Masala Vada

Masala Vada is a Simple crispy vada that is very popular in tea shops. It is raining heavily here every evenings.. Would like to have some crispy crunchy snack and so thought of preparing Vada. I usually make this vada so often at my home. Recently, I tasted this Masala Vada at my friend's home. The taste was too good and I loved it very much.  I asked her about the ingredients.  The special ingredient that made the vada too flavourful is Crushed Garlic. So, In this version, I added Crushed garlic and it turned out very well. Vada serves as a good snack along with Tea/Coffee. It tastes best when served hot.

INGREDIENTS:

Channa dal	1 cup
Raw Rice	1 tbsp
Onion	1 - Finely Chopped
Green Chillies	5
Curry Leaves	As Required
Fennel Seeds	1 tsp
Cumin Seeds	1 tsp
Crushed Garlic	4 pods
Coriander Leaves	As Required
Salt	To Taste
Oil	To Fry

STEPS:

1. Soak Channa Dal and Rice for atleast 2 hrs. Drain the water completely and grind to a coarse paste. Mix all the other ingredients  except oil and keep aside. 
2. In a deep bottomed pan, heat oil and take the small amount of batter and flatten it to a thin round shape and drop it carefully. Fry vada till it turns golden brown. 

Tips:

• If you have forgotten to add Rice while soaking, Add 2 tsp Rice Flour. This will make the vada so crispy.

Chana Dal Halwa

Cooking Time : 30 mins

Today , I am posting my second Challenge for the well known event organized by Divya from youtoocancookindianfood - SNC Challange. This time Swasthi from South team challenged north team with Hyderabadi Dum Biriyani. Krithi from North team challenged South team with Channa Dal Halwa..

As I am from South team, I have completed my challenge by trying Chana Dal Halwa. I had this Halwa once long time back and now I got a chance to prepare it. I don't know that it is a Mughal Cuisine till I read Krithi post. Thanks Krithi for sharing such a delicious Halwa. It has such a good taste when Refrigerated. My family enjoyed it. Coming to the Recipe..

INGREDIENTS:

Chana Dal	1 cup
Sugar	1/2 cup - Adjust according to taste
Milk	2 cups
Cardamom Powder	2 pinch
Almonds	8 - Chopped Lengthwise
Ghee	3/4 cup

STEPS:

1. Wash and soak chana dal in water for 4 hrs. Pressure cook with 2 cups of water till the chana dal is cooked. Allow the cooker to cool. Drain the excess water and mash the dal well to a thick paste using spatula.
2. In a wide Pan, heat ghee and add the mashed Chana Dal and cook it in medium flame. Keep stirring continuously till the raw smell goes. This will take atleast 15 mins. 
3. After sometime, you will be able to see the Ghee separating from the Dal. At this stage, add 1/2 cup of milk and cook in high flame till the milk get absorbed. Repeat the same step for the remaining milk. 
4. Add Sugar, Cardamom Powder, Half of the almonds and stir for another 5 mins. 
5. Remove from the flame and transfer it to the plate and allow it to cool. Once it cools, cut into desired shape. It can stored in air tight containers or can be refrigerated. 

                                 

Tips:

• While mashing the Dal, Don't add extra water. 
• Don't add all the milk at one time. 
• Keep stirring the pan continuously else the bottom will get burn.