Masala Nuggets / Lentil Nuggets / Dal Vada

Step 1

First and foremost, take the senagapappu/chana dal into a wide vessel, wash them 2-3 times.And 3 times of water and leave the vessel on kitchen platform for 3 hrs, to soak.

Step 2

After soaking, drain the water. Take the chana dal into a food processor/blender/mixer.Keep a tablespoon of dal aside. Don't grind this.

Step 3

Then add the salt,turmeric,green chillies,ginger pieces, half of the coriander, jeera/cumin into the processor.Grind everything into coarse batter. Now, add the tablespoon of dal which we kept aside.

Step 4

Chop the onions, curry leaves & rest of the coriander into tiny pieces and add them to the batter.Mix everything gently & keep aside.

Step 5

Put a frying pan with enough of cooking oil (for deep frying) on the stove top under high flame.Meanwhile, with the batter, make small balls. Then press each ball into flat patties with your thumb finger.

Step 6

When the oil very hot, reduce the flame to medium and gently drop the patties into the oil.

Step 7

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 nuggets are fried to golden brown colour, take them out using the ladle onto a plate with paper towel on. Done!!