INGREDIENTS:
- Urad Dal - 1 cup
- Chopped Onion - 1/2 cup
- Green chillies (chopped) - 3 or 4
- Curry leaves - 1 sprig
- Black Pepper Corns -2tsp
- Ginger(chopped) - 1 inch piece
- Salt - To taste
- Baking Soda - 1 pinch (to make the vadas soft)
- Oil to deep fry
- Take urad dal in a vessel and add water tocover the dal and keep aside to soak.
- After about 30 minutes the water level would have gone down.
- Now add more water to cover the dal again.
- After 30 more minutes the dal will be well soaked and ready to be ground.
- Then in a wet grinder, grind the dal without adding water. If the grinder is unable to grind well, sprinkle some water and grind again till you get a smooth, thick and fluffy paste.
- Pour this dal batter to a mixing bowl.
- In case the batter has become less thick, you can add some urad flour to make the batter thicker.
- To this dal batter, add chopped ginger, green chillies, onion, curry leaves,black pepper corns, a pinch of baking soda and salt and mix well.
- If you like the vadas to have a crispy exterior and soft interior, add 2 tbsp rice flour to the batter.
- Keep it aside for 15 minutes.
- Heat oil in a kadai or deep pan.
- Make donut shapes with the batter either using the palm of your hand or using a vada maker.
- Making donut shapes using hands: Wet the palm of your hand with water and place a ball of the vada mix on it . Press it down slightly with the fingers of your other hand. Now using one finger make a hole in the middle of it. Drop it slowly and carefully into the hot oil. Wet your palm each time you make the donut shape - this prevents the batter from sticking on your hand.
- Fry the vadas till golden brown and lay them out on a tray lined with kitchen tissue to absorb excess oil.
- Serve hot with Chutney and/or Samber.
