Medu Vada or simply Vada are crispy fritters made with urad daal and enjoyed with sambar or chutney. They are usually served along side idli as part of a perfect South Indian breakfast, but don’t let that stop you from enjoying these vadas for lunch or dinner.
Soaking Time: min 4-6 hours
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: approx 20 minutes
Makes approx 15 vadas
Ingredients:
Split Black Gram (Urad daal) - 1 cup
Water - little over 1/2 cup for grinding
Salt - to taste
Ginger - 1 tsp, finely chopped
Green Chilies - to taste, finely chopped
Black Pepper - to taste, coarsely gound
Asafoetida - pinch
Oil - for deep frying
Method:
1. Soak Urad Daal for minimum of 4-6 hrs.
2. Drain off all of the water and grind daal in a blender using very little water.
3. Remove batter into a bowl and add Salt, Ginger, Green Chilies, Black Pepper and Asafoetida.
4. Whip the batter with a spoon to make it light and fluffy.
5. Heat Oil on medium heat.
6. To make the vadas, wet you hand and scoop up a small portion of batter in your hand.
7. Using your thumb, make a small hole in the center of the batter.
8. Gently flip the batter into the hot oil. Repeat process for all the batter.
9. Allow vada to get medium golden brown on one side before flipping over to the other side.
10. Allow other side to get medium golden brown before removing vada onto a plate lined with paper towels.
11. Serve hot with chutney or sambar.
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December 4th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
Hello!
Thanks for the recipe. I’ve followed the recipe exactly like you’ve mentioned in the past. Sometimes it works just fine, but other times the vada’s start to disintegrate in the oil. Does it have anything to do with the heat of the oil? Please help!
Thanks
December 9th, 2008 at 8:58 pm
very good recipe, would like to have a print option to print and use in kitchen like this website
http://food.sify.com/recipe.php?id=13672562&cid=
Thx
December 9th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
Hi Kumar,
Thanks for your feedback! We do have a ‘Print Article’ option just above the comments section and below the star ratings. Maybe we need to move it higher where it is more noticeable.
December 11th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
I am surprised you gusy said soak the dhal 6 hr or overnight. The classic south indian Medhu vadai - the key point is not to soak the dhal for more than 40 mins… tht way its easier to grind it a bit coarse and it will not absorb as much oil when deep frying.
I would recommend not soaking the dhal for too long.
December 14th, 2008 at 11:04 pm
Hi Ramya,
Thank you for your feedback and suggestion. I have always been soaking the daal for that long. It’ll be a great time saver!