Masala Vada Recipe | Ambode Recipe | Chana Dal Vada Recipe [Video]

Masala Vada / Ambode / Dal Vada recipe with detailed Video recipe. Masala Vada or Ambode is a popular Indian deep fried fritter / snack made from chana dal or lentils. Masala Vada is a popular tea time snack. Masala Vada is vegan.

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I post a lot less deep-fried recipes than I actually eat. I don't deep fry much, but that doesn't mean I don't binge on french fries or samosas. I just fry less at home myself and rely on restaurants doing it for me. All this because I find it really boring to clean up after frying. To be really honest, I kinda eat them almost every day. There is a "gaadi" or a cart behind my house who makes some really amazing masala vadas along with mirchi bhajjis and other pakodas. I usually pick up at least a couple vadas on my way home. So I rarely get about making them. But these Masala Vadas are worth the effort.

There are days when you want everything homemade, from your bread to your pickles. And in one of those energetic moments, I made these masala vadas. And to tell you the truth, they were so much better and fresher than the ones you get outside.

Masala Vada is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The base of the masala vada is soaked chana dal. The chana dal is coarsely ground to give a nice texture to the vadas. You can also save a little aside while grinding and add the rest in final batter. If you don't have Dill leaves, add in coriander or any other herb, but dill tastes the best. There are so many variations you can do while making them. If you or your family does not like or eat onions, either don't add it or you can replace it with finely chopped cabbage. If you don't want to add ginger, then you can add in hing.

Serve the vadas piping hot with ketchup or chutney and a hot cup of chai!

If you made this recipe, let me know! Leave a comment here or on Facebook,  tag your tweet with @oneteaspoonlife on Twitter and don't forget to tag your photo @oneteaspoonoflife on Instagram. You can also email me at onetspoflife@gmail.com I'd love to see what you are up to.

If you like this recipe, do not forget to share it with your friends and family! 

You can follow One Teaspoon Of Life on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest or you can subscribe to One Teaspoon Of Life and receive all the latest updated via Email

Video Recipe

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Masala Vada Recipe | Ambode Recipe | Chana Dal Vada Recipe

Masala Vada or Ambode is a popular Indian deep fried fritter / snack made from chana dal or lentils. Masala Vada is a popular tea time snack. Masala Vada is vegan.

Recipe Type:  Snacks
Cuisine:            South Indian
Prep Time:     3 hours
Cook time:     20 minutes
Total time:     3 Hours 20 Minutes
Yield:                12-15 Vadas

Ingredients:

1 cup Chana Dal
1" Ginger, grated
1 Tbsp Black Pepper
0.25 tsp Turmeric Powder
2-3 Green Chillies, finely chopped
1 Onion, finely chopped
0.5 cup Dill leaves, finely chopped
10-12 Curry leaves, roughly chopped
Salt to taste
Water as required
Oil to fry

Method:

1. Wash and soak the chana dal in water for 3-4 hours.
2. Drain the chana dal and add to a grinder/blender along with the ginger, pepper and turmeric powder. Grind until your have a coarse batter that is sticky.
3. Remove to a bowl and add in the chopped onioons, green chillies, dill leaves, curry leaves adn salt. Mix well.
4. Heat oil in a kadhai or deep fryer.
5. While the oil heats up, wet your hands and divide the batter and shape the vadas.
6. Drop in the hot oil and cook on medium heat until the vadas are browned.
7. Serve vadas hot along with ketchup or chutney.

If you liked this, you may also like:

Medu Vada

Banana Buns

Cucumber Pakoda

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Nuchhina Unde Recipe | Nuchinunde Recipe | Steamed Lentil Dumplings [Video]

Nuchchina Unde or Nuchinunde are steamed lentil dumplings from South India. The dumplings are made from mixed lentils and flavored with herbs like curry leaves and dill. The lentil dumplings are vegan and healthy. 

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So, I just read a quote somewhere, "I start my new year resolutions in February, January was just a trial month". I'm beginning to believe in that.

I had so many plans for 2019 and it has been slowly going down the drain. January may have well been my most hectic and tiring month of all time. I had planned to go off sugar, something I've been wanting to do for so long. But I just caved it once the stress rose. Guilty as charged, I am a stress eater and when stressed I crave chocolate, like any other woman on the planet. So yes, I gave in to my chocolate cravings. It also did not help that a colleague of mine got me special candy because I helped him shop last time he was over in India. How does one just ignore such a nice gesture. Very soon 1 candy turned to 20 and I had no control over myself. I had to send the bag over to my sisters. Multiple weddings in January didn't help either. February just started today, let's hope I make this one count.

I had also resolved to blog more. But I've actually been blogging less than ever. It's not that I haven't had the time. It's just been one of those fortnights where I want to crawl into bed and watch reruns of TV shows. Currently hooked on to My Kitchen Rules and Come Dine with Me. 

So what have you been up to recently? How was January? 

So for all the sugar I ate in January, I'm trying to compensate with these healthy steamed lentil dumplings. It suits all sorts of diets - vegan, plant based, high protein, low fat etc. So you really have no excuse not to try it. If you thought just because it fit all those diets, it does not have flavor, think again! Because if you are a dill lover like me, this one is all Dilly. Pun unintended. 

These nucchina unde or lentil dumplings were a breakfast my mom used to make. The first time I tried them I fell in love with them. To make the dumplings, you need to soak mixed lentils for a few hours. You can also leave them soaking overnight. Then drain and grind them coarse. Add in the dill along with coconut, ginger and chilly for added flavor. Shape into dumplings and steam until done. And if you aren't in such a healthy mood, just deep fry them to make Masala Vadas. Tastes great both ways.

No matter how you make it, don't forget to serve it along with spicy Chutney.

If you made this recipe, let me know! Leave a comment here or on Facebook,  tag your tweet with @oneteaspoonlife on Twitter and don't forget to tag your photo #oneteaspoonoflife on Instagram. You can also email me at onetspoflife@gmail.com I'd love to see what you are upto.

If you like this recipe, do not forget to share it with your friends and family! 

You can follow One Teaspoon Of Life on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Google+ or you can subscribe to One Teaspoon Of Life and receive all the latest updated via Email

Video Recipe

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Nuchina Unde Recipe

Nuchchina Unde or Nuchinunde are steamed lentil dumplings from South India. The dumplings are made from mixed lentils and flavored with herbs like curry leaves and dill. The lentil dumplings are vegan and healthy.

Recipe Type:  Snacks, Breakfast
Cuisine:            South Indian
Prep Time:     4 hours
Cook time:     15 minutes
Total time:     4 Hours 15 Minutes
Yield:                11-12

Ingredients:

0.75 cup Toor Dal or Pigeon Pea lentils
0.5 cup Chana Dal or Split chickpeas
1 cup chopped Dill leaves
1 Green Chilli
0.5 tsp Ginger
5-6 Curry leaves, finely chopped
0.25 cup grated Coconut
A pinch of Asafoetida
Salt to taste

Method:

1. Wash the toor dal and chana dal. Soak the dals in water for 4-6 hours.
2. Drain out the water and coarsely grind the dals without adding any water to the mixer.
3. Remove the dal mixture into a large bowl and add finely chopped green chilli, finely chopped curry leaves, chopped dill leaves, ginger paste, asafoetida (hing) and salt.
4. Mix well until combined and shape into dumplings. If the batter feels watery, add a little besan or chickpea flour.
5. Steam for 10-12 minutes until done.
6. Serve hot with chutney.

If you liked this, you may also like:

Khaman Dhokla

Mixed Dal Handvo

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North Karnataka Jolada Rotti Oota - Part 3 - Soppina Palya | Mixed Greens Curry | Muddi Palya [Video]

Jolada Rotti Oota is a North Karnataka Thali that has jowar roti, spicy curries and condiments along with salads and sweets. North Karnataka style soppina palya or muddi palya is a curry made with a single variety or mixed green leafy vegetables like amaranthus, spinach, methi or dill (sabasige).

The third part of my "North Karnataka Jolada Rotti Oota" series is here. Today I am sharing the recipe for Soppina Palya or Muddi Palya. 

"North Karnataka Jolada Rotti Oota" refers to the "thali" or plate meal presented in the photo above. It is a popular meal in the northern regions of the state of Karnataka. The Jowar Roti or Jolada Rotti, that I shared on Tuesday, is the star of the meal. These gluten free, vegan and oil free flatbreads are made from jowar or sorghum millet and if made well, totally melt in your mouth. The bland rotti is always served with spicy sides like Yennegai, Soppina Palya and Kaalu Palya.

Soppu refers to any green leafy vegetable like spinach, amaranthus (harive soppu/ dantina soppu) , methi (fenugreek) or dill leaves (sabasige). This curry  can be made with either mixed greens or just a single type of greens. It is one of the simplest curries on the plate. To make the curry, you need to cook the greens until they are completely done, even overcooked works fine. You can pressure cook them too. It has minimal spices, just turmeric powder and red chilli powder. You can add garam masala or any other spice mix you want to enhance the taste.

There are different variations of the muddi palya, this recipe uses gram flour (besan) or chickpea flour in it. You can also use cooked toor dal (pigeon pea lentils) instead. The quantities in the recipe below are just guidelines, adjust them to your taste. Add more besan or dal if you want to increase the quantity of the curry or if you just enjoy the taste. Besan will make a thicker curry than dal. Add water as per your requirements.

My mom always added peanuts to the curry, so I continue to do so. If you are allergic or if you don't like peanuts, you can skip them. You can replace them with fresh tuvar also.

This Soppina Palya tastes fabulous with wholewheat rotis or naans too. 

Video Recipe

If you made this recipe, let me know! Leave a comment here or on Facebook,  tag your tweet with @oneteaspoonlife on Twitter and don't forget to tag your photo #oneteaspoonoflife on Instagram. You can also email me at onetspoflife@gmail.com I'd love to see what you are upto.

If you like this recipe, do not forget to share it with your friends and family! 

You can follow One Teaspoon Of Life on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Google+ or you can subscribe to One Teaspoon Of Life and receive all the latest updated via Email

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Soppina Palya | Mixed Greens Curry | Muddi Palya Recipe

North Karnataka style soppina palya or muddi palya is a curry made with a single variety or mixed green leafy vegetables like amaranthus, spinach, methi or dill (sabasige). It is traditionally served with Jolada Rotti or Jowar Roti.

Recipe Type:  Curry
Cuisine:            South Indian
Prep Time:     15 hours
Cook time:     30 minutes
Total time:     45 minutes
Yield:               Serves 3-4

Ingredients:

5 cups of mixed Green leafy vegetables (amaranthus, spinach, methi, dill)
1 large Onion
0.25 cup Peanuts
5-6 Tbsp Gram Flour(Besan) or 2 cups boiled Toor Dal
0.5 tsp Turmeric Powder
1-2 tsp Red Chilli Powder
3 tsp Oil
Water as required
Salt to taste

Method:

1. Heat the oil in a large pan and add finely chopped onions.
2. Once the onions have turned translucent, add the peanuts and saute for 1-2 minutes.
3. Add the chopped green leafy vegetables and 0.5 cup of water. Cover and cook until the greens are completely done. You can either use just one variety of greens or a mixture of what is available.
4. Add salt, turmeric powder and red chilli powder. For added taste, you can add garam masala too.
5. If using besan, mix the besan in 1 cup of cool water until there are no lumps and add to the curry. Stir immediately and add 1 cup more water as the besan will immediately thicken. Add more water if you want a thinner curry.
6. If using dal, add the dal and mix.
7. Adjust seasoning and spices as per taste.
8. Simmer on low heat until the raw taste of the besan is gone or for 5-8 minutes.
9. Serve hot with jolada rotti or wholewheat rotis.

If you liked this, you may also like:

Jhunka

Yennegai

Jolada Rotti

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Dill and Caramelized Onion Bread Rolls [Video]

These Dill and Caramelized Onion Bread Rolls are sooo good, this is the ONLY recipe you will ever need for flavored bread rolls

Happy Sunday Guys!!

These Bread Rolls... YUMMMMMM....

If you take it from me, these Dill and Caramelized Onion Bread Rolls are the ONLY flavored bread rolls recipe you will ever need. I made this twice in one week. TWICE!!

I first made them on Sunday, last Sunday, and it was more of a trial batch. And then again on Wednesday. Never done that before. I'm more of a buy-bread-from-store types than bake bread from scratch person. I surprised myself by making it twice in a week. See, the thing was, Raj did not get to eat any on Sunday as he wasn't around. I had nice fresh warm bread from the oven and I had just made butter at home. Yes, I make butter at home almost every week, I just love fresh homemade butter so much. And among Gee and I, we wiped off the entire lot of 7 bread rolls. It was soooo GOOD!! Then I just felt bad that he did not get to even taste one, so I made it again in the week.

I'd first seen a Dill and Onion bread roll recipe in an airline magazine. It used dill seeds and raw onions. Fresh Dill is so much easier to find than dill seeds here in Bangalore, so I swapped that. I love caramelized onions. They are soft, and brown and sweet. Yum! I never miss a chance to use them in a recipe and I always make extra to eat along in the week. This week, I stuffed some flatbread rolls with them. But if you are short of time, just saute the onions for 2-3 minutes and add them in the bread. I don't want you to miss out on eating this bread just because caramelizing onions takes time.

Or like me, you can make them in advance and keep them in the fridge, they stay good for one week in there.

There is one more cheat to save time here - Buy Paneer or Cottage cheese from the store. If buying frozen, let it thaw completely before using. Making Paneer at home can seem daunting, but it is the easiest cheese you can make at home. This recipe does not require you to make paneer completely, just the curds. Drain the curds and blend them into a smooth puree for this recipe. You can also replace with cream cheese.

You know what's the best thing about these rolls? Taste, of course, but the aroma that fills your house when a fragrant herb like Dill is cooking is so heavenly. I just love Dill, and its sharp earthiness, it is my favorite green, right from childhood. 

Now that I've made these twice is such quick succession, I'm confident that this is my go to recipe for dinner rolls. They taste great with any gravy, but they taste BEST just by themselves. Slather on some butter and that's IT!! Soft, buttery, fragrant, salty rolls with that little hint of sweetness when you bite into a caramelized onion slice. What more do you really need?

P.S - I have a bonus for you, a VIDEO recipe!!

Video Recipe

If you made this recipe, let me know! Leave a comment here or on Facebook, tag your tweet with @oneteaspoonlife on Twitter and don't forget to tag your photo #oneteaspoonoflife on Instagram. You can also email me at onetspoflife@gmail.com. I'd love to see what you are upto. 

If you like this recipe, do not forget to share it with your friends and family! 

You can follow One Teaspoon Of Life is there on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Google+ or you can subscribe to One Teaspoon Of Life and receive all the latest updated via Email (How convenient!!)

If you liked this, you may also like:

• Tomato Basil Bread - Another wholewheat flavored bread.
• Banana Bread - Eggless sweet banana bread.
• Breakfast Bruschetta Duo - Bread slices topped with a avocados, olives, tomato and onions.

Dill and Caramelized Onion Bread Rolls

Dill and Caramelized Onion Bread Rolls are fragrant flavorful bread rolls made with fresh cottage cheese, dill leaves and sweet caramelized onions.

Recipe Type:  Bread
Cuisine:            International
Prep Time:     3 Hours
Cook time:     1 Hour
Yield:                Makes 14 rolls

Ingredients:

For Caramelized Onions:

3 Onions
2 Tbsp Olive Oil
1 tsp Sugar or Jaggery
1-2 tsp Balsamic Vinegar
1 Tbsp Water
Pinch of salt

For Cottage Cheese / Paneer:

1 litre Milk
2 Tbsp Lime Juie
3-4 Tbsp Water

For the Dill and Caramelized Onion Bread Rolls:

2 cups Wholewheat flour (Atta)
1 cup All purpose flour (Maida)
1.25 cups Water
3-4 Tbsp chopped Dill leaves
2 tsp Active Dry Yeast
2 Tbsp Oil
Salt to taste

Method:

To make Caramelized Onions:

Heat oil in a pan and add sliced onions.
Sprinkle a pinch of salt and mix well.
Allow the onions to cook on medium to low heat until they are slightly brown.
Add sugar or jaggery and balsamic vinegar.
Add little water to prevent the onions from sticking to the pan.
Remove from heat once the onions are dark brown and sweet. This takes around 30-40 minutes.

To make Cottage Cheese / Paneer:

Boil the milk until it comes to a rolling boil.
Turn off the heat and immediately add the lime juice and mix well.
Once the milk curdles, strain it and keep aside for 15 minutes allowing the water to drain from the cheese curds.
Once the cheese cools, blend it along with a little water to a smooth puree.

To make the Dill and Caramelized Onion Bread Rolls:

Heat 1.5 Tbsp Oil in a pan and add 1/4 cup water.
Add the cheese puree, chopped dill and caramelized onions. Mix well.
Simmer on low heat for 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat and keep aside to cool.
Heat 3/4 cup of water until lukewarm. Add the active dry yeast to it and allow the yeast to bloom.
Once the cheese mixture is cool, pour it into a clean bowl and add the yeast.
Add salt, 1.5 cups whole wheat flour and the all purpose flour.
Knead until combined. Add more whole wheat flour if the dough is very sticky.
Take another large clean bowl and grease it slightly. Move the dough to it. Rub the dough with oil. Cover and allow it to rise for 1-2 hours until doubled.
Once the dough has risen, divide the dough into 14 equal balls.
Grease a baking tray. Shape the rolls and place on the baking tray leaving at least 1" gap between rolls.
Cover and allow it to rise a second time for around 45 mins to 1 hour.
Preheat the oven to 250 degree C.
Bake the rolls for 12-15 minutes until browned.

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