Uzhunnu Vada

Uzhunnu vada, also known as medu vada or urad dal fritters, is a common snack in South India. What can be a more ideal complement to a hot piping tea? It is not only popular as a snack but also as a part of a yummy breakfast along with idli, sambar and chutney. Uzhunnu vada is really an aromatic and a mouth-watering snack. The plain deep fried lentils add to the flavour; besides, the addition of ginger, pearl onions and curry leaves imparts a fantastic aroma that is tempting. You can find this medu vada in most tea stalls and restaurants all over South India. I bet you – you can never stop with one piece.

Ingredients

• Black gram / Urad dal (ഉഴുന്ന്) – 1 Cup
• Rice flour (അരിപൊടി) – 1 Table spoon
• Shallots (ചെറിയ ഉള്ളി) – 10 Nos
• Green chilli (പച്ചമുളക്) – 2 Nos
• Ginger (ഇഞ്ചി) – 1 Inch Piece
• Curry leaves (കറിവേപ്പില) – 1 Sprig
• Crushed black pepper (കുരുമുളക് ചതച്ചത്) – 1 Tea spoon (optional)
• Cooking oil (എണ്ണ) – to deep fry
• Salt (ഉപ്പ്) – to taste

Method

1. Wash black gram (uzhunnu), soak in water for 30 minutes and drain it.
2. Grind it into a smooth paste by sprinkling a little water if required. The batter should be thick as possible.
3. Chop ginger, green chillies, shallots and curry leaves finely.
4. Add the chopped ingredients, crushed black pepper, rice flour and salt to the ground paste. Combine well and keep aside for 10 minutes.
5. Pour enough oil into a deep bottom pan and heat it. When the oil is hot reduce the flame to medium.
6. Dip your hands in water (to prevent sticking batter on your hand) and take a small portion of the uzhunnu vada mix on you palm. Shape it to round and make a hole in the center using your finger. Slip it slowly into the hot oil and deep fry by turning both sides till golden brown color.
7. Repeat the previous step to make more uzhunnu vada.
8. Serve it hot with chutney or sambar.