Masala Vada | Paruppu Vadai | South Indian Masal Vada

Masala Vada / Paruppu Vadai

I have been missing from blogging for a while and have been busy with a house shift. Phew the whole personal life has been super busy the past few weeks and I was not able to post recipes. Thankfully today I plan to start over again with a fresh start. October being a month of celebrations and holidays I wanted to share one of our favorite tea time snacks Masala Vada. Masala Vada / Paruppu Vadai are a popular tea time snack in South India and can be found in street stalls and hotels a lot. Although I was never a huge fan of them, I can never say no to enjoy a few for tea. There is technique and practice involved in shaping the vadas and getting them in the perfect consistency. I have had some failed attempts for this one and that never puts me down in trying to make them again :-). The weather these days seems so perfect for these deep fried goodies and a cup of tea. 

Channa Dal Paruppu Vadai

Tamil snack recipe - Masala Vadai

Paruppu Vadai

MASALA VADA | PARUPPU VADAI RECIPE

Recipe Source - Amma


Ingredients

Channa dal - 1 cup
Onion - 1 finely chopped
Ginger - 1" inch piece chopped
Green chilli - 2-3 minced
Coriander leaves - 3-4 strands, finely chopped
Mint leaves - 10 nos
Fennel / sombu seeds - 1 tsp
Roasted channa dal - 1 tbsp
Salt - to taste
Oil - to fry

Method

1. Soak channa dal for 1 to 1 1/2 hours and drain the excess water. In a mixer coarsely grind 3/4 cup of soaked channa dal along with green chilli, ginger, coriander, mint, fennel seeds, roasted channa dal. 
2. Add this coarse mixture along with salt and the 1/4 cup of channa dal. Check for taste and spice.
3. Heat oil in a skillet/ kadai until hot, test the oil by dropping a small pinch of the coarse mix and it has to sizzle immediately. Now the oil is in correct temperature.
4. Grease / wet your palms with oil/ water and take a ball of the mixture and shape with your hands the vadas into a ball and flatten it.
5. Tip into the oil and fry until golden on all sides, make sure that the heat is in medium to low as you want the inside of the vadas to be cooked. 
6. Using a slotted spoon drain the excess oil and place on kitchen towel.
7. Serve warm with your cup of tea/ coffee and enjoy.


COOKS WISDOM 

TIP 1

1. Make sure the dal is drained of all the water and is ground into a coarse mix and not fine and smooth.

TIP 2

2. Do not use any water to grind the mix else the vadas will be too wet and not dry. Just sprinkle little water to help grind if required else skip this.

TIP 3

3. Adding roasted channa dal/ pottukadalai helps to give crisp vadas.

TIP 4

4. Add one more extra chilli if you love your vadas to be spicy. To try an innovative masala vadas try to add boiled chickpeas, it tastes amazing.

TIP 5

5. While heating oil make sure it is perfectly hot by doing a test with a little of the mix, once the vadas are added slow down the heat to medium for even cooking from inside.