Fiber Food Gluten Free Kids Friendly Pooja / Gathering Protein Rich SouthIndian Recipes Travel Food Vegan

Mung Dal Nuggets / Pesarapappu Vada (Air Fryer, Deep Fry)

Moong Dal Vada, a South Indian style, Healthy, Protein & Fibre rich appetiser recipe. Recipe below has both Air-Fryer and Stove top Methods with step wise pics & tips.

Recipe Cooked, Photographed and Written by Praveena

PrepTime:4-5 hrs  CookTime:15 mins   Cuisine:Indian


Recipe Card ⇓           Shop


Mung dal nuggets / Pesarapappu vada is my newest try using my Air-fryer. My husband doesn’t enjoy air-fried food, so I had to make deep-fry version of these parallelly. Hence, posting both the versions using the same batter.

I made these, Mung dal nuggets / pesarapappu vada (excluded the onions), for Telugu New year in the first week of April Ugadi Festive Delicacies-2019  and made them again yes’day.. when kids demand, you have to! right!! 🙂 

Table of Contents:

  1. Other Nugget recipes from my blog:
  2. Difference using Air Fryer for frying Vada:
  3. Video Shorts of ‘Mung Dal Vada’ Stove Top Method:
  4. Possible Alterations for the recipe, ‘Pesarapappu Vada / Moong Bean Nuggets’:
  5. Other recipes from my blog:
  6. Step wise pics Procedure for ‘Mung Dal nuggets / Pesarapappu Vada (Stove Top, Air Fryer methods)’:
  7. Prep Work:
  8. Stove Top Method Frying Mung Dal Vada:
  9. Air Fryer Method Mung Dal Vada:
  10. Tips & Storage:
  11. Result:
  12. Ingredients, Accessories on ‘AMAZON’ to ‘SHOP’:
  13. Recipe Card & Print:

Other Nugget recipes from my blog:

These, Mung dal nuggets / pesarapappu vada, can be called as siblings to these recipes that I posted before. 

Difference using Air Fryer for frying Vada:

Well, among the Air-fried & deep-fried versions, I didn’t find much of difference in taste. But, air-fried seems to be made in a healthy way (uses just oil-spray) and the texture is also just the same.

Except that a bit more patience is needed while using the air-fryer, because we cannot make more than 5-6 no. in one go. 

Video Shorts of ‘Mung Dal Vada’ Stove Top Method:

Possible Alterations for the recipe, ‘Pesarapappu Vada / Moong Bean Nuggets’:

No Onion – No Garlic options: I did try the same recipe without adding onions, garlic. They turned great. 

Other herbs to add: Fresh Mint Leaves, Fresh Parsley leaves, Methi / Fenugreek leaves are the other herbs that can be added in the place of coriander/cilantro.

Using other beans: Other beans like chana dal, red kidney beans, black eyed beans, works best for this recipe.

To bake in an Oven: Yes, bake them in a conventional oven, at the same temperature (200ºC or 390ºF) and procedure as that of an air-fryer.

Oil Free / WFPB options: This is possible only in the air-fryer method. Avoid even brushing the Air Fryer mesh.

Mung dal nuggets / Pesarapappu Vada. Moong Bean Fritters. Both Air Fryer, Deep Fry Methods. Low Oil, Diabetic, Protein Rich starter recipe.
Mung Dal Vada and Saggubiyyam Payasam / Sabudana Kheer in the above picture. Sago Kheer recipe link>> Saggubiyyam Payasam / Sabudana Kheer / Sago-Milk Pudding

Other recipes from my blog:

Before starting to cook, don’t forget to see the Tips mentioned at the end.

Appetiser recipes collection⇒  Starters / Snacks

Air fryer recipes collection⇒  Air – Fryer Recipes

Daily Meal Platters>>> Bhojanam / Thali / Meal Platter

Related Posts:

Yellow Moong Dal Idli / Pesarapappu Idli (No rice)
South Indian fermented breakfast recipe IDLI made without using rice. High in protein, iron & fiber, Diabetic friendly. (Both Stove top / Instant Pot Electric Pressure Cooker methods)
Check out this recipe
Raw Mango & Spinach Lentil Dal
Raw mango & Spinach Dal, a South Indian Andhra style, Plant Based, Gluten free, Lentil Dal, recipe. Both INSTANT POT and STOVE TOP methods with step wise pics, tips are given below.
Check out this recipe
Andhra style Pesara Avakaya / Raw Mango pickle & Moong Dal Pickle
Summer special, year long storage friendly, no cook, South Indian Andhra style pesara avakaya / ooragaya with pesara pindi / moong dal powder.
Check out this recipe
Maddur Vada (Stove top, Air fryer, Oven Baked)
South Indian style, Vegan Savoury snack, which is quick & easy to make. Both stove-top & Air Fryer methods with step wise pics, given.
Check out this recipe

Follow me on⇒  Facebook  Pinterest  / YouTube  / Instagram

Mung dal nuggets / Pesarapappu Vada. Moong Bean Fritters. Both Air Fryer, Deep Fry Methods. Low Oil, Diabetic, Protein Rich starter recipe.
Mung Dal Nuggets / Pesarapappu Vada made using STOVE TOP (left side ones) and AIR FRYER (right side ones), both methods given below.

Ingredients:

  • Pesarapappu / Yellow Moong Dal – 1 cup
  • Green chillies – 3 (finely chopped)
  • Fresh Coriander (Cilantro) Leaves – handful (finely chopped)
  • Salt – ½ teaspoon
  • Whole Cumin / Jeera – 1 tablespoon
  • Ginger / Allam – 1 inch piece (finely chopped)
  • Onions – 1 medium (finely chopped)
  • Turmeric Powder – ¼ teaspoon
  • Rice Flour / Biyyappindi – 2 tablespoons
  • Ground Black Peppercorn / Miriyam Podi – 1 teaspoon
  • Water – 3 cups
  • Garlic Pods – 3 (finely chopped) (optional)
  • Cooking Oil – 2 cups (for deep fry)
  • Oil spray – 1 tablespoon (for air-frying)

Special Ingredients:

  • Rice Flour / Biyyappindi
  • Green chillies
Perfectly cooked Mung Dal Nuggets / Pesarapappu Vada made using AIR FRYER method given below.

Step wise pics Procedure for ‘Mung Dal nuggets / Pesarapappu Vada (Stove Top, Air Fryer methods)’:

Prep Work:

Wash the Yellow Moong Dal / Pesarapappu for 3-4 times, and soak them in water for 4 to 5 hrs. Strain the water, take the dal into a blending jar, add 2 tablespoons of water ONLY if required and make a smooth paste.
In a mixing bowl, add the all the ingredients as shown (except oil and water), mix everything gently and make a batter.
Batter ready to be used…for making the nuggets / vada.

Stove Top Method Frying Mung Dal Vada:

taking out the mung dal vada after deep frying in oil on stove top.
Put a frying pan, add enough of cooking oil (for deep frying), on the stovetop under high flame. When the oil is hot enough, make small balls with the batter. Then press each ball into flat patties with your thumb finger and gently drop them into oil.
Fry them on one side for 2-3 mins and then flip them back to fry, until they turn golden brown.

Air Fryer Method Mung Dal Vada:

placing the vada on the mesh of air fryer using Air fryer method of frying pesarapappu vada
Brush the base of air-fryer with oil / use an oil-spray throughout. Plate nugget patties over it. Cook for 7-8 mins on one side, at 200ºC .
air fried pesarapappu vada using air fryer method
Pause it, gently flip to the other side and fry for 4-5 mins more, at 200ºC / 390ºF .
Mung dal nuggets / Pesarapappu Vada. Moong Bean Fritters. Both Air Fryer, Deep Fry Methods. Low Oil, Diabetic, Protein Rich starter recipe.
Perfectly cooked Moong Dal vada made in Air Fryer.
Mung dal nuggets / Pesarapappu Vada. Moong Bean Fritters. Both Air Fryer, Deep Fry Methods. Low Oil, Diabetic, Protein Rich starter recipe.

Tips & Storage:

  • Don’t worry if you have soaked the dal for more time than required. 
  • Do not throw away the lentils soaked water. Use them while kneading chapati dough.
  • Adjust the salt and spice as per your taste.
  • Stove Top Method: The oil for deep frying must be perfectly hot, to test this just drop a small blob of batter into the oil and check .
  • For Air-fryer method, make the patties with a hole in the middle, for even frying. 
  • Storage: You can store the batter or patties in the refrigerator/freezer and fry them when needed.
  • Making the nuggets / vada, and storing them is not preferred as they turn hard within few hours. 

Result:

  • These, Mung dal nuggets / pesarapappu vada, are crispy on the outside and soft from inside.
  • The flavour of coriander, curry leaves, ginger, garlic is very much evident in every bite.
  • I served them with tamarind sauce and tomato ketchup.
Mung dal nuggets / Pesarapappu Vada. Moong Bean Fritters. Both Air Fryer, Deep Fry Methods. Low Oil, Diabetic, Protein Rich starter recipe.

Ingredients, Accessories on ‘AMAZON’ to ‘SHOP’:

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Recipe Card & Print:

Moong Dal Nuggets / Pesarapappu Vada (Air fryer, Stove Top)

VegCookBook by Praveena
Moong Dal Vada, a South Indian style, Healthy, Protein & Fibre rich appetiser recipe. Recipe below has both Air-Fryer and Stove top Methods with step wise pics & tips.
Prep Time 4 hours
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 4 hours 15 minutes
Course Appetizer, Snack, Starter
Cuisine Indian, South Indian
Servings 12 nuggets

Equipment

  • Blender/Grinder/Mixie.
  • Air-Fryer for air-fryer method
  • Frying pan (for stove-top method)

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup Pesarapappu / Yellow Moong Dal
  • 3 count Green chillies (finely chopped)
  • 1 handful Fresh Coriander Leaves (finely chopped)
  • ½ teaspoon Salt (or as per taste)
  • 1 tablespoon Whole Cumin / Jeera
  • 1 inch piece Ginger / Allam (finely chopped)
  • 1 medium Onion (finely chopped)
  • ¼ teaspoon Turmeric Powder
  • 2 tablespoons Rice Flour / Biyyappindi
  • 1 teaspoon Pepper Powder / Miriyam Podi
  • 3 cups Water (for soaking)
  • 2 cups Cooking Oil (for deep – fry)
  • 1 tablespoon Oil Spray (for air – frying)

Instructions
 

PREP WORK (common for both methods):

  • Wash the Yellow Moong Dal / Pesarapappu for 3-4 times.
    And soak them in water for 4 to 5 hrs.
  • Strain the water, take the dal / lentils into a blending jar and make a smooth paste.
    Add 2 tablespoons of water ONLY if required.
  • In a mixing bowl, add the all the ingredients as shown (except oil and water).
    Mix everything gently and make a batter.
    Now, the batter is ready to be used, for making the nuggets / vada.

STOVE TOP METHOD MOONG DAL VADA:

  • Put a frying pan, add enough of cooking oil (for deep frying), on the stovetop under high flame.
  • When the oil is hot enough,make small balls with the batter.
    Then press each ball into flat patties with your thumb finger and gently drop them into oil.
  • Fry them on one side for 2-3 mins and then flip them back to fry, until they turn golden brown.

AIR-FRYER METHOD MOONG DAL VADA:

  • Brush the base of air-fryer with oil / use an oil-spray throughout.
  • Plate nugget patties over it. Cook for 7-8 mins on one side, at 200ºC / 390ºF .
  • Pause it, gently flip to the other side and fry for 4-5 mins more, at 200ºC / 390ºF .
  • Transfer the nuggets / vada onto a serving bowl. Done!!

Notes

Please see the MAIN POST for recipe with step wise PICS & TIPS!
Keyword moong dal vada in air fryer, protein rich starter, simple appetiser recipe for air fryer, yellow lentil nuggets recipe

You can Pin it here for later, Pinterest link:

Do leave a comment or hit the like or follow button, just in case you like my recipe! 

You can explore my other recipes by clicking the Recipe Category

Follow me on⇒  Facebook  Pinterest  / YouTube  / Instagram

4 comments

  1. Lentils are mentioned a couple of times, but not throughout. Do you treat the lentils (what kind: red? Brown/green) the same as the moong dal?

    1. Hi Kathryn, I have used, Yellow Split Moong Lentils here. I have given picture with the lentils I have used. Just go through the pics. Hope this helps. Get back to me incase of any other doubts.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

error: Content is protected !!

Discover more from VegCookBook by Praveena

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue Reading

%d bloggers like this: