Steamed Masala Vadas

Steamed Masala Vadas - Shobana Rao

Ingredients:

• Chana dal, 2 cups
• Onions, finely chopped, 1
• Ginger, finely chopped, 1 small piece
• Red Chillies, 3-4, or to taste
• Curry leaves, a few
• Peppercorns, 1 tsp
• Cooking Soda, 1/2 tsp
• Ghee, 1 tsp
• Lemon Juice, 1tbsp
• Salt, to taste

For Seasoning:

• Ghee, 1 tbsp
• Mustard Seeds, 1 tsp
• Curry leaves, a few
• Turmeric ( Haldi) 1/2 tsp
• Asafoetida (Hing) a pinch
• Freshly grated Coconut, 3 tbsp. * I used only 1 and 1/2 tbsp
• Salt, a little
• Sugar, 1 tsp
• Lime Juice, 1 tbsp

Method:

Wash and soak the chana dal for 3-4 hours. Drain the water and keep aside.

In a mixer, add red chillies, onions, ginger, curry leaves, peppercorns, salt, chana dal, and cooking soda and grind to a coarse paste.

Remove the mixture into a bowl and add a little ghee and lime juice, and mix well

Make small bite-size dumplings and steam cook for 10 minutes. Once done, remove, cool and keep aside

In a pan, heat ghee for tempering. When the ghee is hot add mustard seeds. When they crackle, add red chillies, pinch of hing, haldi powder, curry leaves, freshly grated coconut, very little salt, sugar, lime juice, and mix well

Add the steam cooked dumplings and saute them gently for a few minutes

Remove and serve hot.