Dahi Vada ~ Indian Appetizer

Hello Foodies,

Dahi Vada, a delicious Indian appetizer in which the vada/ dumplings are made of urad dal and soaked in spicy beaten yogurt. The yogurt for Dahi Vada is thick, creamy, chilled and sweetened with sugar which is poured over the soft vadas.  It is served with a topping of tamarind-date chutney, black salt, chaat masala, red chili powder, and roasted cumin powder. This appetizer is served chilled, that makes it more yummy and delicious. Dahi Vada are also made in festivals like Holi, Diwali, Vijaya Dashami and so on.

Soaking Time: Overnight or 6 hours

Preparation Time: 25 minutes

Cooking Time: 35 minutes

Yield: 10- 12 vadas

Ingredients: 

For Vada:-

• Urad dal (without skin) ~ 1 cup
• Ginger ~ 1 inch, grated
• Green chilies ~ 2, chopped
• Oil ~ for frying the vadas
• Sweet soda ~ a pinch
• salt to taste

For Dahi:-

• Yogurt ~ 2 cup
• Roasted cumin powder ~ 1,½ tsp
• Red chilli powder ~ 1/4 tsp
• Powdered sugar ~ as required
• Coriander leaves ~ ½ cup 
• Salt to taste
• Water ~ ½ cup

For Garnish:-

• Black salt
• Chat masala
• Roasted  cumin powder
• Tamarind-date chutney
• Sev

How to prepare:

• Soak urad dal in about 2 cups of water for overnight (preferred) or 6 hours.
• Drain the water and grind the soaked urad dal with very little water just enough to make smooth batter.
• Add grated ginger, green chillies, and red chilli powder to the batter.
• Beat this batter for 10 - 15 minutes to make light and fluffy vadas.
• Heat oil in a flat frying pan on  medium flame.
• With the help of a spoon, drop the batter in form of vada in the oil.
• Fry the vada on both the sides until golden brown. Drain excess oil on paper towel.
• Repeat to complete the rest of the batter, fry in batches.
• Now dip this fried vadas in lukewarm water for about 20 minutes.
• After 20 minutes, squeeze out excess water from vadas and keep them aside.
• Mix 2 cup of yogurt with ½ cup water, roasted cumin powder, red chilli powder, powdered sugar, coriander leaves and salt to taste. Keep it aside.
• In a deep flat dish, layer the fried vadas and pour the yogurt mixture over them to cover completely and keep in the refrigerator for few hours before serving.
• To serve, take 2 or 3 vadas in a plate with some yogurt, tamarind-date chutney and sprinkle red chilli powder, roasted cumin powder, chat masala, black salt and sev on top.

Hope you people loved this recipe of Dahi Vada and would definitely try this recipe at your home. Kindly post your suggestions and feedback to us.
Stay tuned for more tasty and healthy homemade Indian recipes.
Happy Cooking! Enjoy!