Blogging Marathon# 63 -Journey through the cuisines: Day 2
State: Gujarat
Dish: Buff Vada
Today is the second day of the Mega Marathon and the letter for today is B. As I have chosen Gujarat, I had a plenty of options to make. The most famous gujarati ingredients from letter B are: Batata (potato), Biranj (Vermicelli), Bhinda (ladyfinger) and Bajri (millet). I already have a few gujarati recipes on my blog and I wanted to make something that is famous in the state of Gujarat and not just pertaining to Gujarati cuisine.
Buff Vada is the name for Farali Pattice in Gujarat. Deep fried balls of boiled potatoes stuffed with coconut filling are the favorite food we have while fasting. This dish is very famous among Gujaratis, but not as much outside the community. When in India, we used to enjoy bite size farali pattice from a store called Modern sweets in Mumbai. They served these pattice with green spicy and orange sweet chutneys. A lot of stores around tried to replicate the pattice, but none were close to the taste that Modern served for years.
Now, in the US it is not very easy to find these pattice. So when this marathon came up and I was making a list of recipes I was going to make, I could not resist the craving to have this at home. So I made a small lot ( just 10) of these yummy vadas. While it can be served with spicy cilantro chutney, these buff vadas tasted great even without a dip. Some people serve it with sweetened yogurt too.
A couple of things to note in this recipe. If you are making this recipe for fasting like Ekadashi or Navratri, use arrowroot or tapioca starch in the crust. If you are making the vada for a snack for non-fasting days, use cornstarch to bind the potatoes. Depending on how spicy you like the filling, adjust the ginger chili quantity. I want to try making these vadas in the oven or in a paniyaram stand, that will be my next try on this recipe. So read on the recipe of Buff Vada and come back on Monday for the next recipe from the letter C.
Ingredients
For the Potato Crust
Potatoes 3 medium
Arrowroot/ Tapioca starch or Cornstarch ¼ cup
Cumin seeds 1 tsp
Salt 1 tsp
For the Stuffing
Shredded coconut ½ cup
Cilantro ½ cup
Peanuts ¼ cup
Raisins a few
Green chili 1 minced
Ginger 1 inch piece
Cumin seeds ½ tsp
Salt, Sugar, Lemon Juice
Oil to fry
Method
Pressure cook the potatoes with a pinch of salt. Once done and cooled, peel and mash the potatoes. Add in the arrowroot or cornstarch, cumin seeds and salt. Mash the potatoes well so that there are no chunks.
Crush the peanuts and finely chop the cilantro. Mix all the ingredients of the stuffing to a mixture. Set aside.
Make small balls of the potato mixture. I could make ten. Using a little oil on the palms, make a flat disc of the mixture. Spoon the stuffing in and fold it over to make a smooth ball.
Heat oil and fry the vada on medium flame, till golden brown. Remove on a kitchen towel to absorb oil and serve warm with cilantro chutney or sweetened yogurt.
Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM# 63
Srivalli says
Amazing snack, never heard of this...:)...those are so perfectly shaped and fried..
vaishali sabnani says
Delicious buff vadas . I love these soft spicy and sweet balls ,amazing choice for the alphabet .
Kalyani says
Yummmmmmm ! Looks declicious :)) never heard of this Vada, Smruti ! Where is this Modeen stores ? Bandra Pali naka ?
Smruti Ashar says
Thanks Kalyani!! The Modern Sweets I am talking about is the one in Santacruz West 🙂
Unknown says
OMG They looks fantastic bookmarked very very interesting recipe...
Gayathri Kumar says
These vadas look super inviting..
The Pumpkin Farm says
Smruti....i have been eating farali patties all my life from modern shop in santacruz....u almost gave me goosebumps talking about that store...this is indeed a favorite snack for all during fasting...good one
Smruti Ashar says
Yes Pradnya, that is the one I am talking about. I love it so much!!
MySpicyKitchen says
Stuffed pattice look delicious and have shaped them evenly and perfectly fried. Never heard of buff vada and thanks for sharing the recipe.
Padmajha says
This is so new to me. And they have turned out so perfect! Pics are awesome!!
Susanne Matthews says
Looks good! Thanks for sharing. https://mhsusannematthews.wordpress.com/
Sandhya Ramakrishnan says
Never heard the name of this vada and the clicks are so tempting. Lovely choice for the alphabet 🙂
Priya Suresh says
Omg, i want these buff vada rite now, they looks super stunning and prefectly shaped, loving it.
cookingwithsapana says
Buff vada looks very inviting.I have never heard of this vada.Bookmarked to try.
Suma Gandlur says
The buff Vadas are so perfectly shaped and are tempting with that coconut filling.
Pavani says
What an amazing traditional dish you got there Smruthi. Buff vada look sooo inviting and delicious.
Harini R says
Very new one. They look stunning and tempting.
Amara’s cooking says
Never heard of these vadas. They look perfectly shaped and done.. Thanks for sharing such a lovely recipe:)
Srividhya says
Have heard about the fasting vada but never tried it. Adding this my list. Love those perfect shapes.
Unknown says
Perfectly shaped and perfect golden color. Look stunning. Good one.
Chef Mireille says
what a unique combination of flavors and ingredients - I would love to try this and see how they would taste
veena says
I love the name, the filling and everything about this vada. Bookmarked. Awesome clicks
Nisha says
Thats an addictive snack and it has turned out so well! Lovely pics!
Nisha says
Thats an addictive snack and it has turned out so well! Lovely pics!