Vada

Medu vada or vada is a popular south Indian snack which is very healthy and needs only few ingredients to cook.This traditional south Indian snack not just every day cuisine but also part of menu in festivals and puja days.This is sometimes referred as Indian doughnut.This is my family's most favorite snack.I Usually cook vada atleast once in a month as being liked by all.I'm posting recipe in BM#43 under  festival theme.I cook this recipe on Varalakshmi pooja.Here goes my recipe.

Ingredients

• Urad dal 1 cup
• water as needed( I use 1/4cup)
• Oil for deep frying
• onion 1/2 chopped(optional)
• Ginger small pieces( chopped finely 1 tspn)
• Green chilli 2( chopped finely)
• Salt to taste.

Procedure

• Soak urad dal minimum 6 to 8 hrs ( for very good vadas) .I usually soak overnight if possible.
• Drain the water from dal and grind  dal in a blender using very less water.
• Next after grinding take out the batter in a bowel,add salt and mix chopped( onions,green chilies,ginger) mixing these ingredients is optional,I do this as our family likes this way.( i do one batch without onion,chili,ginger during festivals and offer god as prasadam)
• Heat oil in a kadai or deep pan.
• Now to make vadas, wet your hand and take little amount of batter in your hand( approx medium lemon size)flatten it and make a hole in the center and slowly leave in the oil( its a tricky part,if you feel its difficult you may try using a ziplock bag)
• Repeat the process for all the vadas.
• Cook the vada until golden brown on one side and flip other side and cook again.
• Remove these vadas on a paper towel and let them cool few mins.

 Tips for perfect vadas:

• Always prefer grinding dal in a food processor or wet grinder.
• Soak  urad dal overnight for soft crispy vadas.
• Before cooking I keep the batter in a refrigerator for atleast half an hr.

Check out for fellow bloggers in BM#43