Vadakari

Vadakari is a popular side dish in Tamilnadu. It is a gravy dish cooked with masala vadas. It is 
commonly served with spongy dosas known as set dosas. My mom and sister watch this cooking show on TV every week where the chef teaches food from different regions in Tamil Nadu. My sister for one makes the dish immediately. This week they featured Vadakari and sure enough she made it yesterday and inspired me to make it too. We had it for dinner. I made it for the first time, boy was it good!

Ingredients:
For Vada
1 Cup Channa dal, soaked
1 Onion,chopped
2  Red chili
1 teaspoon saunf
salt to taste
For Gravy:
2 Tablespoon oil
1 Onion, chopped
1 Small tomato, chopped
1 Tablespoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon minced ginger
2 green chili,chopped
curry leaves
1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
1 Tablespoon grated coconut
1 teaspoon poppy seeds, soaked in little water
1 teaspoon saunf
salt to taste
1 Tablespoon chopped cilantro for garnish

Method:
1. Drain channa dal and grind coarsely with red chili, saunf and salt.
2. Mix chopped onion to it.

 

 

 

3. Heat oil in a pan, dropbig pinches of vada and fry to golden brown. They don't have to be vada shape.
4.Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon oil in a saucepan. Add saunf, green chili, garlic and ginger and saute for a minute. Throw in curry leaves. Add onion and saute till golden. Add tomato and cook for a couple minutes. Add turmeric powder,salt, and chili powder(optional). Pour enough water and cook for a few minutes.

5. Add the fried vadas to the gravy. crumble some vadas and add to the gravy. Let it simmer on low heat for a few minutes.

Add water as necessary. Make sure the gravy is liquidy. Vada will absorb a lot of water. Grind coconut and poppy seeds and stir into the saucepan. Cook for a couple minutes. Garnish with chopped cilantro. Serve hot with dosa.

Note:
A healthier version of the dish can be made by steaming the vada batter on a greased plate in pressure cooker for 12-15 minutes. Steamed vada can be made in small balls and cooked in the gravy.