In a large bowl, mix together the idli rice and Basmati rice. Wash in plenty of cold water, changing the water 3-4 times. Top the bowl up with enough cold water to cover the surface of the rice by 3-4 centimetres. It doesn't matter exactly how much, just make sure it's plenty as the rice will bloat and absorb the water as it soaks. Cover the bowl and allow to soak for 6-8 hours.

In a separate large bowl, mix the urad daal and fenugreek seeds. Repeat the washing process, changing out the water 3-4 times. Top the bowl up with enough cold water to cover the surface of the daal by 3-4 centimetres. It doesn't matter exactly how much, just make sure it's plenty as the daal will also absorb the water as it soaks. Cover the bowl and allow to soak for 6-8 hours.

Drain both the rice and the daal. Reserve about 100ml soaking liquid from each. Keep the rice and daal separate at this stage.

In a high-powered blender or wet grinder, grind the rice until it is of a flowing consistency, still with some very fine grains. You might need to scrape the blender down between blitzes to ensure even blade time. Do not add too much water. If your blender is struggling, add a tablespoon of water at a time. The aim of the game is to add as little water as possible. The batter should feel like very fine grains of salt when the batter is rubbed between the thumb and forefinger. If you're a visual learner, watch my recipe video to see the exact consistency required. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl.

Next, grind the daal and methi mix, along with the poha. This time, you're looking for a very smooth batter with no gritty feeling when rubbed between the thumb and forefinger. Add this to the bowl along with the ground rice batter. Again, try to add as little water as possible whilst grinding.

Use your fingers to whip the batters together until well combined. Cover tightly and keep the bowl in a warm place for 8-12 hours, until bubbly, risen and fermented. You will be able to smell when it's done (it will have a sour, beer-like smell). If you keep the bowl somewhere cooler, the batter will take much longer to ferment so try to pick a very warm spot. Also, ensure your bowl is deep enough as the batter will rise up and overflow in a small bowl.

Once the mixture has fermented. add salt. Do not add salt prior to the batter reaching the correct stage as it will delay the fermentation process. For the total amount of batter, I added about 1 ½ tsp salt but start off with less and taste before adding more. This is a personal choice.

Adjust the consistency of the batter with a little bit of fresh water at a time. Beat with a ladle and check if it is of a thick, flowing consistency. Again, please refer to the video if you're not sure what I mean by this. When dropping the batter from a height it should billow off the ladle and flow like lava, slowed by the air bubbles inside. This is why it's important not to add too much water when grinding; You can always add water, but you can't take it out. The flavour and smell should be a happy kind of sour.

Congrats, your dosa batter is now ready. Keep it covered and at room temperature until you're ready to use it. If you're not using it on the same day, you can also store it in the fridge for up to 3 weeks. It will become more sour over time, which adds to the delicious flavour.

To make the paneer masala dosa filling: Heat the ghee or oil in a large non-stick pan. Add the paneer and sauté on all sides until lightly golden brown. Be careful as it can splutter. Once golden, remove the paneer from the pan and place into a colander to while you prepare the rest of the curry.

Into the remaining ghee or oil, add the cumin seeds, black pepper, asafoetida, ginger, garlic, chillies, curry leaves, coriander and onions. Sauté for 4-5 minutes over a low heat, until the onions soft and begin to caramelise around the edges.

Add the tomato, turmeric, garam masala and salt. Cook for another 2-3 minutes, until the tomatoes soften. Mash them down with a spoon as they cook to create a thick paste. If you notice the mixture begins to burn, add a small splash of water. Mix until you start seeing ghee or oil separating at the sides of the pan.

Finally, return the fried paneer to the pan and mix to coat all the pieces in the masalas. Continue to cook and heat through for 1-2 minutes. Sprinkle with additional coriander (optional) and serve.To cook the Paneer Masala Dosa

For cooking Paneer Masala Dosa, a large, flat tawa is preferable. Cast iron and anodised aluminium will give you the most golden finish, but they can be tricky to work with (the dosa can stick if the pan isn't properly seasoned). In any case, ensure cast iron is very well seasoned if you choose to use it. I use cast iron and anodised aluminium interchangeably. You can also make the dosa in a non-stick frying pan but the colour may not be quite as golden brown. Do not use ceramic-coated pans or stainless steel. Make the dosa as big or as small as you like. Start small if this is your first go.

Heat the pan until it's smoking hot, a few minutes will do. Turn the heat down and flick it with some water to temper the heat. The water should sizzle and evaporate quickly. Rub the pan with an onion half dipped in oil (poke it onto a fork if you like). This is said to add flavour and stop the dosa from sticking. You can also just wipe the pan quickly with a paper towel dipped in oil.

Pour the batter: Using a ladle, pour a spoonful of dosa batter on the tawa's hot surface. Start from the centre of the tawa and use the ladle to spread the dosa batter thinly and evenly, in a circular motion.

Add a teaspoon of oil around the sides of the dosa and on top of it. This will help to cook the dosa evenly, with a golden brown colour and also prevent it from sticking to the tawa. Cook over a medium-low heat for 3-4 minutes for the crispiest dosa.

Once you spot the dosa starting to brown, the edges should start lifting away from the pan. If using cast iron or anodised aluminium, you might need to help it along using a spatula. Try not to prise the dosa from the pan - it will tell you when its ready by coming away by itself.

Spoon some of the paneer masala filling on top of the dosa and carefully begin to roll it into a cylinder. The underneath should reveal a beautiful golden brown colour. Remove the rolled masala dosa from the tawa and serve immediately with coconut chutney and sambar.

Repeat the process for the remaining batter, wiping the pan with a lightly-oiled paper towel or cut onion each time. Remember to heat the pan sufficiently each time. Keep the dosas warm in a low oven for 15-20 minutes if you need to. Any longer and they will dry out.