Keerai Vadai (Vadas made with greens/spinach)

Preparation time : 20 minutes

Cooking time : 20 minutes

Number of serves : 6      

Ingredients :

1. Urad dal (black lentil) - 1 cup

2. Spinach/greens - a small bunch ( finely chopped )

3. Chopped ginger - 1 teaspoon

4. Green chillies - 3 ( finely chopped )

5. Onions - 2 ( finely chopped )

6. Curry leaves - 2 sprigs ( finely chopped )

7. Asafodita - a pinch

8. Salt - to taste

9. Oil - for deep frying

Method :

1. Soak urad dal for about 30 minutes in water.

2. Drain water and transfer into a blender. 

3. Add chopped ginger and grind it by sprinkling little water. Open the lid of blender twice or thrice to see if the batter requires little more water. The final product should be a smooth fluffy batter

4. Transfer the batter into a vessel and add chopped greens, green chillies, onions, curry leaves, asafodita, and salt. Mix all the ingredients thoroughly. Now the batter is ready for frying.

5. Place a frying pan/kadai on medium flame and add enough oil for deep frying.

6. Take lemon sized batter and place it on a banana leaf/plastic sheet, and press it lightly . Make a small hole in the middle with the index finger and drop it into hot oil. Repeat the same procedure a few more times till the pan gets filled up. Do not over load to avoid vadas sticking to each other.

7. Turn the vadas when one side is done. When they become golden brown on both sides, remove from oil and transfer into a plate.

8. Transfer the vadas into a serving plate and serve with coconut chutney.