Vada Curry

Masala Vada

Serves : 15 medium sized Vadas
Soaking Time + Preparation Time : 3 hrs
Cooking Time : 15 mins
Cuisine : Tamil Nadu

Ingredients Needed:

Bengal Gram / Channa Dal - 1 cup (200 gms)
Onion - 1 big
Green Chilli - 2
Red Chilli - 2
Ginger - 1" (optional)
Coriander leaves - as desired
Fennel Seeds - 1 tsp
Salt to taste
Curry leaves few
Oil for deep frying

Method to prepare:

Clean and soak channa dal for min 2 hrs. Except 2 tbsp of Channa dal, grind the dal with Chillies coarsely. Mix the whole channa dal to the coarsely ground dal.

Chop Onions, Coriander, Ginger finely. Mix this with the dal to form a good mixture.

Heat Oil in a pan. Divide the dal mix into small balls, flatten them into small patties, either using your palm or using a wet plastic cover.

Once the oil is hot, deep fry each one until its well cooked. Normally takes around 5 mins on sim for each one to be ready.

How you serve this is entirely your choice. On pretext of sampling, I normally eat one or two, while frying them. Rest I either serve as such or else withCoconut Chutney. But on its own Masala Vada is a match for anything!

Vada curry ingredients:

1. Onion - 1, finely chopped
2. Tomato - 1, finely chopped
3. Ginger garlic paste - 1 tsp
4. Chilli powder - 1/2 tsp or to taste
5. Coriander powder - 1/2 tsp
6. Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
7. Cinnamon - 1/2" stick
8. Cardamom - 1
9. Cloves - 2
10. Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
11. Oil
12. Few coriander leaves for garnishing
13. Salt - to taste

Coarse paste ingredients:

1. Channa dal - 1 cup
2. Green chilli - 1 or 2
3. Fennel seeds - 1/2 tsp
4. Ginger root - 1/2" piece
5. Salt to taste
6. Few coriander leaves

vadakari preparation:

Soak the channa dal for 2 hrs.

Make a coarse paste with paste ingredients as we do for the masal vada.

Add salt, coriander leaves and mix well.

Heat a kadai with oil.

Make pakodas and deep fry in oil and keep aside.

Now heat a pan with 1/2 tbsp of oil and add mustard seeds.

When they start to pop add cinnamon, cardamom and cloves.

Saute for a min and add chopped onions.

Saute till the onions become transparent.

Add chopped tomatoes and required quantity of salt.

Saute till the tomatoes become juicy.

Add ginger garlic paste and saute till the raw smell disappears or the oil separates from the mixture.

Then add chilli powder, coriander powder and turmeric powder.

Stir well and 1 cup of water and cover with a lid.

Allow it to boil for 10 mins in medium low flame.

Then add the fried pakodas and stir well.

Cook on low flame for 8-10 mins.

Slightly scramble the pakodas with your spatula.

Finally adjust salt and garnish with coriander leaves.

Now your easy and tasty vadai curry is ready to serve.

Serve with idly or dosa.