: A Spiced Lentil Fritter Fit For Indulgent Mornings
280 mins
Cooking Time
Easy
Difficulty
9
Ingredients
Vegan
Diet
Vada, or medu vada, is the perfect dish to add to your plate when you’re looking to start your morning on an indulgent note. These are spiced lentil fritters, often served as a side with idli, dosa, uttapam, or other South Indian breakfast items. It’s also a popular addition to school lunches. Shaped like doughnuts but savory in nature, these fried snacks are a favourite across India.
Rinse the dal thoroughly before adding it to a bowl. Soak it in water for at least 4 to 5 hours.
Description - Step 2
Make the batter
Drain the water from the dal. Add the soaked and drained dal into a grinder along with 3 tbsp of water and a little salt. Grind this into a coarse, thick batter. You will have to scrape the batter from the sides, and if required, sprinkle a few tablespoons of water when grinding. This ensures the batter is fluffy and not sticky.
Description - Step 3
Test the batter
Transfer the batter to a bowl and beat for a minute till air pockets are formed. Test if the batter is aerated by dropping a small ball of the batter in a bowl of water. If the ball floats, the batter is ready. Now, add the onions and spices and mix well.
Description - Step 4
Heat the oil
Take a deep, heavy-bottomed kadai or pan and heat oil in it on medium heat. Drop a small amount of batter to check if the oil is hot.
Description - Step 5
Make the raw vadas
As the oil starts heating, moisten your fingers with oil, take the batter and shape it into round balls. Slightly flatten the ball and, using your thumb, make a hole in the centre. Make sure your thumb and fingers are moistened so the batter does not stick. Place these vadas on a greased sheet.
Description - Step 6
Cook the vada
Now that the oil is hot, gently add the vadas one by one into the kadai. Fry the vadas till they turn golden brown and crispy. Cook in batches, if needed, but don’t overcrowd the kadai. Once the vada is fried, remove it to a plate lined with paper. This will drain the excess oil. Serve vadas hot.
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Indian
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