Parippu Vada - Channa dal Vada

Parippu vada is a popular evening snack to have with tea in kerala. It's crunchy and mildly spicy yummy treat, traditionally made with thuvar dal. Channa dal can also be used instead of thuvar dal/toor dal. Walk into a chaayakkada (teashop) in kerala and you can have these delicacies, to go with your tea in the evening .

Ingredients

2 cups - Thuvar dal or Channa dal ( I have used channa dal )
1 small - Onion, chopped very small
4 - Green chili, finely chopped
1tbsp - Ginger , finely chopped
10 - Curry leaves, finely chopped
Salt to taste
Vegetable oil to deep fry

Method

1 ) Soak dal for 2 - 3 hours. Drain well. There should not be any water.
2 ) In a food processor or blender, add little at a time some soaked dal and grind. The dal should be ground to a coarse paste - even if some dal remains not ground, its okay. As far as possible don't add any water.
3 ) Mix the chopped onion, green chili, ginger, curry leaves and mix well. Add salt to taste.
4 ) Wet your palms and take small amount of the dal mixture and make a ball. Place in the center of the palm and flatten to a round shape.
5 ) Pour oil in a wok or kadai to deep fry. Heat oil on medium heat. When the oil is hot, slide the vada's into the hot oil and fry on both sides to a golden brown colour. Remove from oil and drain.
Serve these crisp parippu vada with tea.