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    Home » Vegetarian Starters and Snacks » Masala Vada

    Masala Vada

    Published: Jul 23, 2007 · Modified: Sep 23, 2020 by Srivalli · 20 Comments

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    Masaal Vaade ...Masaale Vaade....wondering what this is all about? then...how about this.. .."kanyakumariku Sellum Reealli Eranddavathu Flatformaarathil Eruthu Seela dodikalli Kalamba Thaiyaraga Eerukirathu"...wow..finally was able to translate Tamil into English...For my non-Tamil readers - the train leaving for Kanyakumari is about to start in Platform No : 2. I have always had such difficulty writing Tanglish.. You might ask what I was trying to depict here. I was trying to get in the mood and atmosphere right for serving Masala Vada. Masala Vada is a perennial snack sold very fervently in Railway Platforms down South India. One familiar with this scene will appreciate the passion and admiration this snack bestows on one unexpected traveler.
     
    As a kid, traveling many times by train I have seen and enjoyed this snack by sight and never really tasted it. We were never allowed to eat anything sold in the platforms. I can only vouch it tastes excellent by the ardent invitation this attracts the moment it is brought through the platform. The aroma wading through the platform, the vendor bustling around the crowd, to get his stuff sold, the kids cajoling their parents to get them, Masala Vada is sure a sight to watch.
     
     
     
    Apart from this, you have different foodie vendors assaulting your senses with their wares.
     
    I was reminded of all these when we made this at home. Amma's Masala Vada is very famous, it disappears the moment it makes a presence. Well, I normally don't count how many I eat, being a typical lover of this. It is said Masala Vada goes with Chai, but I vouch for Vada with Coffee! Yes, take a bite of vada and gulp a mouthful of coffee, nothing to beat this around.

    Well let me get down to the way we do this at home..

    Masala Vada

    Serves : 15 medium sized Vadas
    Soaking Time + Preparation Time : 3 hrs
    Cooking Time : 15 mins
    Cuisine : Tamil Nadu

    Ingredients Needed:

    Bengal Gram / Channa Dal - 1 cup (200 gms)
    Onion - 1 big
    Green Chilli - 2
    Red Chilli - 2
    Ginger - 1" (optional)
    Coriander leaves - as desired
    Fennel Seeds - 1 tsp
    Salt to taste
    Curry leaves few
    Oil for deep frying

    Method to prepare:

    Clean and soak channa dal for min 2 hrs. Except 2 tbsp of Channa dal, grind the dal with Chillies coarsely. Mix the whole channa dal to the coarsely ground dal.

    Chop Onions, Coriander, Ginger finely. Mix this with the dal to form a good mixture.

    Heat Oil in a pan. Divide the dal mix into small balls, flatten them into small patties, either using your palm or using a wet plastic cover.

    Once the oil is hot, deep fry each one until its well cooked. Normally takes around 5 mins on sim for each one to be ready.

     

     

    How you serve this is entirely your choice. On pretext of sampling, I normally eat one or two, while frying them. Rest I either serve as such or else with Coconut Chutney. But on its own Masala Vada is a match for anything!
     
    Enjoy this snack anytime of the day!

    Recipe

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    Masala Vada

    Cuisine Tamil Nadu
    Dish Type Deep Fried Dishes
    Author Srivalli
    Tried this recipe?Mention @cooking4all or tag #cooking4all!

    Very similar batter is steamed and served in states like Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, they call this Bafauri

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Cinnamon says

      July 23, 2007 at 10:47 am

      yumm.. hot hot masala vada with coconut chutney.. heaven isnt it 🙂
      I just love those!!

      Reply
    2. Jyothi says

      July 23, 2007 at 1:21 pm

      Wow, that is my favourite evening snack. Looks yummy and tasty. Hey sri! that plate is only for me, right? I am coming.....on the way...thanks dear.

      Reply
    3. Richa says

      July 23, 2007 at 12:19 pm

      true, railway stns are well known for the yummy snacks they sell 🙂 liked the addn of fennel, do u add it crushed or whole?

      Reply
    4. Srivalli says

      July 23, 2007 at 12:31 pm

      Absolutely Cinnamon

      Richa..it is added as whole..it gives a good taste to the Vada...

      Reply
    5. Asha says

      July 23, 2007 at 12:33 pm

      I am drooling over here! I love Masala vada,mine is similar recipe too.Looks delicious,so goldes.We have Railway station Maddur vadas like that.So yummy!:))
      Thanks for your mom's recipe Sri!:)

      Reply
    6. archana says

      July 23, 2007 at 12:42 pm

      You are making my mouth water with those pictures:)
      I love them.Nice recipe with fennel seeds 🙂

      Reply
    7. Raji says

      July 23, 2007 at 2:09 pm

      wooooooo
      i wish i was there
      i can eat as many as i can imagine
      they look beautiful srivalli

      Reply
    8. Sharmi says

      July 23, 2007 at 2:42 pm

      you brought a little nostalgia in me with that post. I too used to love having such stuff while we traveled via erode we used to get hot appams, idlis etc. all childhood memories.
      adding fennel in vada is new.

      Reply
    9. Dee says

      July 23, 2007 at 4:30 pm

      hot masala vada with some chutney is yummy isnt it ???

      Reply
    10. bee says

      July 23, 2007 at 4:45 pm

      wicked wicked dish.

      Reply
    11. Neelam says

      July 23, 2007 at 7:16 pm

      Wow nice masala vadas never tried at home but do remember eating them back home, should try your recipe looks so simple.

      Reply
    12. Padma says

      July 24, 2007 at 12:05 am

      These vadas always remind me of my train journey from bombay to vizag...
      They are part of our snacks in everyday life too, thanks for sharing your mom's recipe...its been a while I made these vadas at home, ur recipe now has inspired me to do!
      Nice pics ya!

      Reply
    13. Coffee says

      July 24, 2007 at 12:23 am

      I am on the railway station now...... (in my dreams) eating your delicious wadas!!! 😉

      Reply
    14. Sig says

      July 24, 2007 at 1:01 am

      🙂 ur post brought back some nice memories, though I wasn't a big fan of train food, I can hear those vendors when I read this... and smell the food too... 🙂 Vadas look great!

      Reply
    15. Roopa says

      July 24, 2007 at 1:43 am

      yummy! i love masala vadas i make it similar way without fennel. Adding fennel seeds is different!

      Reply
    16. Vcuisine says

      July 24, 2007 at 5:08 am

      Yummy Vadas Srivalli. Viji

      Reply
    17. Srivalli says

      July 24, 2007 at 6:58 am

      Thanks Asha..glad you liked them...yeah Amma makes maddur vadas also...

      Thanks archana..

      Sure Jyothi...you are most welcome...

      Thanks for your nice words Raji

      Glad I did Sharmi...

      Sure is Dee

      hahah...feel good that you find this wicked bee

      thanks Neelam..do try it

      Good Padma ..try it out and let me know..

      hhaha...thanks ..Coffee..do remember to get down in the correct station..:)

      Thanks Sig..glad I was able to get back such memories..

      yeah...Roopa..glad you also prepare it the same way

      Thanks Viji

      Reply
    18. sri says

      July 19, 2008 at 7:25 pm

      how do you get your vada to be such a beautiful golden brown? mine always seem to come out much darker.

      Reply
    19. andhratreat says

      July 17, 2009 at 4:56 am

      tasty ....i like this recipe soo much

      Reply
    20. Sudeshna says

      September 01, 2009 at 3:24 pm

      Once while coming back from Shivasamudram in Karnataka, I had these masala vadas at a roadside stall. They tasted so delicious, but I never found out an authentic recipe for this one, thanks for sharing it Sri.

      Reply

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    Hi! Seasons change, yet there are some timeless recipes you can enjoy anytime. If you are sport for it, you are in the right place!

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