VIRUNDHOMBAL

Masala Vadai - delicious evening snack prepared with chana dal or yellow split peas as the main ingredient. This masala vadai is not only an evening snack, but it is also a favourite side dish for our lunch too. Really, I enjoy this masala vadai with lemon rice and curd rice. Most of our traditional snacks are easily  prepared with healthy ingredients using simple methods. Masala vadai requires simple preparation works like soaking and grinding the dals. These two methods require some attention so be careful while preparing the dough.

Kara Vadai - simple evening snack for your weekend and party appetizer too. This Kara Vadai is very easy to make using very few ingredients. It is made with pattani paruppu (yellow split peas), urid dal and rice flour. The vadais are flavoured with green chillies, coriander leaves, mint leaves and onions. Kara Vadais with crispy outer layer and tender texture make this as a special one. I learnt this recipe from our relatives at Nanguneri . They are experts in cooking a variety of meals, tiffin varieties, evening snacks and cater for small family functions too.

Plantain (Vazhaikai) bajji with a cup of hot masala tea is an all time favourite evening snack for many of us. Among the evening snacks like vada, pakoda, bajjis are an easy snack which is much easier to master. Before you begin, let's see some tips and tricks to make a perfect bajji. Mixing the batter Preparing batter for bajji is actually a simple process, but we must focus carefully when adding water. Before you proceed to mix the batter, it is a good practice to sieve the besan flour. For 1 cup of besan flour 1/2 cup of water is perfect for dipping the plantains. The batter should have an idli batter like consistency. In order to puff a pinch of sodium bicarbonate is added to the batter. After combining the batter to the right consistency leave it undisturbed for 10 minutes. If you are using readymade bajji mix measure the flour using the measuring cup and then add the water. Flavours for baji For a flavourful bajji we add a good amount of garlic and as...

Ulundha vadai - Medhu vadai Most of the food items from Tamil Nadu contains the urid dal which has many health benefits. All the food items based on urid dal does not need much preparation work and we can enjoy a healthy and tasty dish easily.  This ulundha vadai is one among those easy and healthy dish. Follow these instructions and prepare a tasty ulundha vada for your family.  Important points to follow for a perfect vada I always like to grind the batter in a wet grinder, because it grinds well with very little water and gives you a puffy vadas. If you do not have wet grinder, then grind it in a mixie by sprinkling water with regular intervals. Soaking the dals also is very important for this vada. Try to soak at least 3 hours and then grind it.  In addition to finely chopped onions and green chillies I have added finely chopped carrots and cabbages. This is my grandma's idea to add these vegetables in the vada which makes some extra toppings in it. ...

This Nullikai urundai/Urid dal balls is Tirunelveli's famous snack dish. I learnt this recipe from my uncle(periyappa). He prepares these soft and crispy Nullikai urundais frequently and he enjoys serving this hot snack for us with a cup of coffee. This is a healthy and easy snack item which can be prepared easily without much effort. These balls have a crispy outer layer with soft texture. The key to this recipe, for preparing crispy balls is the soaking and grinding.First thing is you need to soak the dal and rice for 3 to 4 hours. The second thing is the batter should be fluffy and thick. If the batter is watery the ball shape may vary while frying. When deep frying the balls, always keep the flame on low medium. This will help to achieve perfect results. With just 4 ingredients, try this easy and healthy Nullikai urundai/Urid dal balls for your family. Perfect for evening snacks, small family get togethers and potlucks.