Easy | Savoury | Appetizer
If you need a fire appetizer to impress yourself and your friends, make this vadai recipe! Known as the brown savory doughnut of South Asia, it’s the ultimate snack and makes for the best midnight munchies. What a banger!
These crispy, golden-brown fritters are made from a spiced lentil batter, usually featuring chana dal, urad dal, onions, curry leaves, green chilies, ginger, fennel seeds, and a touch of curry powder.
The batter is shaped into small patties or doughnut-like discs and deep-fried to perfection, with a crunchy exterior and a soft, fluffy inside.
Tips & Tricks
Tip #1: Let the urad dal soak for at least 3 hours or overnight. Add enough water so that when you place a finger on the surface of the dal, the water reaches the first line of your finger.
Tip #2: To get that iconic vadai shape, dip your hands in warm water before shaping the doughnuts. Here’s the best technique: dip your hands in warm water, then scoop up a golf ball-sized portion of batter. Shake it in one hand until it forms a nice ball. Use your water-dipped fingers to poke a hole in the middle and swirl your finger to create the doughnut hole. The doughnut will stick to your palm. Flip your palm upside down and let the doughnut gently fall into the oil to fry.
Vadai
Ingredients
- 250g Urad Dhal
- 1 white onion
- 10-12 curry leaves
- 4 green chilli
- 1’’ knob ginger
- 2 tsp ground fennel seeds
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp curry powder
- Frying oil
Directions
- Soak the urad dal for at least 3 hours in water. (See Tip #1).
- Finely chop the onion, curry leaves, green chilli, and ginger. Ground the fennel seeds.
- In a blender, blend the urad dal until it forms a thick paste. Add a splash of water if needed, but ensure the batter doesn’t become watery.
- Add all the spices to the batter and combine well.
- Heat oil over medium heat. Do not turn it up higher, or the vadai won’t cook properly inside.
- To form the doughnuts, coat your hands well with warm water. Form golf ball-sized portions of batter, then make a hole in the center.
- Place the doughnuts in the oil in small batches.
- Fry for 4-5 minutes, until the doughnuts are crispy and brown.
- Serve with some chutney or sambar on the side, and get ready to get addicted!
