109: Recipe: Medhu Vada

I have been real lazy since the vacations have started....well thats OK I guess.. but I have not blogged and the amount of blog posts I had were piling up... So woke up this rainy Christmas morning deciding to post everything I had....First up is the yummy Medhu Vada recipe....or the deep fried spiced Indian Doughnut :) I must say this is the first time I was actually able to shape it into a doughnut... my previous attempt, they were medhu vada balls....Realized the consistency of the batter is extremely important if you want the shape to be perfect...If all u care about is taste and not the way it looks don't worry about the batter.

Here is the recipe for around 20 medhu vadas (courtesy my darling Aunt Vidhikka....who also gave me the moral support I needed  to make the perfect doughnut shaped vadas)

2 cups split black gram (Urad Dal)
2  tbsp. rice flour
1 tsp. Ginger(grated)
1/2 large onion, finely chopped
8 - 10 whole black pepper (Alternate: 2-3 green chilies, finely chopped)
1 tsp. cumin seeds
Salt to taste

Wash and soak the urad dal in plenty of water for about 6-7 hours. Drain and grind it into a smooth paste. You should be able to feel the fine grainy texture when you rub a little paste between your fingers. The batter should also be thick enough to shape the vadas. If grinding in a blender, grind in small batches with very little water. Add as little water as possible. Once the batter is ready, you can refrigerate this batter for a few days. I refrigerated it overnight. If not, add all other ingredients and beat well. Beating incorporates air and makes the vadas fluffy. Refrigerate for 30 mins before frying.  Heat oil, wet your palm with a little water and take a small ball of batter. Lightly flatten it and make a hole in the middle with thumb. Slip gently into hot oil, repeat for more. Deep fry the vadas on medium heat. Remove when they turn golden brown and drain them on paper. Serve with some delicious sambhar.