vada curry recipe | vadacurry recipe | vadakari recipe with detailed photo and video recipe. an interesting and flavoured fusion curry recipe made with tomato and onion gravy base, with deep fried toppings. it is a popular south indian curry or gravy and is mainly served with poori, idli or dosa. the taste and appearance is very similar to other south indian delicacies, i.e veg kurma, but still, this recipe is unique by itself.
the combination of deep fried vada with flavored onion, tomato and coconut based gravy makes it an ideal curry. but cooking all the required ingredients for this dish can be overwhelming. particularly the deep frying of vada’s and then followed by sauteing the onion and tomato based gravy. hence i personally recommend to either split the steps. perhaps you can make the vada’s on previous day and use it in the curry on the following day. moreover if you can make these vada’s on bulk, it can also be served as evening snack. and next following day, use these leftover vada’s as a topping for the curry. i personally do this way and make it for breakfast and serve it with poori’s and parotta.
anyway, i would like to add few tips, suggestions and variations to the vada curry recipe or vadacurry recipe. firstly, while deep frying the vada, ensure to make it crisp and brittle by deep frying on low flame. as matter of fact, you can also use the store bought vada’s if you feel lethargic to make it from scratch. secondly, add these roughly crumbled vada’s one-two hours before serving. if you are planning to serve the curry the next day, plan it accordingly and do not pre-mix it. lastly, as the curry is made of these lentil-based vada’s, you may find it filling as compared to other curries. hence plan your flatbread servings as per your appetite and you may have to reduce it by few numbers.
finally, i request you to check my other related south indian curry or sabzi recipes collection with this post of vada curry recipe. it includes recipes like tomato kurma, veg kurma, avial, cabbage poriyal, mix veg recipe, kaju masala, vegetable stew and bhindi ka salan. in addition, i also request you to check my other related recipes collection like,
vada curry video recipe:
recipe card for vada curry recipe:
vada curry recipe | vadacurry recipe | vadakari recipe
Ingredients
for vada:
- 1 cup chana dal
- ½ tsp fennel / saunf
- 1 chilli
- ½ tsp cumin / jeera
- 2 tbsp coriander, chopped
- few curry leaves, chopped
- ½ tsp salt
- oil for frying
for curry:
- 2 tbsp oil
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 inch cinnamon
- 3 cloves
- ½ tsp fennel / saunf
- pinch hing / asafoetida
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 1 tsp ginger garlic paste
- 1 chilli, slit
- few curry leaves
- ¼ tsp turmeric
- ½ tsp kashmiri red chilli powder
- ½ tsp coriander powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tomato, chopped
- 1 cup water
- ½ cup coconut milk
- 2 tbsp coriander, chopped
Instructions
- in a large kadai heat 2 tbsp oil and saute 1 bay leaf, 1 inch cinnamon, 3 cloves, ½ tsp fennel, pinch hing until it turns aromatic.
- further add 1 onion followed by 1 tsp ginger garlic paste, 1 chilli and few curry leaves.
- saute well until it changes colour.
- keeping the flame on low add ¼ tsp turmeric, ½ tsp chilli powder, ½ tsp coriander powder and ½ tsp salt.
- saute on low flame until spices turn aromatic.
- further add 1 tomato and saute until the tomatoes turn soft and mushy.
- add 1 cup water and ½ cup coconut milk.
- add in pieces of chana dal vada and mix well.
- cover and boil for 5 minutes.
- add 2 tbsp coriander and mix well.
- finally, enjoy vada curry recipe with idli and dosa.
how to make vadacurry recipe with step by step photo:
- firstly, in a large bowl soak 1 cup chana dal for 2 hours.
- drain off the water and transfer to a blender.
- add ½ tsp fennel, 1 chilli, ½ tsp cumin and blend to a coarse paste without adding any water.
- transfer the chana dal paste to a large mixing bowl.
- add 2 tbsp coriander, few curry leaves and ½ tsp salt.
- mix well making sure all the spices are well combined.
- wet your hands with water and take a small ball sized chana dal paste and flatten.
- deep fry in hot oil keeping the flame on medium.
- deep fry until the chana dal vada turns golden and crisp.
- drain off the vada onto kitchen paper and cool slightly.
- break the vada into small pieces and keep aside.
- in a large kadai heat 2 tbsp oil and saute 1 bay leaf, 1 inch cinnamon, 3 cloves, ½ tsp fennel, pinch hing until it turns aromatic.
- further add 1 onion followed by 1 tsp ginger garlic paste,1 chilli and few curry leaves. saute well until it changes colour.
- keeping the flame on low add ¼ tsp turmeric, ½ tsp chilli powder, ½ tsp coriander powder and ½ tsp salt.
- saute on low flame until spices turn aromatic.
- further, add 1 tomato and saute until the tomatoes turn soft and mushy.
- add 1 cup water and ½ cup coconut milk. mix well adjusting consistency as required.
- cover and boil for 2 minutes or until the flavours are combined well.
- add in pieces of chana dal vada and mix well.
- cover and boil for 5 minutes.
- adjust the consistency as required, as the curry thickens slightly once cooled.
- add 2 tbsp coriander and mix well.
- finally, enjoy vada curry recipe with idli and dosa.
notes:
- firstly, add a variety of dal along with chana dal to make vada more nutritious.
- also, the curry thickens once cooked and cooled as vada will absorb water.
- additionally, adding coconut milk will make curry more flavourful.
- finally, vada curry recipe tastes great when prepared slightly thick consistency.