Kadalai Paruppu Vadai or masal vadai, whatever name you call it, it doesn’t matter. Popular and delicious food will be always called by different names in different regions.This is the most popular street food in Tamil Nadu and the best snack to have it with Tea. It is also a tasty side dish for the South Indian lunch menu.
Bengal gram is rich in proteins and it is ideal for kiddos too. It is freezing rain outside and masal vadai in this weather…hmmm.. makes me swim in the clouds.
The other South Indian snacking recipe of Crispy Pakodas, Easy Murukku, Namkin Pare could help you surprise you guests instantly. Let’s dive into the recipe now.
What is kadalai paruppu vadai?
This is the combination of words from the language Tamil, a widely spoken language in South India. To explain this term, we are diving it into three words. The first one ‘paruppu’ is translation to the lentils. ‘kadalai paruppu’ is actually is Bengal gram or chena dal in Hindi. ‘Vadai’ is refers to the authentic Tamil style fritters.
To put it all together kadalai paruppu vadai, is the traditional Indian fritters made with bengal gram. One of the important snack that you get from the roadside vendors.
A great crowd-pleasing recipe. If you have a party or potluck at home, you can make this for the huge crowd effortlessly. At the same time is very delicious as well.
How does this masala parauppu vadai tastes like?
It is spicy, crunchy, crispy outside and soft, moist inside. It is a mixture of beautiful flavors, like garlic, ginger, cilantro, curry leaves. It is something like a vegan bean patty from the United States restaurants but packed with tones of flavors.
Key Ingredients
Kadalai paruppu: Chana dal-Bengal Gram- This gram is perfect to make this snack. Soak at least for two hours to get the perfectly done vada. This looks yellow in color, and hence it is more appetitive with the super luscious golden color crust. I do not find a close substitute in Indian ingredients. You can get them from the Indian stores. It has the long shelf time, so you can store for up to a year in kitchen counters.
Ginger & Garlic: Fresh ginger and garlic are great for making this recipe. And now, ginger is commonly found in leading grocery stores. If not you may skip this flavorful ingredient. Ginger and garlic added for easy digestion that is to counteract the natural negative factors of the Bengal gram in the vada recipe.
Cilantro: This fresh herb makes the dish to smell more genuine with the bold Indian flavors. If you have a chance to visit Indian stores, grab the cilantro from there. I find the Asian store’s cilantro has more robust flavors than the others.
Curry Leaves: As I always says, curry leaves are hard to find outside the Indian stores. You may skip if you do not have at home.
How to make dal vada crispy?
This is one of the important questions that you have in mind when you are landed here in this post. Getting them crispy is not involves any techniques or secrecy.
The chana dal has to be soaked perfectly to achieve nongreasy crispy vadas. Soak for one and a half to two hours. Try to break it between your thumb and forefinger with the nail. It has to split into two or three portions easily.
Over soaked dal leads to soggy and oily masal vada.
How to make paruppu vadai?
Preparing: Soak the bengal gram for the minimum for 11/2-2 hours. This stipulated time is perfect for the crispy, tasty vadai. If it is soaked for a longer period of time, it can be soggy and can absorb more oil while frying.
Then wash and rinse couple of times until clear water seen. Drain and keep aside.
Grinding: In a mixer blender, add chopped ginger, garlic, fennel seeds, cumin seeds, red chili, green chili, salt, and drained Bengal gram.
Grind it until it becomes a coarse and in thick consistency.
Note-Do not add water, the moisture for the soaked kadala paruppu is more than enough for the consistency.
Mix: In a mixing bowl, add ground mixture, chopped coriander leaves/cilantro, curry leaves, finely chopped onions.
Taste and adjust the salt.
Divide into equal sized small balls.
Deep-Fry: Heat oil in a heavy bottomed pan. When it raches hot enough for frying,
Press each ball between the palms and gently slide into the cooking oil. In the midium flame, cook it until all the sides are golden brown in color.
Serve: Transfer these vadas to the kitchen towel, to remove the excess oil. Serve hot with coconut chutney or tomato ketchup.
Do not forget to check out other interesting South Indian snack recipe, Banana Bonda.
Masal Vadai /Kadalai Paruppu Vadai
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Split chickpeas / Chana dal
- 1 Red Chili
- 1 Green Chili
- 1 Onion
- 10 Curry leaves
- 2 tbsp Ginger Grated
- 4 cloves Garlic
- 1 tsp Fennel seeds
- 1 tsp Cumin seeds
- 1/2 tsp Salt or as required
- 2 Cup Cooking Oil for Frying
Instructions
- Soak Bengal gram for about 1 hour.
- Grind ginger, garlic, fennel seeds, cumin, red chili. and followed by soaked Bengal gram and salt.
- To the mixture add minced onions, curry leaves, and green chilies. Make small balls out of the mixture and deep fry them in the oil till both the sides become golden in color.
- Our crispier Masal vadais are ready.
Nutrition
Serving Suggestions:
1. It is a crowd pleaser recipe, Best for making South Indian Parties. 2. Usually served as a snack for the evening time or as a side dish for lunch in South Indian homes.
Tips and Variations for Masal Vadai:
1. If the Bengal gram/ kadalai paruppu soaked for longer than the prescribed time, then it may be consuming more oil, while frying.
2. Fry the vadais/fritters in medium flame, these makes the vadais to cook completely.
3. For very crispier version, pat the vadai mixture into flat circles before frying them in oil.
4. In our home, we call them as amai vadai(maybe it resembles tortoise shell shape pattern), to get this pattern, we need to keep the ball mixture in between the center of our palms and press them gently to get, elliptical shape, makes the amai vadai, crispier extremes and softer in center.
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