First time in MasterChef history. Vikas Khanna's New York restaurant to have Tejasswi Prakash’s winning dish dosa bombolini. Recipe here

Celebrity MasterChef is known for pushing contestants to their culinary limits, and this season has been no different. Among the standout competitors, Tejasswi Prakash has been grabbing headlines with her creative and innovative dishes, proving her prowess in the kitchen against strong contenders like Nikki Tamboli, Dipika Kakar Ibrahim, and Rajiv Adatia. However, it’s her recent South Indian take on the Italian Bombolini that has become the talk of the town.

In a recent challenge judged by renowned chefs Vikas Khanna, Ranveer Brar, and Farah Khan, Tejasswi secured a major win. The victory came with an extraordinary reward—her dish, Dosa Bombolini, will now be featured for a day on Chef Vikas Khanna’s anniversary menu at his Michelin-star restaurant, Bungalow, in New York. Additionally, she will receive 10 percent of the revenue generated from the dish, making it a win on multiple fronts.

Vikas Khanna recently shared the exciting news on social media, announcing that Tejasswi’s unique creation will be a part of the restaurant’s celebrations. This marks a historic moment for MasterChef, as it is the first time a contestant’s dish will be served at the prestigious establishment.

How did the internet react to the news?

Fans are ecstatic about Tejasswi Prakash’s big win on Celebrity MasterChef. Many expressed their joy and pride, celebrating her achievement and eagerly anticipating her dish’s debut at Vikas Khanna’s Michelin-star restaurant. Supporters praised the actress for her creativity, confidence, and ability to stand out in the competition.

However, some also pointed out the historical roots of her dish, Dosa Bombolini. One user highlighted that the dish closely resembles Kuli Paniyaram, a traditional Tamil delicacy from the Chettinad region. Concerns were raised about how renaming traditional dishes could lead to a loss of cultural identity and originality by catering to global trends.

What is Dosa Bombolini?

What is a Bombolini? Well, it’s a classic Italian dish which is a sweet doughnut filled with Italian cream. However, Tejasswi brought a South-Indian spin to this. She reinvented the dish with a savoury route, replacing the doughnut with South-Indian appams. Dosa Bombolini is hidden with vegetables, which swaps the traditional cream for a til (sesame) chutney. The dish is completed with a pumpkin gravy base. Now, this delicious recipe is all set to make its way to New York, where food-lovers will be able to taste it.

Recipe

This fusion dish blends the crispy texture of South Indian dosa with the stuffed goodness of Italian bombolini. Here’s an easy way to make it at home.

Ingredients:
For the Bombolini (Dosa Balls):
- 2 cups dosa batter
- ½ cup mixed finely chopped vegetables (carrot, capsicum, onion)
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- ½ tsp red chili powder
- Salt to taste
- Oil for frying

For the Filling:
- ½ cup coconut chutney or spiced mashed potatoes
- ¼ cup grated cheese (optional)

For the Pumpkin Gravy Base:
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- ½ cup coconut milk
- ½ tsp mustard seeds
- 1 tsp curry leaves
- ½ tsp turmeric powder
- ½ tsp red chili powder
- Salt to taste

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Dosa Bombolini:
- In a bowl, mix dosa batter with chopped vegetables, cumin, chili powder, and salt.
- Heat an appe pan (paniyaram pan) and grease it lightly.
- Pour small portions of the batter into the pan.
- Add a little chutney or mashed potato filling in the center of each.
- Cover with more batter and cook until golden brown, flipping occasionally.

2. Make the Pumpkin Gravy:
- Heat oil in a pan, add mustard seeds and curry leaves.
- Add pumpkin puree, coconut milk, turmeric, chili powder, and salt.
- Simmer for 5 minutes until thick.

3. Serve:
- Pour the pumpkin gravy onto a plate.
- Place the dosa bombolini on top and garnish with a sprinkle of til (sesame) chutney.