This South Indian snack brings back memories of going down to the shops in my hometown and after working up an appetite after all the walking, we would stop over at the Aunty and Uncle with the food truck for hot hot Vaddes! 🔥 You dared eat too many on the way home in case you finished all before you could share with the rest of the family 😅 They were so good!

This is my version of this well-loved snack. I shallow-fried them because I don't fry very often and I wouldn't want to waste the oil so this works well.

Vadde

Ingredients:

1 cup yellow split-peas/ chana dhal
1 medium onion roughly chopped
1 tsp fresh ginger, chopped
1 tsp fresh garlic, chopped (optional)
3 green chillies, chopped
1/4 cup fresh coriander, chopped
1/4 cup spring onion, chopped
1 small green banana (or grated potato)
2 tsp pink salt (or to taste)

Dry spices:

1.5 tsp cumin seeds
1.5 tsp fennel seeds
2 dried red chillies

Oil for frying (I prefer coconut oil)

Method:

Soak split-peas/dhal overnight (or at least 3 hours) in enough water to cover them.
Thoroughly wash the dhal in fresh water a few times till water runs clear. Strain out all the water.
Add this to an electronic grinder along with the rest of the ingredients and grind to a smooth paste.
Dry roast the dry spices on a low heat and then grind to a course texture. Add this to the dhal mixture.
Heat up oil in a frying pan set on medium.
Form small balls in the palms of your hands and place them in the hot oil.
If the texture of your mixture is quite smooth and soft you will be able to make a hole in the center too like the shape of a doughnut. However if the texture is a bit more coarse, it will fall apart so see what works best for you.
Make sure to cook on both sides by turning them over. Once golden and crisp, remove from the oil and drain on a paper towel.
Serve hot.