Crispy Medu Vada

Ingredients

• Split Black Gram (Urad dal) - 1 cup
• Onion - 1/2 (chopped)
• Ginger - 1" piece (grated)
• Green Chilies  - 3-4 (finely chopped)
• Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
•  Black Pepper - 1/2 tsp(crushed or powder)
• Asafoetida - a pinch
• Curry leaves - 1-2 strands(chopped)
• Oil - for deep frying
• Salt - to taste
• Water -1/2cup
  

Method

1. Soak the urad dal overnight or a minimum of 1/2 an hour.
2. Drain the water and grind the dal in grinder / blender / mixie using as little water as possible
3. Take this urad dal batter in a bowl and add required salt,chopped onion ,cumin seeds, grated ginger, green chillies, pepper, Asafoetida and chopped curry leaves. 
4. In the meantime, heat the oil for frying the vadas.
5. To shape the vada, wet your hand, take a small portion of batter on the palm your hand. Instead of hand you can also use a polythene paper or apply some oil in your hand
6. Using the finger of your other hand or the thumb of the same hand, make a small hole in the center of the batter. 
7. Gently slide the batter into the hot oil. The hole helps in even cooking of the vadas inside and out. The vadas should be fried in medium heat. 
8. Once the vadas get golden brown on one side, flip it and cook the other side.
9. Once the vada fully turns golden brown, remove it and let it rest on paper towels to remove excess oil.
10. In case the batter becomes watery, add rice flour to the batter to get the right consistency.
11. Serve the hot medu vada with coconut chutney or sambar as an evening snackYou can also server this vada with any south Indian breakfast items like idli, pongal etc..