South Asian crepes - NYT Crossword Clue

Introduction

Today's clue, "South Asian crepes," is a delightful culinary puzzle that tests your knowledge of world cuisine. It's a straightforward, definition-style clue that points to a specific and popular food item. Let's break down how to approach it.

Clue Analysis

The clue has two key components:

• "South Asian": This is our geographical anchor. It narrows down the possibilities to foods originating from countries like India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, etc.
• "crepes": This is the descriptive part. We're looking for something thin and pancake-like. The plural form "crepes" strongly suggests we're looking for a plural noun.

By combining these two pieces, the clue asks for the name of a thin, pancake-like food from South Asia.

Thinking Approaches

There are a few ways to tackle this clue:

1. Direct Knowledge: If you're a fan of Indian food, this might be an instant solve. The term "crepe" is a very common English description for this particular dish.
2. Word Association: Start by brainstorming South Asian flatbreads or pancakes. You might think of naan, roti, or paratha. However, these are generally thicker and more bread-like than a crepe. The clue's use of "crepe" points to something thinner and crispier. This distinction is key.
3. Using Crossings: If you're unsure, getting a few crossing letters can be a huge help. For a five-letter plural word, seeing a D at the beginning and an S at the end (D _ _ _ S) would make the answer much easier to spot for many solvers.

Background Context

The answer refers to a very popular dish originating from Southern India, though it's now enjoyed all over the world. A Dosa is a thin, savory pancake made from a fermented batter of rice and black lentils (urad dal). The batter is spread thinly on a hot griddle and cooked until crisp.

They can be served plain, often with chutneys and sambar (a lentil-based vegetable stew), or filled with various ingredients. The most famous variation is the masala dosa, which contains a filling of spiced potatoes.

Conclusion

This is a great example of a clue that broadens the cultural vocabulary of the solver. While it might be a gimme for some, for others it's a fun opportunity to learn about a delicious staple of South Asian cuisine. The phrasing is direct and fair, making it a solid clue for any day of the week.

Hints

1. Hint 1: These savory pancakes are a staple food primarily from the southern part of India.
2. Hint 2: They are typically made from a fermented batter of rice and lentils.
3. Hint 3: A popular version is filled with a spiced potato mixture and is known as a "masala" version.
4. Hint 4: The answer is the plural form of a four-letter word.