Medu vada is a popular south Indian breakfast also known as garelu or vadai. The are doughnut shaped fried dumplings made with lentils. This post shares tips & tricks to make the best crispy yet fluffy vada at home using a mixer grinder (blender).

Recipe Snapshot

  • Prep time: 255 minutes
  • Cook time: 25 minutes
  • Total time: 280 minutes
  • Yield: 15
  • Category: Breakfast
  • Cuisine: Andhra, Indian

Ingredients

  • 1 cup urad dal ((or skinned black gram))
  • ⅓ teaspoon salt ((adjust to taste))
  • Ice cold water
  • Oil (for deep frying)
  • ¼ to ½ teaspoon pepper corn ((crushed coarsely))
  • 2 to 3 green chilies ((chopped))
  • 4 tablespoon onions ((chopped) (1 small))
  • 1 sprig curry leaves ((chopped))
  • ½ teaspoon cumin seeds ((jeera))
  • 1 teaspoon ginger (fine grated)

Method

Preparation

  1. Wash dal several times and soak in lot of water for at least 4 to 5 hrs.
  2. Drain the water completely and transfer the dal to a mixer grinder jar. If you have a wet grinder, you can use it.
  3. Sprinkle 3 tablespoons water. Next add salt and start grinding.
  4. Next scrape off the sides and then grind again. Whenever needed sprinkle only as much as 1 ½ tsps. Ice cold water evenly.
  5. Again continue to grind to a coarse thick batter. Ensure your grinder does not become hot.
  6. Sprinkle water. Grind again till the batter looks fluffy and white.
  7. Transfer this to a bowl. Aerate the batter by beating it with your hand in a clockwise direction for 30 to 60 seconds.
  8. Test the batter if it is aerated well. Drop a small batter ball in bowl full of water. The ball has to float meaning it is light. This is needed to get fluffy medu vada.
  9. If the batter doesn't float well, means either the batter is runny or is not aerated well. Read the notes below to know what to do with runny batter.
  10. If the batter is in right consistency still it is not floating well. Then beat the batter once more.
  11. Add crushed pepper, cumin, ginger,scurry leaves, green chilies and onions. Mix everything well.

How To Make Medu Vada

  1. Heat oil in a deep heavy bottom kadai or pan on a medium heat till hot enough.
  2. Drop a small amount of batter to check if the oil is hot. The batter raises if the oil is hot enough.
  3. Dip your fingers in water or oil to moisten your fingers. Water should not be dripping.
  4. Take small portions of batter. Shape to a ball, slightly flatten with thumb.
  5. Dip the thumb in water, again no dripping water. Make a hole in the center.
  6. Gently slide the vada in the hot oil by gently shaking off the fingers.
  7. Or place the ball on a greased sheet. Flatten it slightly and make a hole in the centre.
  8. If the oil becomes too hot, regulate the flame to medium.
  9. Moisten your fingers again. Lift the corner part of the sheet and transfer the vada on to your fingers. Then drop it just by shaking your fingers.
  10. Fry medu vada till they turn golden on both sides.
  11. Make them and fry them in batches till you use up all the batter. In between every batch, wait till the oil heats up, if not hot.
  12. Serve medu vada with coconut chutney or tiffin sambar.

Kiyaan Singh’s Kitchen Note

Keep this recipe as a working base: cook once as written, then adjust spice, texture, and serving style for your own table.