Medu Vada

Ingredients

    2 cups urad dal/skinned split black gram
    1 tsp cumin seeds
    1 tsp black peppercorns, whole or crushed (optional)
    1 or 2 sprig curry leaves, chopped
    1 onion, finely chopped (optional)
    1 or 2 green chili, chopped
    1 tbsp chopped ginger
    1/2 /cup chopped coconut pieces (optional)
    few sprigs of coriander leaves, chopped (optional)
    salt to taste
    oil for deep frying
    some water if needed to make the batter

Method:

•     Soak the urad dal for 4 hours or overnight.
•     Grind the soaked dal to a smooth batter with little water if required.
•     If the batter becomes watery, then the instant relief would be to add some semolina     or urad dal flour to it. otherwise also you could add some  semolina to the batter.
•     Add the spices, herbs, onions and salt.
•     Heat oil.
•     Make the vadas as described above.
•     Gently slid the vadas in to the oil.
•     Oil should be not very hot, but mediumly hot.
•    Very hot oil will quickly brown the vadas from outside but they will remain uncooked from inside.
•     Fry all the vadas this way till they become evenly browned and crisp.
•     Drain them on kitchen tissue to remove excess oil.
•     Serve the medu vadas, hot or warm with sambar and coconut chutney.