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Masala Vadai

There is this train journey back in India which has such fond memories for me. My mother would usually pack food for us during such journey to avoid buying anything from outside – but she will skip doing so for this one. Why? Cos I will not eat anything of that. I would starve before and during the journey, would not take anything which fellow passengers would offer and will sit with my stomach grumbling away to glory. Was I such a troublesome child- you ask? Well frankly I would like to think No :) There was a specific reason for my behavior. On the way, there used to be this one particular station where they used to sell one of the best Masala Vadai, I have ever tasted! The aroma wafting through our couch window has the power to just lift you off the seat! Bliss!

Masala Vadai

I used to eat only that and at that age it never mattered what any “subsequent result” would be for eating at such outside joints. But till date, nothing has ever happened to me!So when it was raining recently and we were also expecting guests from India, I couldn’t help reminiscing about these spicy fritters and I gave in to make these fried goodies! So much for my avoiding fried foods! Anyways it is immensely simple to make and the taste is simply out of this world. Needless to say this recipe is from my mom and without further delay, lemme go into the method.

    Ingredients

  • 1/3 cup whole black gram dal (urad gota dal)
  • 1/3 cup bengal gram dal (channa dal)
  • 1/3 cup Pigeon peas (toor dal)
  • 1 medium onion,chopped very fine
  • 1 tsp Garam Masala
  • 2-3 green chillies, sliced thinly (or as per taste)
  • 2-3 dried red chillies (as per taste)
  • salt to taste

Method

Soak the 3 lentils in sufficient water (after cleaning in cold water) for at least 1 hour.

Masala Vadai

Drain the water well and blend it in a food processor. Make sure you add No water.

Masala Vadai

The consistency should be very thick. If you are not able to blend properly, then add few drops at a time. The ground mixture should be little coarse and you should be able to take it in your hands and shape them.

Masala Vadai

Now add rest of the ingredients to this mixture

Masala Vadai

and stir until blended well.

Masala Vadai

Take a plastic sheet/zip lock bag. Grease little with oil/water. If you are just a beginner cook, then add oil in order to avoid the water splattering the hot oil when you drop this batter. Take a little of the fritter mixture. Shape it into a round and press it flat on the sheet. oil your fingers to avoid it from sticking to your hands.

Masala Vadai

Now flip the plastic sheet to your hands so that the mixture drops smoothly on your fingers. You can put it directly to the oil if you are comfortable.

Masala Vadai

Drop this gently to hot oil and fry until both the sides is golden.

Masala Vadai

Place it in paper towel to get rid of excess oil.

Masala Vadai

Serve hot with any condiment of your choice or just by itself.

Masala Vadai

It is excellent the minute it is made.  So make sure you make them just few minutes before serving.

Masala Vadai

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22 Responses to “Masala Vadai – Spicy South Indian fritters”
  1. Jyostna

    Hey Dhivi , i have recommended ur site to my co-sister and she was definetly flattened by the whole work.She was wondering how you manage cooking , taking pics at each step ( professional pics ) upload it to the website and do the background coding work…….hmm…good going yaar….Ek aalsi ko bahuth jyada inspiration miljayega aapki website se.. aur aapse bhi …..badhayi hoooo DHivi.

  2. Therese

    I’m Danish and have tried vadai in Malaysia, where I was for 5 months. First time I tried them was for Pongal which I celebrated with collegues from Tamil Nadu. Yesterday I tried to make them myself for the first time – thank you for both the very informative recipe, and for the introduktion, which convinced my fellows chefs that we had to make vadai :-)

  3. Nittu
  4. I had a friend who shared with me her vada and I love eating it with some catsup. I’d love to guide our readers to your site if you won’t mind.Just add this foodista widget to this post and it’s all set to go, Thanks!

  5. Amazing vadas!! Yes, I used to be the Parippu Vada (as we call it in Kerala) The smell of it is just out of this world. In fact, I m getting now!! :-)

  6. I love vadai. I can eat them for breakfast, lunch and dinner. All day long!

  7. shilpa

    Hey yummy vadas, love them….
    Good one dhivi…

  8. love these vadas! We usually make some extra so that we can have some the next day as well. the first pic is beautiful

  9. Oh, goodness… It there anything as good as a steaming hot vadai on a cold and rainy day? These look great, Dhivi! You brought back memories of being on the train in India with the vadai vendors calling out, “Tea… Tea… Suda suda tea… Vadai, vadai… Medhu vadai… Masala vadai!!”

  10. Oh wow my favourite vada….we call it chitti garelu means small vada…..Looks yum….

  11. wada looks delicious DK..jst give me that plate I am hungry here

  12. Wow,thanks for the greased sheet idea.I can never get it right.Love the tempting vadais.The train journey evokes such responses from me as well and is now a cherished memory

    My mother just wets her hand, pats this down on one end..and drops it into the oil! gawd – till date it gives me jeepers creepers. Plastic sheet works wonderfully for me :)

  13. Love these..just looking at the pics made me hungry:)

  14. Wish i could just grab few of them. I never make vadas or anything like that as i am a clumsy person when i have to use th emixer, i rey to avoid using my mixer as much as possible, could be also my knob was broken after using few times.
    Now i have to take a spanner to turn it on.
    Looks so yummy crunch delicous.

  15. Wow the vadas looks very delicious.Cant wait to eat whole plate dear.

  16. Nice step by step procedure..they look yummy.

  17. Delicious looking masala vadai.. I love these fried goodies, can eat a whole batch of them if it was not for the calories and guilt conscious later. But anything in moderation is always good.

  18. Masala wada with some hot steaming milk will do the magic here!!!

  19. Wow .. so healthy, pic looks good as well

  20. Wow..this vadai goes well with tea/coffee. I m craving for it. :)

  21. These do sound amazing! I could see why you would save room for these. I once made a fried urad dal patty that I enjoy immensely, but these sound even better!

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