Medu Vada: I didn’t grow up eating every weekend like some folks in Tamil Nadu or Karnataka do. In Malda, breakfast was mostly luchi-aloo dum or muri with cha, but my dad loved South Indian food from his job travels. He’d bring back stories of these “soft doughnut things” from Udupi places in Kolkata, and eventually we started making them at home. First time I tried? Total flop. They came out flat, oily, and tasted like sad pakoras. But I kept at it because nothing beats that combo: (Medu Vada)hot crispy outside, cloud-soft spongy inside, dunked in coconut chutney that stings just right with green chili, and maybe some sambar on the side if I’m feeling fancy.
Medu Vada(or ulundu vadai, uddina vada, garelu – whatever you call it) is basically urad dal ground super smooth, spiced lightly, shaped into rings, and fried. “Medu” means soft in Kannada, and yeah, that’s the magic – fluffy like a pillow inside while the shell crunches. (Medu Vada)
People say it started in Maddur town in Karnataka way back, spread through Udupi restaurants, and now it’s everywhere. For me, it’s weekend therapy. Grinding the batter by hand (well, with mixer), Medu Vada the house filling with that lentil-ginger smell, kids running in asking “when will it be ready?” – that’s the good stuff.
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Gathering What You Need – Keep It Simple, No Drama
Don’t overthink ingredients. This isn’t a 20-spice curry.
- 1 full cup whole urad dal (skinned, the white one – get fresh stuff, old dal won’t fluff)
- 2-3 green chilies (more if you like fire, less if kids are eating)
- 1-inch ginger piece, grated or chopped fine
- 8-10 curry leaves, torn (don’t chop too small or flavor disappears)
- 1 small onion, finely chopped (optional – skip for Jain days or pooja)
- A good pinch of hing (asafoetida) – seriously, don’t skip, it cuts the heaviness
- Salt – start with 3/4 teaspoon, adjust after tasting batter
- Oil for deep frying – I use regular vegetable or sunflower, sometimes mustard for extra punch
- Optional extras: crushed black pepper for bite, chopped coriander if you want green notes, or a tiny pinch baking soda if your dal feels stubborn (but I rarely do)
That’s literally Medu Vada. No rice flour unless batter goes wrong (more on that later). Soak the dal first – rinse 3-4 times till water clears, then cover with plenty of water (3-4 cups) for 4-6 hours minimum. Overnight in fridge is ideal, especially in our Bengal summer heat where things ferment fast.
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The Real Heart: Grinding the Batter Right (Where I Used to Fail Hard)
This step separates okay Medu Vadas from “hotel-style” ones. I used to dump everything in the mixer and blitz – ended up with dense, chewy disasters. Now I know better.
Drain soaked dal completely – no extra water clinging. Use a strong mixer or wet grinder if you have one. Add ice-cold water, literally 1 tablespoon at a time. Pulse, scrape sides, pulse again. Goal: super smooth, light, almost whipped-cream texture. It should feel airy when you lift the spoon. Grind 8-12 minutes total, pausing so it doesn’t heat up (warm batter = no fluff).
Once done, transfer to a big steel bowl. Now beat/whisk it hard by hand or with a spoon for 4-5 minutes. This adds air – batter should lighten in color and volume up. Test: drop a tiny bit in water. If it floats instantly, you’re golden. If it sinks, beat more(Medu Vada).
Mix in chopped chilies, ginger, curry leaves, onion (if using), hing, and salt LAST. Taste the batter – should be salty enough but not over. If it’s too thick to shape, a drop more cold water. If runny (happened to me once after adding too much water), stir in 1-2 teaspoons rice flour or fine semolina to rescue it.
Img Credit by: FREEPIK
Shaping – My Hands Shook the First 10 Times
This scared me forever. Wet your palms with water (cold helps). Take lemon-sized batter. Flatten gently on palm, use thumb to poke a hole in center – make it bigger than you think, it shrinks in oil. If it sticks, wet hands again. If shaping feels impossible, grease a small plastic sheet or banana leaf, place batter, flatten, hole it, then slide into oil.
Don’t stress perfect rings first time. Even lopsided ones taste amazing. Practice makes it muscle memory. I still mess up occasionally if I’m rushing.
Frying – The Make-or-Break Part
Heat oil medium (not roaring hot). Test: tiny batter drop should sizzle, rise slowly, not burn black instantly. Fry 4-5 at a time – don’t crowd or temperature drops and they soak oil.
Drop gently from close to oil surface (high drop = splatter disaster, learned that the hard way). Fry 5-7 minutes, flip once or twice for even gold. They should be even golden-brown, not dark patches. Drain on paper towels.
Hot vadas lose crisp fast, so serve immediately. Cold ones? Reheat in oven or air fryer to crisp back up.
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All the Ways I Messed Up (and How I Fixed Them)
- Oily and greasy: Batter too thin or oil too cool. Fix – thicken with rice flour, hotter oil next batch.
- Hard/dense inside: Under-ground, no beating, or over-soaked dal. Fix – longer grind, more whisking, soak only 4-6 hours max.
- No proper hole/flat discs: Dry hands or stiff batter. Fix – wet palms every time, practice.
- Bitter aftertaste: Over-ground and heated batter. Fix – cold water, short bursts.
- Splattering everywhere: Dropped from height or wet hands too much water. Fix – gentle slide, pat excess water.
First 4-5 attempts? Laughable. But each flop taught something. Now I can make 20 perfect ones without thinking.
Twists I Play With (Because Boredom Is the Enemy)
Plain is classic, but sometimes:
- Add crushed pepper + extra curry leaves for Kerala vibe.
- Mix in chopped spinach or grated carrot for color (kids eat more).
- Stuff with potato masala for surprise inside.
- No onion version for festivals.
- Once tried baking at 200°C for 20 mins – healthier but no real crunch, skip unless dieting.
How We Eat It Here
Straight hot with thick coconut chutney (grind coconut, green chili, ginger, salt, temper with mustard/curry leaves). Or sambar if making full breakfast with idli. Rainy evenings? Chai + vada = bliss. Sometimes dunk in rasam for change.
Img Credit by: FREEPIK
Read More Recipes: Upma – My Lazy-but-loving Morning Ritual (and How I Finally Stopped Making It Sticky)
A Bit About Why It Matters
Urad dal is protein bomb – Medu Vada good for energy, digestion (hing helps), even iron. Fried, yeah calories add up, but homemade means control oil, fresh ingredients. Feels nourishing, not guilty.
Quick Wrap-Up (Because You Made It This Far)
Making vada isn’t rocket science, but it rewards patience. Soak well, grind fluffy, beat air in, shape carefully, fry smart. Mess up? Batter waits in fridge, aerate again tomorrow. You’ll get there.
Tried it yet? Tell me your disasters or wins in comments – I love hearing. Next weekend, give it a go. Hot vadas waiting.
