North Indian Dahi Vada 

Dahi bhalle is the most delectable and liked chaat in North India. Dahi bhalla is made of fried lentil balls served with yougurt and some chutneys. Learn how to make dahi bhalla.

I have not come across a single Chaat recipe that I don’t like.

Be it a Bhel Puri, Dahi Papdi or even an Aloo Chaat, each and every chaat has its own uniqueness in terms of taste and flavour. 

There are a variety of Chats depending upon which region it belongs to, but there is one Chaat recipe that is made in almost every Indian household.

It is DAHI VADA or DAHI BHALLA.

Ingredients:

• White Urad dal - 1 cup
• Salt as per taste
• Cumin - 1 tsp
• Oil
• Hing/Asafoetida - 1/2 tsp
• Cumin powder - 1 tsp
• Dahi/Yogurt- 1 kg
• Sugar - 100g
• Tamarind Date Chutney - ¼ cup
• Green Chutney - ¼ cup
• Masala
• Ajwain - 1 tsp
• Cumin - 3 tsp
• Red Chilli - 3-4 tsp
• Black Pepper - 1 tsp
• Chat Masala - 2 tsp
• Black Salt - 2 tsp
• White Salt - 1 tsp
• Mint Powder - ½ tsp
• Bhujia / Sev / Anaar (Pomegranate)

How to make dahi vada 

            Rinse 1 cup of urad dal with water and soak for 6 hr in 3 to 4 cups of water split & dehusked white gram lentil 

            Drain the water and transfer the drained dal to a blender along with chilli and 1tsp saunf.

             Blend it coarsely.if you need you can put 1tsp water . Not more than that .Then transfer the batter to a bowel and beat the batter in one direction for 15 minutes to get more fluffy and smooth batter.

             Always whisk the batter using a hand or a large whisk to incorporate some air for a lighter and fluffy batter. Beat until the batter doubles in size and becomes fluffy. Whisking the batter results in extra fluffy and softest dahi vada. To check if the batter is ready for frying, drop some of it in a jar of water, it should float which means it's airy and ready to fry.

             Heat oil in a kadai on medium heat. Oil should neither be too hot, nor too cold. Now dip your hand in water, and start making vadas. Drop them one by one to hot oil. give enough space for the vadas to fry. keep the flame in lower to medium, stir occasionally. Fry until they turn golden brown, this will take around 8-9 minutes on medium heat. Remove fried vada on paper towel.

         Take 2 cup warm water with 1 tsp salt 1/2 tsp asafoetida 1/2 tsp cumin powder add this salty water to the vada. Take a plate and a bowl of water to put them over so thatall vadas are completely dipped in the salty water. Soak for 2 hr and allow the vadas to absorb water.

Make Dahi Vada Masala Recipe 

• 1 tsp cumin
• 1/2 tsp ajwain
• 1/2 tsp mint powder
• 1 tsp chilli powder
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1tsp salt
• 1tsp black salt
• 1tsp chat masala
• 1tsp chat masala

dry roast on medium heat

after 2 hr vada will swell up and enlarge. take each vada and squeeze gently between your palms to drain out water, repeat this for all vadas. Place squeezed vadas on the plate

Meanwhile whisk 3 cups plain yogurt with 1 tsp sugar and 1 tsp salt The yogurt should be thick but pouring consistency. 1 tsp dahi vada masala.  Add in 2 tsp green chutney tamarind date chutneys Sprinkle sev. Always serve with chilled yogurt.

Tips : 1. Do not over soak dal as it absorbs oil while deep frying.

           2. Make sure to drop the batter in hot oil else vadas will not turn crispy. 

         3. You may use 75% urad dal and 25% moong dal if you like more prominent flavor of urad dal in your bhalla.

           4. Additionally, add cashews and raisins to the batter to make it more rich. Finally,            5. Soak vadas in curd and later serve dahi vada / dahi bhalla as required.