Masala Vadai
Masala Vadai is popular every day snack that goes well with coffee or tea.
It is also a popular dish during festival days. More like a starter dish. Typically a sweet called, Kesari will be made during breakfast on festival days (or other auspicious days or family occassions). The combo that goes with Kesari is Masala Vadai.
Masala here means not the spices but various ingredients used. Hence it is upto your imagination to add several ingredients to make Masala Vadai.
This is a vegetarian dish. You should check a non-veg dish Prawn Vadai which uses a similar recipe but Prawns are added.
Here let us make a simple masala vadai using basic ingredients.
Wash and Soak Bengal gram (Channa dal) in water and keep it untouched for four hours (for best results keep it overnight).
Grind the dal (from Step 1) coarsely and mix with chopped veggies (from Step 2).
Add rice flour, salt and mix well. This is called Masala for making Masala Vadai.
Photo of Masala for making Masala vadai:
Make medium sized balls with the mixture and keep them aside.
Heat oil in a deep fry pan (traditionally it is Vaanal for us).
Take a ball from Step 4, flatten it.
Then gently place it in the hot oil.
Fry both sides till they turn golden brown.
Take care not to blacken them.
Remove from oil and add the next batch.
Fry 4-5 masala vadai per batch.
Serve hot in a plate. Goes well with Coffee or Tea or as such you can eat multiple masala vadai.
Popular dish and drinks to go with Masala Vadai includes:
Kesari, Filter coffee, Chai (tea)
Other names/spelling variations of Masala Vadai:
Masala vadai, Masala vada, Mashala vadai, Mashala vada, masala vada.
Leftover tips:
Leftover Masala Vadai made during breakfast can be used as all day snack item or side dish for lunch or dinner.