Uddina Vade / Savoury Donuts

Ingredients:

Urad dal - 1 cup + 1tbsp
Rice - 1 tbsp
Black pepper - 1/2 tsp (coarsely ground)
Curry leaves -  2 strings (washed & chopped)
Ginger - 1/2 inch ( grated or finely chopped)
Green chilli - 2 nos (finely chopped)
Salt - As per taste
Coriander leaves - 1tbsp (chopped, optional)
Coconut - 1 tbsp(use finely chopped fresh coconut, optional)
Oil - For deep frying

Method:

1) Dry roast 1 tbsp urad dal and 1 tbsp rice into golden brown n powder it in mixer
2) Soak the urad dal in water for 2-3 hours.Wash the dal thoroughly & prepare a smooth paste out of it. Add 1-2 tbsp of water to prepare the paste (avoid as much water as you can).
3) Scoop out the paste, add all the above mentioned ingredients (except oil of course). Mix it gently.
4) Mix the powder to the urad dal mixture.
5) Heat the oil in a broad pan.
6) Make a small lemon sized ball of the paste. Apply water to your left palm & gently pat the ball. Make a hole in the middle of the patted ball. Dip your right hand fingers in water & gently remove the vada from the left palm & drop it in oil. The oil might sizzle as your hands are wet.
7) Repeat the process with the remaining batter.
8) Deep fry on a medium flame until golden brown.

Serve it hot with sambar, chutney of your choice.

Note:

1) Some people keep the urad dal batter for fermentation. But, it can be prepared as soon as it is scooped out from the grinder/mixer. This helps in preparing soft vada.
2) Rice flour can be substited with urad dal and rice powder.
3) Chiroti rava or fine semolina could be substituted with rice flour. Addition of either rice flour or chiroti rawa helps to obtain a crisp outer layer.
4) Some people even prepare the vada on a plastic sheet & then transfer it to oil.
5) Feel free to add onions, if your family prefers it.
6) I have made like bondas, usually its with the hole at the centre.