Masala Dal Vada is a popular South Indian snack made with lentils and spices. Here's a recipe to make delicious Masala Dal Vada:
Ingredients:
1 cup chana dal (split Bengal gram)
2-3 dried red chilies
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 tablespoons rice flour
2 tablespoons chopped fresh coriander leaves
1 teaspoon grated ginger
1 teaspoon fennel seeds
1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
A pinch of asafoetida (hing)
Salt to taste
Oil for deep frying
Instructions:
Wash the chana dal thoroughly and soak it in water for about 2-3 hours. This will soften the dal and make it easier to grind.
Drain the soaked dal and transfer it to a blender or food processor. Add dried red chilies, fennel seeds, cumin seeds, grated ginger, turmeric powder, and asafoetida. Grind the mixture to a coarse paste without adding water. The texture should be slightly grainy.
Transfer the ground dal mixture to a mixing bowl. Add chopped onions, rice flour, chopped coriander leaves, and salt. Mix well to combine all the ingredients evenly.
Heat oil in a deep frying pan or kadhai over medium heat.
Take a small portion of the dal mixture and shape it into a small round vada. You can wet your hands with water to prevent sticking.
Gently drop the vadas into the hot oil. Fry them in small batches, making sure not to overcrowd the pan.
Fry the vadas until they turn golden brown and crispy on all sides. This usually takes about 4-5 minutes per batch. Flip them occasionally for even frying.
Once the vadas are cooked, remove them from the oil using a slotted spoon and place them on a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
Repeat the frying process with the remaining dal mixture.
Serve the hot and crispy Masala Dal Vadas with chutney or sambar for a delightful snack or breakfast option.
