Dahi Vada

Dahi Vada

Ingredients

1 cup urad dal
1 green chili, chopped
½ inch ginger, chopped
1 tsp cumin seeds
a pinch of asafoetida
3 tbsp water for grinding the batter or as required
½ tbsp raisins
8-9 cashews, chopped
salt as required (i added ⅔ tsp rock salt)

other ingredients:
2  1/2 cups curd/yogurt
1 tsp chaat masala or as required
 ½ tsp red chili powder or as required
1 tsp roasted cumin powder
black salt or regular salt as required

for tamarind chutney:
½ cup seedless tamarind
1 1/4  cups water
½ tsp ginger powder
a pinch of asafoetida
½ tsp cumin seeds
¼ tsp red chili powder
7 to 8 tbsp jaggery or as required – adjust as per your taste
rock salt or black salt or regular salt as required
1 tsp oil

for green chutney:
2 cups coriander leaves
1  tsp anardana/dry pomegranate seeds or ½ to 1 tsp amchur powder/dry mango powder
salt as required
water as required

Method
Preparing the saunth or sweet tamarind chutney:
1. soak tamarind in water overnight or for 4-5 hours in a small bowl or pan.
2. with your hands, squeeze the pulp from the tamarind in the same bowl or pan.
3. strain the pulp and keep aside.
4. heat oil in a small pan.
5. lower the flame & add cumin seeds and let them crackle.
6. add saunth -
 powder, red chili powder, asafoetida.
7. stir and add the strained tamarind pulp
8. cook for 2-3 mins.
9. add the jaggery and salt and cook for 4-5 mins more.
10. the mixture would thicken.
11. let the saunth chutney mixture cool.
12. when cooled, store the saunth chutney in an air-tight dry jar or container.

preparing the green chutney:
1. grind all the ingredients mentioned under the green chutney list with little water.
2. remove and keep aside in a small bowl.
Preparing the vadas
1. first pick and then rinse the lentils for 3-4 times in water.
2. soak the lentils in enough water overnight or for 4-5 hours.
3. drain and add the lentils in a wet grinder.
4. also add chopped green chilies, chopped ginger, cumin seeds & asafoetida.
5. add water in intervals and grind to a smooth batter.
6. i used about 3 tbsp of water added in intervals while grinding the lentils.
7. take the ground batter in a bowl.
8. stir the batter briskly for a couple of minutes.
9. this makes the batter more light and fluffy.
10. add the raisins and chopped cashews along with salt.
11. stir and keep aside.
12. heat a kadai or pan with oil for deep frying.
13. when the oil becomes medium hot, add spoonfuls of the batter in the oil.
14. don’t be in a hurry to turn them.
15. when you see the vadas becoming pale golden from the base and sides, you can turn them.
16. fry the vadas till they become golden and crisp.
17. drain on paper towels.
18. in another bowl take water.
19. and add the vadas to the water.
20. soak them for 18-20 minutes.
21. take each vada and flatten and press between your palms to remove excess water.
22. place these vadas in the serving bowl.
23. whisk yogurt till smooth.
24. pour the yogurt over the vadas.
25. top with the green chutney and tamarind chutney as required.
26. sprinkle the red chili powder, roasted cumin powder, chaat masala and black salt.
27. garnish dahi vada with chopped coriander leaves.
28. serve dahi vada immediately or refrigerate and serve later.