Masala Vada

Masala Vada is a crispy and spicy South Indian fritter made from chana dal, herbs, and spices.

Ingredients

1. 1 cup yellow gram (chana) dal
2. 1/2 cup onion, finely chopped
3. 1/2 cup coriander leaves, finely chopped
4. 1/2 cup dill leaves, finely chopped
5. 3–4 green chillies, finely chopped
6. 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
7. Oil for deep frying

Instructions

1. **Soaking the Dal

   • Wash the chana dal thoroughly.
   • Soak it in water for 3–4 hours.
   • Drain the water completely.

2. **Grinding

   • Keep 2 tbsp of soaked dal aside.
   • Grind the remaining dal coarsely without adding water.

3. **Mixing the Ingredients

   • Add the whole dal to the ground mixture.
   • Mix in chopped onions, coriander, dill leaves, green chillies, and cumin seeds.
   • Add 2–3 tbsp of hot oil to the mixture and combine well.

4. **Shaping

   • Wet your palms lightly.
   • Take small portions of the mixture and shape them into round patties.

5. **Frying

   • Heat oil in a deep pan.
   • Slide the patties carefully into the hot oil.
   • Fry on one side until golden brown, then flip and fry the other side.

6. **Serving

   • Remove the vadas and drain excess oil.
   • Serve hot with green chutney, tamarind chutney, or ketchup.