Custrd is out on the App Store — Download it free →
Back to recipes

Masala Vada

Crispy, spiced lentil fritters that are a popular South Indian snack. These are crunchy on the outside, soft inside, and perfect with tea or as a starter.

Total time
30 min
Servings
4
Calories
220
Protein
10g
Masala Vada
ComfortingIndianVeganVegetarianGluten-FreeLegumeCrispySoft

Ingredients

  • 1 cup chana dal
  • 1 medium onion
  • 2 whole green chili
  • 1 inch ginger
  • 10 leaves curry leaves
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  1. 1

    Soak the 1 cup chana dal in water for 2 hours, then drain well.

  2. 2

    Grind the dal with 2 green chilies, 1 inch ginger, and 1 tsp salt into a coarse, thick paste without adding water.

  3. 3

    Mix in 1 finely chopped onion and 10 chopped curry leaves. The batter should be thick and hold together.

  4. 4

    Heat oil for deep frying over medium. Drop spoonfuls of batter, flatten slightly, and fry until golden brown and crisp, about 4-5 minutes per side.

  5. 5

    Drain on paper towels and serve hot with chutney or ketchup.

Tools you’ll need

  • Food processor or blender
  • Deep frying pan
  • Slotted spoon
  • Mixing bowl

Cook smarter

Get matched recipes for what’s in your fridge

Custrd is a free iOS app that finds real recipes from the ingredients you already have. No more grocery-list aspirations.