Vada (Savory Lentil Fritters)
These crispy and savory lentil fritters are a popular South Indian snack. Made from a spiced urad dal batter, they are deep-fried until golden brown and served with chutney.
An original recipe by Forkin
- Total time
- 3 hr 20 min
- Serves
- 4
- Difficulty
- Medium
Mise en place
Ingredients
- 1 cupurad dal, split, skinless
- 2 pcsgreen chili, finely chopped
- 1 tbspginger, grated
- 10 pcscurry leaf, chopped
- 0.5 pcsonion, finely chopped
- 0.5 tspblack peppercorn, crushed
- 1 tspsalt
- 0.25 cupwater
- 4 cupvegetable oil, for deep frying
Equipment
slotted spoon · deep pan · paper towels · blender · large bowl
The method
Step by step
- 1
Rinse the urad dal thoroughly under cold water.
About 2 min
- 2
Soak the rinsed urad dal in fresh water for at least 3 hours, or preferably overnight.
About 3 hr
Cook’s note: Soaking helps the dal soften and makes it easier to grind into a smooth batter.
- 3
Drain the soaked urad dal completely, ensuring no excess water remains.
About 1 min
- 4
Transfer the drained urad dal to a blender or food processor.
- 5
Add water gradually and blend until you achieve a thick, smooth, and fluffy batter.
About 5 min
Cook’s note: Use as little water as possible to keep the batter thick; a thick batter is crucial for crispy vadas.
- 6
Transfer the batter to a large bowl.
- 7
Stir in the green chili, ginger, curry leaf, onion, black peppercorn, and salt into the batter.
About 2 min
- 8
Heat vegetable oil in a deep pan or kadai over medium heat until it reaches 175°C (350°F).
About 5 min
Cook’s note: To test the oil temperature, drop a small piece of batter; it should sizzle and rise to the surface immediately.
- 9
Wet your hands with a little water to prevent sticking.
- 10
Take a small portion of the batter, flatten it slightly, and make a hole in the center with your thumb.
Cook’s note: The hole helps the vada cook evenly.
- 11
Carefully slide the shaped vada into the hot oil.
- 12
Fry a few vadas at a time, ensuring not to overcrowd the pan, until they are golden brown and cooked through, about 3-5 minutes per batch.
About 10 min
Cook’s note: Flip them occasionally for even browning.
- 13
Remove the fried vadas with a slotted spoon and place them on a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
About 1 min
- 14
Serve hot with coconut chutney or sambar.
Keep it good
Store leftover vadas in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Reheat in an oven or air fryer at 180°C (350°F) until crispy, or microwave until warmed through (they won't be as crispy).