Masala Vada

Ingredients:

Chana dal - 1 cup
Moong dal - 1cup
Urad dal - 1/2cup
Rice - 1/2 cup
Ginger - 2" piece
Red chilies - 1 or 2
Green chilies - 5 to 6
Onion (finely chopped) - 2 cups
Cilantro (finely chopped) - 2cups
Cumin seeds - 2 tsp

Procedure:

• Soak all the dals together in water for 5 to 6 hours. In a separate bowl soak rice for 5 to 6 hours.
• Take a couple of handfuls of soaked dal and leave aside on a paper towel.
• Next blend all the soaked dals, rice, chilies, ginger and cumin seeds to a thick batter.
• To this add onion pieces, cilantro and the soaked dal which was kept aside and salt to taste. Mix well and make lemon sized balls.
• In a deep bottomed pan add oil on medium heat for deep frying.
• When the oil is hot, flatten each lemon size balls to 2" diameter on a plastic sheet and deep fry until it turns golden brown on both sides.

These are crispy and crunchy appetizers that go great with tea.