Sambhar Vada

Ingredients

• Sambhar
• Vada - 10 medium size
• Onions - 1small size chopped
• Coriander leaves - handful

Method

• Take a cup of sambhar & add 3-4 cups of water bring it to boil (add enough salt). Soak the vadas in it for 1 minute.(this makes the sambhar vada more soft)
• Now transfer the vadas into the hot sambhar & keep the sambhar on low flame for 10 minutes.
• Now switch off the flame & leave the vada in the sambhar, atleast for another 30 minutes.
• While serving, sprinkle some onions & coriander leaves.

Curd Vada

Ingredient

• Vada - 10 medium size
• Curd - 1 1/2 cups
• Ginger - 2 tsp
• Hing - few pinches
• Mustard & urad dal - 1/2 tsp
• Green chillies - 4
• Oil - 1 tbsp
• Curry leaves - few
• Coriander leaves - handful
• Boondi - to taste
• Chat masala - to taste
• Chilly powder - to taste
• Salt - to taste

Method

• Add some water to the curd & mix it well till it looks smooth.
• It should be little thin consistency.
• Heat oil in kadai on high medium flame.
• Splutter mustard, urad dal, cumin seeds, hing, green chillies, curry leaves & ginger one by one.
• Pour it into the curd. Add salt & mix well.
• Dip the vadas in the water for 15 to 20 seconds & add it to the curd.
• While serving, on top of the vada,  sprinkle some coriander leaves, boondi, chat masala & chilly powder.

Tip for the recipe - Allow the vada to get soaked in the curd for at least 1 hour for good taste.

Medu Vada

Ingredients

• Urad dal - 1 cup
• Rice flour - 1/4 cup
• Ginger - 1 tbsp
• Onion - 1 big size
• Curry leaves - 1 spring
• Hing - 1/4 tsp
• Cumin - 1/2 tsp
• Whole pepper - 1/2 tsp
• Green chillies - 4
• Salt to taste
• Oil for deep frying

Method

• Soak the urad dal for 6 hours or overnight.
• Grind it by adding very little water now & then, till it becomes fluffy & soft.
• Now mix all other ingredients & deep fry it on medium flame, till it becomes golden brown in color.

Tips for the recipe - The taste & softness of the vada depends upon how fluffy & soft the batter is. It should be super soft and fluffy. Take a pinch of dough and drop it in a cup of water, then it should float. If you are making big vadas as in the photograph then make hole in the center for the vada to cook evenly. If you are making very small vadas then the hole is not necessary. Wet your hands while shaping vadas. This makes the work easy and gives better shape for vadas.