Uzhunnu / Medu Vada

Uzhunnu / Medu ( meaning soft in tamil )/ Urad daal vada is a very popular south indian snack with the desirable traits being the crispy crackling outer shell and a soft pillowy inside, a bronze look but no trace of the recent oil bath- no oily smell or greasy taste. These soft vadas or indian doughnuts is not only part of everyday cuisine but is also an indispensable part of the menu on festivals and puja days.

What you need for Uzhunnu / medu vada:

• Urad daal - 1 cup
• Onion  -1 finely chopped
• Pepper corns-2 tbsp crushed
• Curry leaves -few chopped
• Green chilli -2 chopped
• Ginger -1 piece chopped
• Hing - a pinch 
• Salt to taste

The preparation method:

• Soak urad daal for 3 to 4 hours.Drain the water and grind it to a smooth paste adding a few tablespoons of water if required. Beat the dough repeatedly with hand so that the dough becomes fluffy and soft. To test the lightness of the dough , drop a small ball of dough into a bowl of water. If the dough floats then you have the perfect vada mix.
• Add ginger,green chilli,onion,pepper corns,hing,curry leaves and salt to taste to the ground paste and mix well .
• Keep aside for half an hour..
• Heat oil in a pan .Just add a pinch of the dough into hot oil,if this rises to the top immediately then the oil is hot enough to prepare the vadas.
• Wet your palm with cold water and take a small portion of the dough and roll it into a ball.Slightly flatten it and make a hole in the center using your finger.Slip this into hot oil (over medium flame).cook until it turns golden brown.
• Serve with coconut chutney.