Wash rice well and soak in cold water at least 4 hours. Drain the rice and reserve the water. Place the rice, coconut and salt in a blender with 1/2 cup of the reserved water and blend to a fairly smooth consistency of heavy cream, adding up to 1-3/4 cups water to achieve the right consistency. The batter should feel a little gritty. The batter can be covered and refrigerated for a week. Bring to room temperature, add a few tablespoons of warm water and mix well before frying the dosas.

Lightly spray a nonstick griddle or frying pan with nonstick spray and heat it over medium-high heat. Mix the batter thoroughly and pour about 1/4 cup onto the hot surface. The batter should be thin enough to spread on its own. If it is too thick add a little water before making the next dosa. This is an irregularly shaped dosa. To make the shape more regular, fill in the irregularities with more batter. Spoon some oil on the edges and cover. Cook for 1 minute. Check it for doneness. Fold the dosa and serve immediately.

This recipe yields 10 dosas.

Each dosa: 187 calories; 242 mg sodium; 0 cholesterol; 11 grams fat; 7 grams saturated fat; 21 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams protein; 0.65 gram fiber.

Comments: This is a specialty of the Konkan region along India's west coast. It can be eaten with store-bought hot pickles, honey or date palm sugar syrup. Or you could pair it up with a curry or stew in place of bread or rice.