Aama Vadai | Masala Vadai | A South Indian Street Food Special

Aama Vadai | Masala Vadai | A South Indian Street Food Special

Aama Vadai or the Masala Vadai is a very traditonal dish that is made during the tamil new year. Made from a variety of lentils and spiced with green chillies, asafoetida, curry leaves and coriander makes it alsbolutely delectable. This vadai is also a very popular street food snack of South India. Try this simple and quick recipe for a party and serve it with coconut chutney orgreen chutney

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon rice
• 1/4 cup toor dal
• 1/4 channa dal
• 1/4 cup whole urad dal + 2 tablespoons
• 3 to 4 dry red chillies
• 1/4 teaspoon asafoetida powder
• 1/2 teaspoon of fennel seeds, coursely pounded
• a small bunch of coriander leaves, finely chopped
• a few curry leaves, finely chopped
• 1 small onion, finely chopped (optional)
• salt to taste
• oil for deep frying

Method

• Soak the 2 tablespoons of channa dal in water for about a hour. Drain and keep aside. We will not be grinding this along with the other lentils.
• Soak the rice and all the lentils for about one hour. Once soaked well, drain the water. and blend the soaked lentils along with red chillies, asafoetida powder and salt into a very coarse batter. Do not add any water to grind into a batter. You want the batter to be of thick shaping consistency.
• Transfer the vadai batter to a bowl, add in the chopped fennel seeds, chopped onions, curry leaves and coriander leaves. Stir to combine all the ingredients well.

Preheat the oil for deep frying. With the heat on low, shape the batter into 2 inch size patties and drop them gently into the hot oil. Add 3 to 4 patties at a time and deep fry them on low heat until it is browned and crisp.

Drain the Aama Vadai's from its oil. Place the Aama Vadai's on a serving platter along with coconut chutney or green chutney