Ingredients
For the vadas:
¾ cup urad dal (split black lentils)
¼ tsp asafoetida (hing)
a pinch soda bi-carb
salt to taste
To be mixed together into a stuffing:
2 tbsp cashew nuts, chopped
2 tbsp sultanas (kismis)
1 tsp ginger-green chili paste
Other ingredients
oil for deep frying
For serving
1 cup fresh curds, beaten
a pinch black salt (sanchal)
2 tablespoons sugar
salt to taste
For the garnish
chilli powder
roasted cumin seed (jeera) powder
chopped coriander
Directions
Clean, wash and soak the urad dal for 2 to 3 hours.
Drain out all the water. Grind the urad dal to a coarse paste in a blender using a little water.
Add the asafoetida, salt, soda bi-carb and approx. 3 tablespoons of water to the urad dal paste and mix well with your hands.
Spread 2 tablespoons of the urad dal paste onto a 125 mm. x 125 mm. (5 “x5”) piece of wet muslin cloth and form a 50 mm. (2 “) diameter circle (using wet hands)
Place ½ teaspoon of the stuffing in the centre of the urad dal paste and fold the muslin cloth over in the centre to make a semi-circle (as shown in the diagram below).
Seal the edges of the semi-circle. Carefully open the muslin cloth and place the stuffed vada on your fingertips (wet your hands before).
Carefully slide the stuffed vada into a kadhai filled with hot oil and deep fry about 4 to 5 vadas at a time over a medium flame till they are golden brown.
Drain and soak the vadas in water for about 45 minutes.
How to proceed
Mix the curds, black salt, sugar and salt together. Keep aside.
Just before serving, squeeze out any excess water from the vadas by gently pressing each one between your palms. Arrange the vadas on a serving dish.
Pour the curds over the vadas. Sprinkle chilli powder, cumin seed powder and coriander on top.
Serve immediately.