How to make Simple South Indian Dahi Vada Traditional Recipe

Ingredients

    For Vada
    Urad Dal (Split black lentil) – 1 cup
    Water – ½ cup, for grinding
    Cumin seeds – 1 teaspoon
    Green chilies – 2, chopped finely
    Baking soda – a pinch
    Salt – to taste
    Oil – for deep frying
    For Yogurt Mixture
    Yogurt – 3 cups, well beaten
    Roasted cumin powder – 1 teaspoon
    Red chili powder – 1 teaspoon
    Salt – to taste
    Other ingredients
    Coriander Chutney – as needed
    Tamarind-date chutney – as needed
    Cilantro – chopped for garnishing
    Red chili powder – for garnishing

Directions

 Wash urad dal under running cold water till water runs clear.

Soak it in enough water for 4 hours.

After 4 hours drain all the water

and grind it into smooth paste using grinder. Use exactly ½ cup of water to grind. Remove it in a bowl.
Add cumin seeds, chopped green chilies, baking soda and salt.

Mix well.

Now using a spoon or by hand, beat the batter for 5 minutes or till it becomes light and fluffy. (Beat it well so vada will become fluffy and soft.)

While you beating batter, heat the oil on medium heat for deep frying. Wet your hand and take about 2 tablespoons of batter and slide it very carefully into hot oil.

Deep fry few vadas at a time. Deep fry vadas till golden brown.

Remove it on plate.

Now soak fried vadas in water for at least 45 minutes.

While vadas are soaking prepare yogurt mixture. Take beaten yogurt in a bowl. Add red chili powder, roasted cumin powder and salt.

Mix well. Keep in refrigerator till needed.

They will look like this after soaking for 45 minutes

Squeeze out the water from vadas. For that take vada between your palm and press to squeeze water.
Arrange 3 vadas in a plate.

Top it with yogurt mixture. Drizzle some coriander chutney and tamarind-date chutney as per your taste.

Sprinkle some red chili powder for garnishing and sprinkle some chopped cilantro leaves.

Serve immediately.