Urad dal vada

Urad vada is a snack which takes effort and time.

Getting the right batter, the consistency and shaping the vadas all require patience and the right techniques.

Urad dal vada/uzhunnu vada

Ingredients

1 cup whole urad dal

2 green chilies 

1tsp jeera/cumin seeds

1 medium onion 

Few springs of curry leaves

One slice of the grated ginger

Salt as required

Method

*Wash, soak whole urad dal for 4 hours. After 4 hours, remove excess water. Leave it in counter for half an hour.

* In a mixer jar add urad dal, green chilies, ginger, grind in pulse mode until soft and frothy.

*In a mixing bowl,add urad dal batter, finely chopped onion, cumin seeds,salt, use a spatula to mix in. Keep aside.

* In a bowl keep water, a small cup with a little oil, a clean tea strainer ready.

* In a thick iron pan, pour peanut oil, allow it to heat, reduce medium flame.

*Dip your hands in water, then wet your finger tips with oil, apply a little oil on the backside of the strainer.

*Take a small ball of urad dal batter, place it on the tea strainer. Shape it using fingers, place a small hole in the middle.

* Gently tap the strainer into the oil, let the vada release into the oil, fry it using a perforated ladle.

*Cook and flip both sides and fry till golden brown.

*Remove the vadas in kitchen napkin, let the excess oil get absorbed.

*Serve the hot vadas in serving plates with sambar, chutney, tomato ketchup and freshly brewed coffee or masala tea.

*I am sure you will enjoy making urad vadas and your family will enjoy the crunchy, flavourful vadas.

Notes

*For better results use freshly bought good quality urad dal.

*I have grounded the batter and left half portion of the batter  in the fridge. You can try making urad vadas in two batches if you want. But make sure you don't add onion and other ingredients, while storing in the refrigerator.

*One batch when freshly ground, then keep rest of the batter in refrigerator and make it the next day. Both tastes good. 

Variation

Soaked Whole urad dal, avarakkai sprouted fresh seeds, green chillies, ginger, curry leaves, hand crushed pepper. Grind them all in grinder without adding water.

Today I made these yummilicious vadas for breakfast.