Sambar Vada

Ingredients

• 1 cup Urad Dal (Split Black Gram)
• 0.5 cup Toor Dal (Pigeon Peas)
• 2 tablespoons Sambar Powder
• 1 tablespoon Tamarind Paste
• 1.5 cups Mixed Vegetables (Drumstick, Carrot, Pumpkin)
• 2 pieces Green Chilies
• 1 inch Ginger
• 10 leaves Curry Leaves
• 1 teaspoon Mustard Seeds
• 0.25 teaspoon Asafoetida (Hing)
• 2 cups Vegetable Oil
• 1 teaspoon Salt

Instructions

1. 1

   Soak urad dal for 4 hours, then grind into a thick, fluffy batter using minimal water.

2. 2

   Whisk the batter vigorously for 5 minutes to incorporate air, then mix in chopped ginger, green chilies, and salt.

3. 3

   Pressure cook toor dal with vegetables and turmeric until soft, then mash the dal slightly.

4. 4

   Add tamarind paste, sambar powder, and salt to the dal mixture; simmer for 10 minutes until aromatic.

5. 5

   Prepare a tempering by heating oil with mustard seeds, curry leaves, and hing, then pour it over the sambar.

6. 6

   Heat oil for deep frying; shape the urad dal batter into donuts with a hole in the center and fry until golden brown.

7. 7

   Briefly dip the fried vadas in warm water for 30 seconds and squeeze gently to soften them.

8. 8

   Place vadas in a deep bowl, pour hot sambar over them, and garnish with fresh coriander before serving.