Uzhunnu vada

Uzhunnu vada is a common accompaniment to dosa and idli in restaurants. They are served with dry or watery chutney and sambaar. Vada presented inside a bowl of sambaar is popularly called sambaar vada and the sought-after dahi vada or thayiru vada is vada set out in curd. These fluffy fritters are generally eaten for breakfast or as a snack. It's not very often that fried foodstuff is made at my home, so this one was a treat for my daughter.

 

The fixings for Mom's crispy, crunchy vada...

 

Urad dal white split (uzhunnu parippu) - 2 cups

Water - 2 Tbsp + additional for dipping your fingers

Curry leaf - a small sprig

Pepper, whole - a few

Salt - 1/4 tsp

Ginger - 1/4 inch

Shallots - 2

Rice bran oil - for deep frying 

 

 The mechanism...

 

Soak the dal in water overnight. Drain water. Grind the dal with 2 Tablespoons of water into a smooth batter. It should not be too loose.

Into the batter, add curry leaves, pepper, salt, minced ginger and cut pieces of shallots. Intermingle everything.

Heat enough oil for frying in a small shallow pan.

Place a small bowl of water next to the batter. Apply some water on both your palms. Make a round shape with the batter on your right palm. Dip your left thumb in the water and make a hole in the center of the round batter.

Once the oil becomes hot, slip the doughtnut shaped batter gently into the oil. Deep fry until it is golden brown on both sides.

 

 

 With coconut chutney by the side, luxuriate in the crispy, crunchy, crusty fritters :-)

 

Munching away on vada, I am penning down a summary of the story "I am watching you" that I recently completed.

 

 

The book is a thriller that keeps you guessing until the end. Is it a stranger stalking Ella or is it a family member of the missing girl seeking revenge? So this is what happened.. Ella was the last witness who saw Anna, the missing girl. Anna and her friend, Sarah were traveling in the same train as Ella. And this is where the girls became chatty with two strangers. Ella's conscience wanted to tell the young girls to be careful and to be wary of the boys. But she didn't and she has been feeling guilty ever since Anna went missing. And now she is being threatened by postcards and she gets the feeling that someone is watching her. Read on to drink in the inside story to Anna's and Sarah's family. And how nerve wracking Ella's life becomes.