Crispy Masala Vada / Paruppu Vadai - Step by Step Recipe
Masala Vada or Parrupu vadai is my fav so wanted to give a try at home. As I've been used to the shop bought ones, was very skeptical whether I wud succeed in my try. But the recipe proved me wrong, it came out super crispy outside and crunchy inside...making it perfect. Ammas fav too so another reason to give a try :)

Ingredients:
- Channa Dal - 1 cup
- Rice flour or Rava - 1 tbsp
- Cinnamon - a half inch stick [optional]
- Cloves - 2 [optional]
- Fennel Seeds(Sombu) - 2 tsp
- Red Chillies - 3
- Garlic - 4 cloves chopped finely
- Ginger - a half inch piece
- Coriander Leaves - 1 tbsp finely chopped
- Small Onion - 8 very finely chopped
- Salt to taste
- Oil for deep frying

Method: [Updated with stepwise]
Wash and soak channa dal for 2 to 3 hrs. Then drain the water completely and keep aside. Grind together cinnamon, cloves(if you are using), fennel seeds, ginger and red chillies with channa dal.

Make sure you grind them coarsely and not to a fine paste. The batter should be very thick.Then transfer the batter to a bowl. Add onions,chopped garlic, rice flour, coriander leaves,salt and mix well.

The mixed batter is ready. Make equal sized small balls out of the mixture, and pat them on your palm to form a circle to 1/4 inch thickness, and arrange them in a plate ready to deep fry.

Heat oil in a kadai and deep fry them till golden brown, turning over both sides. Drain it on a tissue paper. Serve hot with any chutney of ur choice.

My Notes :
- The method is very easy, the only thing to note down is the consistency and texture of the batter. It should very thick and in coarse form.Sprinkle little water while grinding ONLY if its too dry.
- I usually add small onions as it gives nice taste to the vadas, You can alternatively use big onions too.
- Rice flour is added to give nice crispness to the vadas. If your batter becomes runny also, this rice flour comes to our rescue, so add in more than the above mentioned quantity incase your batter is very runny. Rava/Sooji also gives a good amount of crispiness so use either rice flour or rava.
Crispy Masala Vadas ready to be served!

Hope you are all set for the festive mood. I am all set to prepare/try new sweets this time. So stay tuned to check the festive specials for this diwali.
Bittergourd Chips
Badam Kheer














The vadas looks very tempting. loved the snaps :)
Hi Sharmi,
The paruppu vadais look yummy...Ennakku romba piditha snacks...:)
Dr.Sameena@
www.myeasytocookrecipes.blogspot.com
yum yum parippu vada... Love them, but since I am not used to deep frying.. I have never tried anything.. may be this time, taking inspiration from here I would love to try. If so will let you know.
Is it necessary to add the cinnamon and clove?
Very nice pics as usual... and thanks for the recipe... looking forward for some nice, simple sweets for diwali..
@Nimi : Even I am not fond of deep frying am yet to try the baked version....will let u knw once I try that. But for festive seasons, u can try this version. And about the cinnamom and clove if u are not comfortable with the flavour of it, u can omit it.
lovely vadas.....
They look just too perfect :) yummy yummy.. I just had it a week back.. but still feeling so tempted to have it :)
Yummy vada's...love to have it wid cup of coffee...nice n crispy ones dear
My ever time fav snack.Yummyyy parippu vadas.
I make this vadai very rarely...Adding cloves and cinnamon are new to me shall try next time I try paruppu vadai!
Delicious looking vadai, love to snack this any time.
the only fried vadai variety i like! but rarely make this because its deep fried. have never tried adding cloves and cinnamon. looks yum!
Crispy and fave tea time snack. Lovely clicks.
delicious vadai,luks perfect...
First time to your blog sharmi,you have a neat space with fab dishes.Following you. Parupu vadai is perfect,cannot imagine its combo with payasam hmmm .Nice pictures .
You are making me drool lady!.they look scrumptious!
US Masala
they looks sooo tempting ...its raining here ,all i want is cup of tea with these delicious vadas ..yummy
Satya
http://www.superyummyrecipes.com
Oh wow! These sound delicious!
Masala vadas looks too tempting, crispy and yummy
I add cloves to vadas, but never cinnamon will try next time, crispy tempting vadas..
how wonderful they look, wish i could grab few of those!
Me too, just a cup of tea and some vadais..My fav fav...
beautiful vadai, our family's fav too
Thanks for stopping by dear. These vadas looks so yummy .I just need a cup of tea to devour them :)
All time fav one.. and ur pictures are now making me drool ..asusual great treat for our eyes.
The masal vadai looks delicious. It is one of my fav snacks and for once I would not have a problem deep frying which I hate doing most of the times.
Looks finger licking good ....... puuuuurrrfeeeeect for a rainy eve !
Cheers n Happy Cooking,
Satrupa
http://satrupa-foodforthought.blogspot.com
perfect and crispy vada
Perfectly browned and crispy..love it.
Aaha Oho
I don't know anybody who can resist this super aromatic fried delicacy. Certainly a must in the festive meal, with some of them dunked in rasam, yumm!!
Crispy and delicious vadas..Looks perfect!! Great pics as usual..
parrupu vadai with masala tea ,my fav combo. adding rava to vadai,is a nice idea and surely it will make it crisp.try this when i make next time.nice clicks
perfect autumn snack
Pictures are Tempting to pick one. Nice arrangements! Nice idea of addings rava/rice flour.
they look gorgeous..:)
My favorite is ulundhu vadai but these crispy beauties are a close second :)
Parrupu vadai looks so delicious,awesome snack with hot drink...
Pushpa @ simplehomefood.com
yummyy look crunchy delicious! i love these but we call them piyaju and make them with masur dal =) cultures bring us so much variety of the same food!
Crispy and crunchy...these do look perfect! YUM!
Looks so perfect!mouthwatering picture!
Superb click. i wish to have some rite now. boookmarked urs :)
Hey, very very delicious vadas. Tried today.. and to my surprise the end product had the typical aroma and taste, crispy outside and soft inside!
I had trouble grinding it.. it was like too coarse, may be prob with mixy and I added rava as it was not binding together. Luckily everything went fine.. thank you so much for the recipe... you wont believe if I say that only 3 vadas remained at the end of the day. :)
hi sharmi, lovely blog with lipsmacking recipes n nice clicks too. pl do visit mine when u find time:)
cheers:)
shalini
@Nimi : Thanks for trying this so soon and letting me knw, You actually made my day as the first thing I saw 2day mrg was ur comment :)
U soaked the dal right?! so it shouldnt be a pblm in grinding.......But glad that u all liked it!
Lovely, this is what people like me want, step wise to see how exactly it goes to become that crispy vada... thank you so much for updating.
It really means a lot!
And abt the previous grinding prob, I used the wrong mixer :)...
Hi Sharmi, I am first time here. Its appealing. Love to read your blog and want to try all the bread recipes. I am bread lover too... Happy Blogging!!!
-Priya-
yummy yum! can also be tried with pattani paruppu (broken yellow peas) instead of channa dal...comes out very well with crispy crust and soft inside...
hi there!!!
Each and every tym i search for receipes its your page that attracts me more and encourages to cook....as a beginner i feel very comfortable in going thru ur receipes...going to try this for pangal......Pongal Nalvalthukkal to u too...
hi there!!!
Each and every tym i search for receipes its ur page that encourageous me to cook...i have tried out many dishes of urs and i feel very comfortable with ur receipe guide...this pongal going to try this vada and pongal....PONGAL NALVALTHUKAL to u too..
How do you grind it coarsely in a blender? In my NY kitchen I only have a blender, and haven't had much success with grinding dals for vadas...any tips?
Just use the whip option and dont grind it continuously just on and off for few times and you will get a coarse mixture. Hope this helps!
I admire ur passion for cooking.........ur recepes looks easy to cook and very authentic....once i visited ur blog accidenlty but these days iam a regular visitor.....the way ur display the dishes are fabulous....keep going......
Hey, I tried this today and everyone at home loved it. Especially my mother-in-law. This Is her fav Snack as er live in US We dont get these things often from out. I was littlr skeptical brfore trying this. Can't believe as its my first time that I had made. Thanks to you.
Been following you in this site . Neat presentation and nevertheless to say your passion for cooking.
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