Vada Curry

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend and celebrations? I'm sure it turned out to be a day of feasting and fun. I'm delighted to say it marks 4 years of blogging and posting my favourite recipes here. Thanks to each one of you for inspiring me to keep doing this. And today I present to you the classic and every so special South Indian treat that is an universal companion to Idlis, Dosas, Pooris and what not!

 You got it right! One can smitten me instantly with this dish and you'll learn why very soon...

















Ingredients:

 For the Vadai
  • 1/2 cup kadala paruppu/ bengal gram
  • 1/2 cup urad dal/ulunthum paruppu
  • 1/2 cup chopped onions
  • 7-8 garlic cloves
  • 2 green chillies
  • 7-8 curry leaves
  • 2 tbsp of chopped coriander
  • salt to taste
  • Oil to deep fry

Method:
  1. Soak the kadala paruppu and ulunthum paruppu together for about 2-3 hours.
  2. Grind it in the mixer along with chillies and garlic. Place this in a wide bowl.
  3. Add salt, coriander, onion and curry leaves and mix together. 
  4. The consistency should be enough to make a ball and pat it.
  5. Heat a deep pan with enough oil on medium-high.
  6. Pat the mixture and drop it gently into the pan. With a ladle flip the vadas every few minutes.
  7. Remove the vadas when they are golden brown and place on a kitchen paper/ tissue paper to drain excess oil.
  8. Keep all your vadas aside. 

Ingredients:

 For the Curry
  • 2 cups of finely chopped onions
  • 1 cup of finely chopped tomatoes
  • 3 cloves
  • 1/2 inch of cinnamon stick
  • 1 tbsp of ginger garlic paste
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 tbsp of chopped coriander
  • 2 tbsp of coconut milk
  • 1 tsp of chilli powder
  • 1/2 tsp of turmeric powder
  • 1/2 tsp of coriander powder
  • 1/2 cup of water
  • 1 tsp of salt
  • 3 tbsp of groundnut oil/ vegetable oil

Method:
  1. Heat oil in a pan on medium heat.
  2. Temper with cinnamon, cloves and bay leaves.
  3. Add the onions and 1/2 tsp of salt. Saute till they become translucent.
  4. Mix the ginger-garlic paste and the chopped tomatoes. Allow it to cook well. The raw smell of the tomatoes should go. 
  5. Then add the turmeric powder, coriander powder and chilli powder. Saute for a few minutes.
  6. Make the vada into small pieces and toss it in. 
  7. Pour 1/2 cup of water and gently give stir. Pop the lid on and allow it to come together.
  8. Garnish with coriander and serve it hot with soft idlis, pooris or crispy dosas.
  9. A perfect way to start a special day.