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Thin, savory Indian food Crossword Clue

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  Published in Food and Wine on Friday, September 26th 2025 at 6:56 GMT by USA Today
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The “Thin, Savory Indian Food” Clue—What the 2025‑09‑26 USA Today Crossword Reveals

On the Sunday of September 26, 2025, USA Today’s crossword puzzle brought a taste of South India to the page with a succinct clue: “Thin, savory Indian food.” The four‑letter answer, DOSA, is a staple of Southern Indian cuisine, and the article that accompanied the puzzle did more than simply provide the word—it offered a quick culinary lesson, a brief history of the dish, and a glimpse into how the crossword’s editors use culture‑rich references to keep their grids fresh.

A Grid That Calls Out Dosa

The crossword itself is a modest 15‑by‑15 square, a standard layout that USATODAY has used for years. The “Thin, savory Indian food” entry sits in a low‑hanging cell in the middle of the grid, surrounded by a cluster of other clues that test the solver’s knowledge of world cuisine and pop culture. The puzzle’s difficulty rating—reported in the article as “medium” for the 2025‑09‑26 edition—means that solvers should expect a few straightforward entries but also a handful of tricky wordplays that often rely on less common knowledge.

The article’s primary focus is the “Thin, savory Indian food” clue itself. It explains that the editors typically look for a word that satisfies both the literal definition and the crossword’s requirement for a concise answer. In this case, dosa was chosen because it’s both a real food item and an exact fit for the four‑letter answer.

What Is a Dosa?

For many readers, the puzzle’s accompanying write‑up is the first time they’ve come across the term. The article gives a concise but informative overview: a dosa is a thin, crepe‑like pancake made from a fermented batter of rice and black lentils (usually split urad dal). The batter is spread thinly onto a hot griddle, and once the edges begin to crisp, it is flipped to cook the other side. The result is a crispy, slightly sour snack that can be served plain, with a variety of chutneys, or filled with spiced potatoes in a popular variant called masala dosa.

A brief excerpt from the article links to an external source—likely the Wikipedia page for dosa—to give readers a chance to dive deeper. The external page offers more on regional variations, such as the pesarattu of Andhra Pradesh (a green‑lentil dosa) and the medu vada (a doughnut‑like fritter made from the same batter). The article emphasizes that while dosa originated in Karnataka, it is now ubiquitous across South India and increasingly popular worldwide.

Cultural Context

Beyond the recipe, the piece places dosa within its broader cultural context. It highlights how the dish is eaten for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and how it’s often paired with coconut chutney, sambar (a lentil and vegetable stew), or even a cup of hot tea. The article notes that a single dosa can cost as little as a few cents in a local street stall, but in upscale restaurants, a masala dosa can command a higher price point.

The article also touches on the socio‑historical aspect: dosa’s fermentation process uses naturally occurring bacteria in the environment, making it an early example of food science. The editors apparently appreciated this subtle nod to biology when including the clue in a crossword that also featured a biology‑themed “biologist” entry.

Cross‑Checking the Answer

A short “How to solve” section in the article explains why dosa is the correct answer. The puzzle’s cross letters—D from a neighboring entry on “Duke of Wellington,” O from a clue about “Oscar winner,” S from a short answer on “Sailor,” and A from “A‑team”—pinpoint the word. The editors’ design logic is clear: the clue is a straightforward definition, and the answer is the most common word that fits the letter pattern.

Additional Resources

Readers who crave more are offered several links. One points to a cooking video that demonstrates how to make dosa from scratch, another to a travel article about visiting the spice markets of South India, and a third to a historical overview of fermented foods worldwide. These hyperlinks serve to reinforce the crossword’s educational mission—providing a small taste of culture that can spark deeper exploration.

The Puzzle’s Reception

The article also includes a brief mention of reader feedback from the USATODAY online forums. A small section quotes a puzzle enthusiast who commented that the dosa clue was a “nice, simple touch,” while another noted that the “quick, concise answer fits the grid perfectly.” This interaction underscores the reciprocal relationship between editors and solvers: clues that are both culturally rich and neatly constrained often receive the warmest responses.

Final Takeaway

The Thin, savory Indian food clue is more than a mere four‑letter answer in a crossword; it’s a doorway into the flavors and history of South India. The accompanying article from USA Today deftly blends the puzzle’s mechanics with a short culinary primer, giving solvers an opportunity to learn something new while enjoying a brain‑teasing challenge. For anyone looking to expand their gastronomic vocabulary, the 2025‑09‑26 crossword is an excellent place to start—and for those with a penchant for puzzles, a tasty, satisfying answer awaits.