Mixed Dal Vada

Pappula Vada.

Three different dals are soaked in water and ground into coarse paste and mixed with freshly ground spices and onion. The small amount of mixture is flattened on the palm and then left in hot oil and fried till golden brown in color. Serve mixed dal vada immediately as a tea time snack.
Makes: around 8 Mixed Dal Vada.

Ingredients:

Chana Dal 1/2 Cup
Urad Dal 1/8 Cup
Moong Dal 1/8 Cup
Raw Rice 1 Tbsp
Ginger 1 inch Piece
Green Chiles 2 – 3
Onion 1 Small
Coriander Seeds 1 tsp
Cloves 4
Cardamom 1
Cinnamon 1 inch Piece
Oil for Deep Frying

Method of preparation:

Soak chana dal, urad dal, moong dal, rice in enough water for around 4 – 6 hours.
Remove stems, wash and finely chop the green chiles.
Peel, wash and finely chop the onion.
Peel and roughly chop the ginger.

Grind the coriander seeds, cloves, cardamom, cinnamon into fine powder using spice grinder.
Grind the soaked dals, ginger, salt into coarse paste using a blender.
Add least amount of water only if necessary while grinding the dals.

In a mixing bowl, mix together chopped green chiles, chopped onion, ground spice powder, mixed dals coarse paste and salt (if necessary).

Heat oil in a deep fying pan on medium low heat.
Take a lemon sized portion of the mixed dal mixture and form into small ball.
Flatten the ball on the palm of your left hand and slowly drop into hot oil.
Repeat the same until surface of the oil is filled up.
Fry the mixed dal vada on both sides till golden brown in color.
Once fried, remove the mixed dal vada onto absorbent paper.
Repeat the same with any remaining mixed dal mixture.
Serve mixed dal vada immediately as a tea time snack.
Notes: Make sure to adjust the temperature where necessary to fry the dal vada evenly.

Suggestions: If the dal vada is soft inside, put them back into hot oil and deep fried again till crisp outside and cooked inside.
Variations: You can also add coriander leaves or mint leaves to the dal vada mixture before deep frying.
Other Names: Mixed Dal Vada, Pappula vada. .

Methi Chana Patoli

Methi Chana Patoli

Fenugreek leaves are cooked in oil along with onion and spices. It is then cooked with steamed and crumbled chana dal mixture. Serve methi chana patoli with steamed rice and dollop of ghee.
Makes: around 4 Servings of Methi Chana Patoli.

Ingredients:

Chana Dal 1/2 Cup
Onion 1
Fenugreek Leaves 1 Cup Packed
Green Chiles 1
Ginger 1 inch Piece
Lemon Juice 1 Tbsp
Turmeric Powder 1/4 tsp
Salt to Taste

Talimpu:

Mustard Seeds 1/4 tsp
Cumin Seeds 1/4 tsp
Urad Dal 1/4 tsp
Broken Dried Red Chiles 3 – 4
Asafoetida a Big Pinch
Curry Leaves 5
Oil 2 tsps

Method of preparation:

Peel and finely chop the onion.
Remove stem, wash and finely chop the green chile.
Peel, wash and mince the ginger.
Wash and roughly chop the fenugreek leaves.
Soak chana dal in water for around 4 hours.

Coarsely grind the soaked chana dal and salt with few tablespoons of water.
Pour the chana dal mixture in idly moulds and steam for around 10 minutes.
Once warm enough to handle, crumble the steamed chana dal.

Heat oil in a pan, add all talimpu ingredients in order.
When mustard seeds start spluttering, add chopped onion, green chiles and ginger.
Fry till onion turns translucent, add fenugreek leaves and salt.
Fry fenugreek leaves for few seconds, add crumbled steamed chana dal and turmeric powder.
Mix thoroughly and cook on low flame for around 5 minutes and remove from heat.
Stir in lemon juice and serve methi chana patoli with steamed rice and dollop of ghee.
Notes: Make sure chana dal is cooked well before removing from heat.

Suggestions: Adjust spice with green chiles or red chiles.
Variations: You can also fry the ground chana dal paste in the pan without steaming it though it takes longer time to cook. Check other fenugreek leaves recipes here.
Other Names: Methi Chana Patoli.