A popular breakfast dish from south India. Menu Vada is a deep fried breakfast dish made with udad dal. Everyone loves menu Vada. It’s quite popular in the north as well. Kids love them. It’s also served in most of the South Indian weddings either for breakfast or lunch. It’s easy to make at home but many fail to get the perfect texture and shape. Follow the recipe step by step and you shall also nail the recipe.

Ingredients

Udad dal – 1 cup ( preferably whole white udad dal also know as gota udad dal)

Water – as required

Pepper corns – few

Cumin seeds – few

Curry leaves – few

Ginger grated – 1/2 inch

Green chillies – 2 no’s finely chopped

Coriander leaves /onion / coconut slices – completely optional

Salt – as per taste

Oil – for frying

Method

1. Wash the udad dal well and soak for 2 to 3 hours in enough water. Once the dal is well soaked strain the dal and set aside for half an hour. This step is very important as all water should be drained. Else the batter would go loose.

2. Add the dal to a grinder or mixer and grind for twenty minutes. If grinding in a mixer grind for five minutes and give a break. Add water in spoons. Do not add a lot of water while grinding.

3. The batter should be thick enough. Remove the batter in a bowl and add salt, curry leaves, ginger, pepper corns, cumin seeds, green chilies and mix well for five minutes. You shall notice that the batter is now soft and fluffy.

4. Heat oil in a pan. Keep a bowl of water ready. Now you may form the shapes with hand or use a banana leaf or butter paper or any plastic cover or even a milk pouch. Dip your hand in water and then take a ball of batter and form desired shape. Slowly drop in the oil and fry till crisp. Keep the flame on low. Every time you make vadas dip your hand in water. Serve with your favorite chutney or Sambar.