We continue this South India showcase this week with a SNEAK PEEK at two recipes from my upcoming cookbook! Happy Pongal to those celebrating!
Masala Vada(click link to view recipe and download recipe card)
photo credit: Alex Shytsman
Which came first - the falafel or the masala vada? Hard to know, but these crispy chana dal fritters (usually) have my vote! I converted my mother-in-law's delicious recipe (traditionally deep-fried) to an air-fryer/oven version. The trick to getting the vadas evenly crispy is to mix in the oil with the batter, rather than spraying them on the outside! A high-protein, high-fiber and more importantly lip-smacking bite to go with your cuppa of choice!
Today marks the start of Pongal, the 3-day harvest festival of South India. To learn more about this festival, click here to view my father-in-law’s blog!
I take my comfort food very seriously, particularly when it comes to this namesake dish, and have been delighted with the cauliflower rice version. Ven (white) Pongal is a homely mixture of rice and moong dal (like khichadi) that gets elevated to extraordinary by a spectacular tadka (tempering) of spices in ghee. I pair it with my mother-in-law’s tomato chutney, which is to die for—you will want to make a big jar of it and slather it over everything. Use any neutral oil of your choice in place of the ghee to make this recipe vegan. For a Pongal feast, make this dish along with the masala vada!
Pongal and Vada combo - mmm. My favorite whenever I travel to Tamil Nadu in India.