Chattambade

Chattambade – Mangalore style Chana dal   Vadas  - A deep fried snack. Best with tea / coffee ..

Makes: 6

Ingredients

1/2 cup ( 100 ml / 4 oz ) Chana dal (Chone daali / Bengal gram) Indian standard measuring cup of 100 ml / 4 oz capacity

1 1/2 cup water ( to soak  dal )

5 small onion ( chuvannulli / sambar onion ), finely chopped

1/2 - inch piece ginger, finely chopped

1 green chilli, finely chopped

6 curry leaves, roughly chopped or 1 tablespoon chopped coriander leaves

1/2 teaspoon salt ( or to taste )

2 pinches hing (asafoetida) optional

200 ml cooking oil ( 3/4 - inch from the base of the kadai )

Method

Wash and soak  chana dal for 3  hours. Drain out water completely. Make a coarse paste in a mixer for 30 - 45 seconds ( Do not add extra water while grinding ).

Transfer this ‘’ coarse  ‘’vada paste’’  to another bowl and mix with chopped small onions, green chilli, ginger, curry leaves, hing and salt.

Divide this mixture into small lemon sized balls and flatten into round shape. Deep fry immediately.

Heat oil in a kadai / pan.  Reduce heat to medium and deep fry on a medium heat in batches - depending upon the size of the pan ( 3  dal  vadas at a time ) till golden color on both sides / crisp / you’ll get a nice aroma of small onions ( approximate frying time 6 - 8 minutes on each side ). Drain out from oil and place it on kitchen towel  / paper towel to absorb extra oil. Please use 3 – 4 paper towels to absorb extra oil. Serve with Tea / Coffee or with coconut chutney.