Chana Dal Vada | South Indian Masala Vada Snack | Bengal Gram Fritter

Chana dal vada or masala vada is a south Indian tea time snack prepared using skinned bengal gram mixed with few spices. These are crunchy in texture and deep fried.

This chana dal vada is easy to prepare if dal is already soaked. Just grinding it with red chili, mixed with onion and few spices. Combine nicely and then deep fry. Ideally, dal should be coarse paste without adding any water but if any dental issue is there then make a fine paste with little water. Serve them with green coriander chutney or curry leaves chutney.

Course Appetizer, Snack

Cuisine Indian

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Soaking Time 4 hours

Total Time 25 minutes

Servings Serving

Calories

Author Bhawana

Ingredients

1 Cup bengal gram/chana dal
1 Big onion chopped finely
12-14 Curry leaves
3-4 Tblsp green coriander chopped finely
1 Tsp cumin seeds
1 Tsp grated ginger
Salt as per taste
2 Dry red chilies
1 pinch baking soda
Oil for deep frying

Instructions

First of all, soak chana dal or bengal gram with dry red chili for 3-4 hours in enough water. Keep it aside.
Meanwhile, prepare the rest of the ingredients.
After 3-4 hours drain all the water and grind chana dal to a coarse paste. It should not very smooth. If few pieces of chana dal remain than no worries. It will give extra crunch after deep frying.
Now in a mixing bowl take all the ingredients together and combine well.
Take the small amount of the mixture and flatten as shown in the pic. Do this with all the mixture. Chana dal vada fritters are ready to deep frying.
Heat oil in a kadhai on medium flame. Start adding these to the hot oil.
Fry them nicely till golden color comes. chana dal vada or masala vada is ready to serve hot with your favorite chutney and tea.
I enjoyed these chana dal vadas with my book and tea as an evening snack.

Notes

Grind dal without using water. If dal is soaked for good 3-4 hours then it contains enough moisture to make a coarse paste.
Avoid red chilies and use green chilies.
You can bake them if do not want deep fried.

Nutrition