Masala Vada

Masala Vada Recipe

Ingredients  (Makes 10 – 12 vada)

1. Chana dal  – 1 cup

2. Rice flour – 2 – 3 tsp

    Pearl onions – 5 – 6, thinly sliced

    Curry leaves – 3 – 4, chopped

    Coriander leaves – 3 tbsp, chopped

    Salt – To taste

3. Fennel seeds / perum jeerakam –  3/4 tsp

    Garlic – 2 medium-small cloves, roughly chopped

    Ginger – 1/2 inch piece, roughly chopped

    Dried red chilies – 2

4. Oil – To deep-fry

Method

1. Soak chana dal in enough water for at least 3 hrs. Drain well. Remove1.5 tbsp of this soaked dal to a bowl.

2. Coarsely grind ingredients numbered 3 and transfer to a large bowl.

3. Coarsely grind the chana dal in the small jar of a mixie or food processor in 1 – 2 batches, without adding any water. The transfer it to the large bowl. Add 1.5 tbsp soaked chana dal (that had been kept aside) and the ingredients numbered 2. Using your fingers, combine everything well. Make small lime-sized balls from this mixture and flatten them with your palms, like a vada.  Deep fry in oil until browned on both sides, about 5 – 7 minutes. Serve hot masala vada with tomato ketchup or coconut chutney.