Dahi Vada ( Lentil dumplings in Yoghurt with tamarind chutney )

An ever popular recipe which is ready in 3-4 hrs and served along with the main course or for a chaat/ tea party. So go ahead and indulge in these simply delicious savory and sweetened lentil dumplings in yogurt.

TIP:- The vadas can be made in advance and refrigerated for later use also... The refrigerated vadas are then soaked in luke warm water for some time before using....

Ingredients for Vada:-
Moong daal (without chilka(yellow color)) 1/2 cup
Moong daal(w/o chilka) is also called as Split yellow lentil.
Urad daal(black gram daal) 1 cup
Chillies 2 small finely chopped
Coriander leaves finely chopped
Salt as per taste
Oil for deep frying

Indredients of Yoghurt:-
Yoghurt 2-3 cups(chilled and beaten)
Sugar and salt as per taste
Tamarind chutney 2-3 tbsp tamarind pulp + 2 tbsp Honey(can use sugar also)
Cumin seed powder 1/2 tsp Dry roasted
Red chilly powder 1/4 tsp
Chaat masala 1/2 tsp(Optional, though it taste better with this)

Soak the daals in water seperately for 2-3 hrs. Then make the paste out of it using very little water. (I used urad daal powder, so I make the paste of moong daal and mix the urad daal powder to it to make the paste... This way is better if the moong daal paste is bit watery.... )
Mix both the pastes and add salt and beat it well... Beat the paste till it is fluffy... You can test by putting some paste in water and if the paste comes up and do not sink, ur vada mix is ready.
Now add the green chillies and coriander in it. Mix well. Heat a wok with enough Oil to deep fry on medium heat. Once the oil is hot; using a scoop spoon, spoon the batter into the hot oil. Deep fry on medium heat until golden brown, gently turning the vada’s while they are getting fried in the oil. (Depending on the size of your pan – you could add about 4-5 Vada’s and deep fry them together.
The Vada’s once fried will come out to be lemon sized. They increase in size while frying due to the fluffy nature of the urad dal.. Remove and drain excess Oil. Your vadas are ready .....

Its just me and my hubby dear, so I usually store the rest of the vadas in the fridge and use them for later use.... You can also serve these Vadas with Sambhar and coconut chutney.....

Now soak some hot vadas in luke warm water for 1 min and squeeze all the water by pressing through ur palms... Try not to break the vadas while doing this....

Now In a bowl, mix the yoghurt with salt, sugar, little chilly powder and chaat masala. Put the vadas in this mix for 10 min. This way the curd will get into the vadas well and it will taste better.

While serving, arrange the yoghurt soaked vadas in the dish and pour the tamarind Chutney over it. Then sprinkle little chilly powder, chaat masala(Optional), and Dry roasted cumin seeds powder. Your Dahi vadas are ready to serve....
Always serve chilled.... It tastes better this way :)