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Masala Nuggets / Lentil Masala Nuggets / Dal Vada

VegCookBook by Praveena
South Indian style, Lentil Masala nuggets which are plant based and gluten free suitable as prep food, storage food. Recipe below has both Stove Top and Air Fryer Methods with step wise pics, tips.
5 from 1 vote
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Prep Time 3 hours
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 3 hours 20 minutes
Course Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine South Indian
Servings 12 nuggets

Equipment

  • Food processor / Blender / Mixie.
  • Wide Mixing Bowl
  • Deep Frying Pan (for stove-top method)
  • Air Fryer (for air-fryer method)
  • Convection Oven / OTG (for oven baked method)

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup SenagaPappu / Split Yellow Gram Lentils / Chana Dal
  • 1 count Onion (large size) (finely chopped)
  • 4 count Green Chillies
  • 1 inch piece Fresh Ginger
  • 3 to 4 count Garlic Pods (optional)
  • 10 twigs Fresh Coriander (finely chopped)
  • 10 count Curry Leaves (finely chopped) (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon Whole Jeera / Cumin Seeds
  • as required Water (for soaking)
  • ¼ teaspoon Turmeric Powder
  • 1 teaspoon Salt (or as required)
  • 2 cups Cooking Oil (or as required) (for stove top method)
  • 2 tablespoons "" (for air fryer method)

Instructions
 

PREP WORK (common for both methods):

  • Take the senagapappu/chana dal into a wide vessel, wash them 2-3 times.
    Add 3 times of water and leave the vessel on kitchen platform for 3 to 4 hrs, to soak.
  • After the soaking time, drain the water. 
    Take whole of the chana dal into a food processor/blender/mixer.
    Except, keep a tablespoon of dal aside. Don't grind this.
  • Into the processor/mixer, add the salt, turmeric, green chillies, ginger pieces, half of the coriander, jeera/cumin seeds, garlic pods into the same.
    Grind them into coarse batter.
    Add 3 to 4 tablespoons of water if needed.
  • Add the salt, chopped onions, chopped curry leaves & rest of the chopped coriander into the batter.
    Later, add the tablespoon of dal which we kept aside.
    Mix everything gently & keep aside.
  • With this batter, make small balls.
    Then press each ball into flat patties with your thumb finger.

STOVE TOP METHOD:

  • Put a frying pan with enough of cooking oil (for deep frying) on the stove top under high flame.
    When the oil is very hot, reduce the flame to medium.
    Gently drop the patties one after the other, into the oil.
  • Fry them on one side for 2-3 mins and then flip them back to the other side gently.
    And fry on the other side also for 2-3 mins. 
  • Once the Masala Vada / fritters are fried to golden brown colour, take them out using the ladle onto a plate with paper towel on.
  • Serve them hot with spicy chutney (or) sauce. Done!!

AIR FRYER METHOD:

  • Apply oil throughout the mesh of the air fryer, using a teaspoon of oil (or) use oil spray.
    Place the vada patties over it, again spray oil over each of the vada patties.
    Set the timer to 12 mins, under temperature of 200C / 390F.
  • Later, when the air-fryer stops, open it and gently flip each of the vada to the other side.
    Close the air-fryer, set to 2 mins under same temperature.
  • Take them out, give an oil-spray (optional) and then serve hot. Done!!

Notes

Please see the MAIN POST for step wise pics & RECIPE TIPS!
Keyword easy appetiser with lentils, indian style masala nuggets, lentil fritters, lentil nuggets