Cookbook:Medu Vada (South Indian Savory Lentil Donut)

| Indian Cuisine

A vada is a savoury South Indian doughnut made from lentils (or sometimes potatoes). This is a recipe for medu vada. It is commonly accompanied by idli.

Ingredients

 * 1 cup (240 g) skinless black gram
 * Salt to taste
 * &frac14; tsp asafoetida
 * 8–10 curry leaves
 * 1 tsp cumin powder
 * 1 tsp crushed black peppercorns
 * Oil to fry

Procedure

 * 1) Wash and soak urad dal for 6 hours. Grind into a fine paste.
 * 2) Add salt, asafoetida, curry leaves, cumin powder, and crushed peppercorns to the batter and mix well.
 * 3) Heat oil in a kadai.
 * 4) Wet your palms and take batter into the palms.
 * 5) Shape into balls and make a hole with the thumb in the centre like a doughnut.
 * 6) Deep-fry this in medium-hot oil until golden brown and crisp.
 * 7) Serve hot with sambhar and coconut chutney.