove when both sides are crisp and cooked.

What to Serve With It?

We love it with mint chutney and onion-coriander chutney. But hey, pair it with whatever you love – coconut chutney, tomato thokku, even curd works!

Mr. Desi Pro Tip:

Don't grind garlic too much. The chunky bits give that spicy kick in every bite. And don’t skip the ghee. Ghee makes it golden, rich, and next-level tasty 😋

Final Thoughts

This Onion Podi Uthappam is perfect for those weekend brunch cravings or to impress guests with real Tamil Nadu tiffin shop vibes!

Try it once, and you’ll be hooked 🔥