Dahi Vada / Dahi Bhalla / Lentil Dumplings in Yoghurt

Fluffy lentil dumplings smothered in creamy yogurt and drizzled with spicy chutneys - a North Indian snack/street food.

  

Dahi vada is a very popular snack/chat item of North India. It can be served as a starter, appetizer or as a side.The wonderful rich and creamy taste of dahi vada make it on  the top list of Indian chat.

South India's famous Thayir Vadai is very close to dahi vada - just the shape and the spices used to garnish are different, and usually thayir vadai doesnt have chutneys drizzled over it.

INGREDIENTS-

• Urad daal/White lentils-3/4 cup
• Moong daal/Yellow lentils-1.5 tbsp
• Yogurt-2.5 cup 
• Chopped ginger-1.5 tsp
• Raisins-1.5 tbsp
• Cashew pieces-1.5 tbsp
• Cumin seeds-1/2 tsp
• Fresh coriander-1 tbsp

To Garnish-

• Date and tamrind chutney-1/2 cup
• Green chutney/coriander dip-1/2 cup
• Roasted cumin powder-1 tsp
• Chili powder-1 tsp
• Table salt-1 tsp
• Black salt-1/2 tsp

PROCEDURE-

  
1. Wash and soak both the lentils together in sufficient water for a minimum of 6 hours.
2. Wash them again and grind to make a smooth paste.
3. Whisk the ground lentil paste well to make it fluffy. To check if its fluffy enough - drop a small ball of batter in a cup of water,if it floats over it ,then it's done ,but if it sinks in the bottom then you need to whisk the paste some more.
4. When the paste has been whisked enough, add chopped ginger, chopped fresh coriander, cumin seeds, raisins and cashew nut pieces.to it and mix again.
5. Heat oil in a pan, wet your hands and take small portions of the batter in your hand and drop small balls of it in the hot oil  OR  take the mixture in a wet spoon and drop it gently in the oil.
6. Deep fry them to a nice golden colour on medium heat. Drain and keep aside.
7. Take approx 4 glasses of water in a big bowl and  add 1 tsp of salt to it and mix.
8. Now add all the fried vadas in the salted water, cover and let them soak for 1 hour or till they become soft.
9. Once soaked, take them out from the water, gently squeeze between your palm and put into the serving plate.
10. Take chilled yogurt in a bowl and whisk well, add approx 1/ 2 cup water and 1 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black salt and mix well.
11. Drizzle yogurt, date chutney and green chutney on the vadas. 
12. Sprinkle roasted cumin powder, black salt and chili powder.
13. Serve chilled.

 

 

 

 NOTE-

1-You can made dahi vada just with white lentils (urad daal).

2- Addition of ginger, raisins and cashews are optional.

3-You have to beat the batter well to make soft vadas.

4-Fry them on medium heat - if you fry on high heat then they will remain uncooked from inside and if you cook on low heat, then they will absorb too much oil and may become hard.