Masala vada is a savory fried snack from India. It is also referred to as aamai vadai in Tamil due to its resemblance to a tortoise. This can served as an appetizer with breakfast , lunch .

Total Preparation time: 2 hours

Ingredients 

1. Chana dal – 1 cup
2. Onion Medium size – 1
3. Green Chili – 4
4. Curry leaves – 1 sprig
5. Coriander leaves – 1 sprig
6. Chili powder – 1teaspoon
7. Fennel seeds – 2 teaspoon
8. Garlic – 4
9. Salt – 1 and 1/2 teaspoon (as needed)
10. Oil as needed.

Prepartion Method

1. Wash and soak the chana dal for an hour.
2. Drain the water and grind chana dal in the mixie/blender with out adding any water. Then coarsely grind it and keep it in a dry bowl.
3. Then add finely chopped onion, garlic, green chili, curry leaves, coriander leaves, fennel seeds, chili powder and add salt as needed. Mix it well with the prepared vada batter in the bowl.
4. Medium heat the vada pan and add sufficient oil to fry the vada
5. Make a small ball shape with that batter and flatten them using your palms Otherwise, you can also grease a banana leaf and can flatten this masala vada.
6. Medium heat a pan in the oil. Don’t fry it in high heat it will change to the desired color quickly but it won’t be fully cooked inside.
7. Gently drop the vada into the oil and fry it by turning both sides. the vada has to be in golden brown color.
8. After it is done, serve it hot.