Crispy Masala Vada| Street Style Masala Vada Recipe| Tea Time Snacks Recipe| Chana Dal Vada | Vadai

#snacks #masalavada #masalavadarecipe
Crispy Masala Vada| Street Style Masala Vada Recipe| Tea Time Snacks Recipe| Chana Dal Vada | Vadai
Masala vada, also known as Chana Dal Vada or Paruppu Vadai, is a popular South Indian tea-time snack made with chana dal, spices, onions, and herbs. It is a crispy and flavorful fried lentil snack that is commonly served in tiffin centers and cafes as an evening snack with chutney. To make masala vada, chana dal is soaked, coarsely ground, and mixed with spices, onions, and herbs before being shaped into small discs or patties and deep-fried until crispy on the outside and soft inside.
Ingredients
1 cup chana dal
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
2 tablespoons chopped coriander leaves
Salt to taste
A pinch of hing (asafoetida)
Oil for deep frying
Additional ingredients for grinding:
1 teaspoon fennel seeds
4 pieces big fat cloves of garlic
2 red chilies
1/2 inch ginger
curry leaves
To make flavorful and crispy Masala Vada, here are some expert tips and tricks
1. **Soaking Dal**: Rinse and soak chana dal for about 2-3 hours. Avoid over-soaking as it may affect the vada's crispiness.
2. **Grinding**: Coarsely grind the soaked dal along with spices like ginger, garlic, and fennel seeds. The mixture should be thick and coarse for a crispy texture.
3. **Adding Ingredients**: Mix in finely chopped onions, green chilies, ginger, curry leaves, coriander leaves, and a pinch of asafetida for flavor.
4. **Consistency**: Ensure the batter is thick and coarse; avoid making it too fine or runny. If needed, add rice flour to thicken the mixture.
5. **Shaping**: Shape the vada into flat patties with a thin outer edge and a thicker center for the perfect texture.
6. **Frying**: Deep fry the vada in hot oil until golden brown, flipping them once for even cooking. Maintain medium heat for crispy outside and soft inside.
7. **Variations**: You can customize by using red chilies instead of green chilies, ginger-garlic paste instead of fresh ones, or adding garam masala for extra flavor.
Enjoy your Masala Vada hot with tea or coffee along with coconut chutney!