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Friday, April 20, 2012

Uzhunnu Vada / Medu Vadai

Any south Indian who hasn't tasted this popular tea time snack ?? Aha..I know none ..and there may be many small memories associated with it.I too love this tempting hot vadas and my hubby's favorite too.The first thing he orders in any Indian restaurant is these vadas.And so,making this at home was a big task for me as the blender here doesn't grind well with very less water.But then I reduced the quantity in the blender and ground it a couple of more times than the usual affair.I should say that successfully worked out and could prepare these at home :-)

 (Pics updated)




Ingredients
for vadas
urad dal skinless whole 1 cup
shallots 7-8
green chillies 3
ginger 1'' piece shredded
pepper corns 5-6 (crushed/whole)
rice flour  1 tbsp
curry leaves
salt
water for grinding(2tbsp)
oil for deep frying

for chutney
coconut grated/shredded 1/3 cup
mint leaves 4-5 sprigs(for flavor)
green chillies 2-3(as per spice tolerance)
shallots/pearl onion 2-3
salt
water



Method -
UZHUNNU VADA PREPARATION-
-Soak urad dal in water for 4-5 hours and grind it in a mixer or blender into a smooth paste with very little water or no water if possible.Transfer the batter to a bowl and using your hands beat the batter several times(3-4mins) so as to aerate the batter,which will make the vadas soft.Keep aside for 30-45mins.
-In the meantime,clean,wash and chop the shallots.green chilllies,ginger to small bits and add it to the batter.
-Add salt and peppercorns,torn bits of curry leaves in the batter and mix well.
-Add the rice flour and mix well just before frying.
-Wet your non dominant palm with water and scoop a spoonful of batter in the palm and using the other hand,Flatten it a bit in the form of a vada by applying gentle pressure and then finally poking a hole in the center using your finger.(dip your fingers in water in a bowl before poking so that its done smoothly)
-In the meantime,heat oil in a wok on medium heat and let it become hot.Check the oil by dropping a small portion of the batter,if it sizzles and rises up,the oil is ready to fry.
-Slip it into the hot oil and wait till you see bubbles and sizzling sound subsides a bit.Then flip the other side and deep fry both sides till golden brown.
-Remove and serve on a paper towel and relish with thick coconut chutney.(I served it mint coconut chutney,the recipe follows)

(Coconut Chutney in pic)

MINT-COCONUT CHUTNEY
-Wash the mint leaves ,green chillies and chop small,Peel the shallots,wash and keep aside.
-Blend the coconut and all other ingredients except salt and grind to a coarse paste.
-Add salt now and grind again for 1minute.
-Remove from blender and serve with vadas.

(Mint Chutney in old pic)

Servings ~ 10-12 vadas & a small bowl of chutney

NOTES
* Adding rice flour adds crispiness to vadas.Don't add to much otherwise the vadas will turn hard.You can even add few teaspoons of urad dal powder if your batter becomes a little loose and doesn't hold shape.
* Don't slip the vadas into the oil unless the oil is hot enough.Wait till the bubbles subside and the vada has lightly become crunchy at the bottom side to flip it the other side,otherwise it may not hold shape.
* You can use a banana leaf too instead of palm to shape the vadas.
* Adding mint leaves to the chutney is optional.You can omit that and prepare the regular coconut chutney.
* The chutney should be thicker in consistency unlike the chutneys for dosas.



Sending this to The Kerala Kitchen event hosted by Ramya @ Ramya's Recipes, Tea Time, Sending the mint coconut chutney to EP Series -Mint & Coriander seeds guest hosted by Surabhi @ My Cook book, Only Snacks + Starters guest hosted by Raji @ Vegetarian Taste buds

45 comments:

Kalyani said... Best Blogger Tips

its all time fav... looks delicious .......

sojo said... Best Blogger Tips

I love these..... urs have come out well

Nalini's Kitchen said... Best Blogger Tips

Wow!!vada looks so tempting and your pictures make me drool.....

Ola said... Best Blogger Tips

I have never tried them-they look delicous!

Life and travelling
Cooking

Akila said... Best Blogger Tips

wow that was perfect vadas...

hotpotcooking said... Best Blogger Tips

yum and crispy vada.

Princy Vinoth said... Best Blogger Tips

i love this too!!can have it anytime yes but making them is such a challenge especially with the hole in the middle!

Sriya said... Best Blogger Tips

very yummy , perfect and delicious vada love to have them

divyagcp said... Best Blogger Tips

Love this vada..
But I wont make it all as I dont get this shape.. Even if i make it will be a dumpling.. :)
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Shoutforfood said... Best Blogger Tips

Overall, a great article as I'm always glad to read the latest and greatest on recipe

Sensible Vegetarian said... Best Blogger Tips

Looks so good Julie.

Roshni said... Best Blogger Tips

yummm yummm.... the best way to make these vadas is to use a grinder :-) that way u can make without much water

San said... Best Blogger Tips

I have been craving for these vadas from yesterday, delicious coconut chutney to enjoy with that vadas. Weather is so gloomy so i feel it resistible.

radha said... Best Blogger Tips

A popular favourite. Nicely made.

Cathleen said... Best Blogger Tips

Oh my goodness. These look too delicious for words! I love it!

Achu's Amma's Kitchen said... Best Blogger Tips

vada luks awesome and delicious

Faseela said... Best Blogger Tips

Oh Julie awesome, my fav. snack......

www.mahaslovelyhome.com said... Best Blogger Tips

vada luks perfectly done...never feels bore 2 eat...yummy.
Maha

Priya dharshini said... Best Blogger Tips

Wow..Perfect Spongry vadai tempts me to have with chutney right now..

Rasi said... Best Blogger Tips

they have turned out beautifully! even i find is a hassle to make in blender!

Ongoing Event : WTML

Sobha Shyam said... Best Blogger Tips

my fav vada, can't stop munching these, looks very delicious..chutney looks yummy too :)

Vineetha Sush said... Best Blogger Tips

Uzhunu vada adipoli...this is my hubbys fav fav thing,only deep fried snack he loves :)If we go to a south Indian restaurant most of the time we order this :)

Priya Suresh said... Best Blogger Tips

Super like,my fav vadas,makes me hungry Julie..

FewMinute Wonders said... Best Blogger Tips

Last week for new years I made the pepper added vadai and it came out well. Do you know if you fry half way until the vadai turns light brown, remove it from oil allow it to cool and then fry it once more. It is so crispy. I just happened to do it and I understood that this is how most restaurants do it. They refry before serving and we think their vadai's are crunchy. Try it next time. The vadai's look good.

Hema said... Best Blogger Tips

Love this vada anytime..

Spice up the Curry said... Best Blogger Tips

your vada looks great and delicious

Jayanthy Kumaran said... Best Blogger Tips

irresistable combo..:P

Tasty Appetite

Rashida Shaikh said... Best Blogger Tips

Giving a proper shape is the most difficult job here, your looks good.

simran said... Best Blogger Tips

perfect vadas!.always an all time favourite snack!

misha said... Best Blogger Tips

Yum yum my fav too...love them anytime :) urs look perfect ..lovely

Ambreen (Simply Sweet n Savory) said... Best Blogger Tips

Very tempting pics and looks crispy too. I would love to have a bite :)

cookbookjaleela said... Best Blogger Tips

looks very delicious

Ramya said... Best Blogger Tips

lovely snack..my vadas never come out so perfect

Reshmi said... Best Blogger Tips

I love these but never got the shape... these look perfect... it is always round dumplings when I make :)
Noel collections

What's Baking?? said... Best Blogger Tips

I love these especially if eaten it with fresh green chillies. We would take a bit of the vades and a bite of fresh green chillies and chew them together. Wonderful.

Divya A said... Best Blogger Tips

So sad I missed the event!! I prepared biryani for the event!! But anyways thanks for inviting me.. Nice and crispy Vada.. Love it
http://youtoocancookindianfood.blogspot.in/

Unknown said... Best Blogger Tips

Julie,
This is certainly one of my favorite snacks with a cup of tea. My kind of vadas:)

Katerina said... Best Blogger Tips

They look like our loukoumades! Delicious snack!

Jeyashris Kitchen said... Best Blogger Tips

lovely combo of vadas with coconut chutney. nicely done

cookingvarieties said... Best Blogger Tips

hi julie, vadai is one of my favorite snack..only now i realized you use grated coconut..no wonder they taste so delicious. bookmarked with thanks dear. have a nice day

KrithisKitchen said... Best Blogger Tips

Simple awesome... love some now due to the cloudy weather...
Krithi's Kitchen - Serve It - Pressure Cooked/Slow Cooked

Kajal said... Best Blogger Tips

Oooh uzhunnu vada!! one of my all time fav snacks!

Anisha said... Best Blogger Tips

Perfect vadas... I feel they are tough to perfect... You have done a great job!

Julie said... Best Blogger Tips

Thanx everyone..:)
@Srimathi
Loved your tip,Thanx..will try next time!!

Kusum said... Best Blogger Tips

Wherever you go Vada is the snack you crave for! Beautiful pictures.