Lemongrass Dal Vada


South Indian food teams really well with typical Southeast Asian ingredients. Here, we are giving this classic south Indian dish a fresh twist by adding lemongrass, a popular Southeast Asian ingredient, and serving it with a red curry dip.


 South Indian food teams really well with typical Southeast Asian ingredients. Here, we are giving this classic south Indian dish a fresh twist by adding lemongrass, a popular Southeast Asian ingredient, and by serving with a red curry dip.

 

Table of Content

Lemongrass Dal Vada is a popular snack in India and is often served as an appetizer or as a side dish with the main meal. It can be enjoyed plain or with a dipping sauce
Aromatics like onions, herbs, and spices give a lovely flavor and taste to Dal Vada. No wonder it is a popular and favorite South Indian snack. These are crispy, crunchy, and tasty, and make for a great tea-time snack. Dal Vada is a healthy snack option as it is made with lentils which are a good source of protein. They are also low in fat and high in fiber.
It is also a popular party snack and can be made ahead of time and served when needed. If you are looking for a delicious and easy snack recipe, do give Dal Vada a try! I am sure you will love it as much as we do.


How to make Lemongrass Dal vada?

1) To make the traditional chana dal vada, soak the chana dal and Masoor dal in water for at least 2 hours. Then drain and grind the dal into a fine paste. Add salt, green chilies, then finely chop the lemongrass ginger. Hand crush the fried curry leaves and add them along with cumin seeds to the paste, and mix well.
Dal Vada

2) In a separate bowl, whisk together besan (chickpea flour), rice flour, baking soda, and salt. Add water and whisk to make a smooth batter.
Lemongrass Dal Vada

3) To shape the vadas, take a small portion of the dal mixture and shape it into a ball. Then flatten it slightly and make a small indentation in the center. Dip the vada in the batter so that it is well coated.
Lemongrass Vada

 

4) Deep fry the vada in hot oil until golden brown. Serve hot with chutney or ketchup.Lemongrass Dal Vada



Quick and Easy Lemongrass Dal Vada Recipe

  1. The quick and easy lemon grass dal vada recipe is South Indian-style Masala Vada. For this recipe, you will need to soak chana dal, urad dal, and moong dal in water for at least 2 hours. Then drain and grind the dal into a fine paste.
  2. Add salt, green chilies, ginger, curry leaves, and cumin seeds to the paste and mix well. In a separate bowl, whisk together besan (chickpea flour), rice flour, baking soda, and salt. Add water and whisk to make a smooth batter.
  3. To shape the vadas, take a small portion of the dal mixture and shape it into a ball. Then flatten it slightly and make a small indentation in the center. Dip the vada in the batter so that it is well coated.
  4. Deep fry the vadas in hot oil until golden brown. Serve hot with chutney or ketchup.

 

Suggested cookware for the recipe 

 

Lemongrass Dal Vada Serving

Coconut Chutney

Traditionally, coconut chutney is made by grinding fresh coconut, green chilies, ginger, and cumin seeds together with some water to form a thick paste. This paste is then seasoned with salt and tamarind juice to taste.
Nowadays, there are many different ways to make coconut chutney with some recipes using ready-made coconut milk or cream instead of fresh coconut. This makes the chutney much easier to prepare, and also results in a richer and more flavorful dish.
Coconut chutney is usually served as a dip or condiment for savory dishes such as dal vada, idli, dosa, and uttapam. It can also be used as a spread for sandwiches or as a topping for curries and rice dishes.


Coriander Chutney

Coriander chutney is a popular condiment in Indian cuisine that is made from fresh coriander leaves, green chilies and ginger. The ingredients are ground together to form a thick paste, which is then seasoned with salt and lemon juice to taste.
This chutney is commonly served with savory dishes such as dal vada, idli, dosa and uttapam. It can also be used as a spread for sandwiches or as a topping for curries and rice dishes.


Tomato Ketchup

Tomato ketchup is a popular condiment all over the world and is also commonly used in Indian cuisine. It is made from tomatoes, vinegar, sugar, salt, and spices.
This simple condiment can be used as a dip for fried foods such as dal vada, chicken tikka or fish fingers.

 

 Expert Tips

  1. If you want to make lemongrass dal vada without onions, simply omit them from the recipe. Remember to add a generous pinch of asafoetida to mimic the onion flavors. 
  2. Soaking chana dal for more than 2 hours will make them less crispy and crunchy. If you want a thicker batter, add some rice flour to it.
  3. When shaping the vadas, make sure the mixture is thick and coarse. Do not make it fine, superfine, or runny. If the batter becomes flowing, then add some rice flour to thicken it.
  4. Both of these recipes are easy to make and produce delicious, crunchy vadas that are perfect for snacking on. So next time you're in the mood for something fried and tasty, give one of these recipes a try!

 

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