South Indian Dal Vada: Street-Style Recipe For A Tea Time Snack

By Garima Johar April 30, 2026

[{"selector":"#anim-c54ee64c-711e-420b-af80-c5decb0e3d16 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(12.514648210040342%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-91fcddc5-2b42-4caf-b906-18251b24617e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9411a1da-21f3-4626-b721-e9db5aaa112c","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Dal vada is a popular South Indian snack or breakfast option. While it’s traditionally deep-fried, to make the vadas healthier, you can air fry them, pair them with chutneys, and enjoy them with your chai.

Ingredients

[{"selector":"#anim-e577141a-05b8-4d60-832e-d338d8f76560 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0932673c-7f25-4fed-88f0-6a7419307f17","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f22f84ff-0c59-4e4d-8371-92ef77ef15a4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-92a4f462-1110-46a0-bba0-5c7666d8cad2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 160.21022%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] 1 cup chana dal 1/2 cup onion 1/2 teaspoon ginger paste 2 tablespoons coriander leaves 1 tablespoon curry leaves 2 green chillies 2 teaspoons red chilli powder 1/2 teaspoon hing 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder Salt to taste Oil for frying

Step 1

[{"selector":"#anim-3ebad78e-18f9-434d-943e-52034bb364f6 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-1.8447204895434233%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8858b822-7a12-4c88-963f-8d793e8c6a49","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d35cac1e-7bf6-49af-8c52-833201bd4fb0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d84ff5cb-7e03-46ec-ab15-d63ae189b790","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 327.18251%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Rinse and soak dal for about 2-3 hours till the dal softens.

Step 2

[{"selector":"#anim-828972b9-a68d-4391-aa67-2c564eb90bca [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-00efd9b0-9970-4801-b05c-f0692e236d6b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7e18bd71-738d-46e5-98ef-4bbf94fb6f94","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a65bc326-3f7d-4de0-97a0-7a2dd9a23d14","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 327.18251%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Grind the soaked dal with a bit of water.

Step 3

[{"selector":"#anim-885ed42e-9209-4958-b3b0-c1162d5df1d4 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c08aa541-08d4-4762-841b-609714ed6955","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ff705499-a293-4514-be96-d55e29e46e22","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-190fecdb-5e80-47be-a85a-64a25ea5dff4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 226.20022%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Mix the ground dal with all the spices mentioned till you get a consistent mixture.

Step 4

[{"selector":"#anim-53f721a8-b160-45b0-89c2-a891e90bb524 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8274713c-3ab0-4965-ae1b-56bc14f0106f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-50d2919a-6c58-48c9-a426-28bc2c476e42","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f22144e6-b69c-476e-b0aa-428e4fbd1272","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 226.20022%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Take small portions of the batter and deep fry till they are crispy.

Step 5

[{"selector":"#anim-62628b22-4927-4e5e-bd05-cd5aa7a0f5e1 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-38fd2526-e48c-4f4f-ac3c-4fe8176aaebf","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-63f960d0-a2ff-42e5-9f97-797a9c0ca391","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4a8797c2-1238-406e-8726-5c55f05f9e91","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 327.18251%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Pair with tea and serve with your favourite chutney.

[{"selector":"#anim-3eff44e8-d3dd-4686-bb41-4908c686e918 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Click Here For More