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    Home » Appetizers

    Published: Sep 7, 2016 · Modified: Mar 10, 2022 by Smruti · This post may contain affiliate links · 34 Comments

    Instant Dahi Vada

    Blogging Marathon #68 Week 2 Day 3

    Theme: Appetizers

    Dish: Instant Dahi Vada


    Today is the third day of this week's appetizer theme and I am sharing an Indian classic appetizer today. Dahi Vada, Dahi Bhalla or Thayir Wada; you may choose to call it by different names but it all boils down to lentil dumplings dunked in cold yogurt and topped with seasonings and chutneys. Till now I have shared two versions of it; one is the classic Dahi Vada and another is a quick wheat based Dahi Pakodi. Today it is time for another favorite from our family, Instant Dahi Vada. 


    The traditional recipe of dahi vada includes soaking urad and grinding them to a batter. Then mixing in other ingredients and doing a test to ensure it will be fluffy etc. While I love to do all that on days when I have ample time, there are days when I want to make something yummy really quick. That is when I use this recipe.


    Urad dal flour forms the base of this recipe. This flour is easily available in most Indian stores. We use it to make a traditional winter sweet called adadiya too. So I generally have that flour in my pantry. This flour mixed with a little rice flour to get crispiness is used to make the batter. I have added cumin seeds, ginger and green chilli, but you may choose to remove or edit any of them as per your preference. Making the vada in a paniyaram stand eliminates the frying, but the same batter can be used to fry vadas too. I was doing a low calorie version, thus opted for this method.


    I am sure you all have seen a lot of people sharing dahi vada on various food sharing groups. Each household has a different version of the classic and many people are creative and use ingredients like using bread or some fasting friendly flours to make dahi vada. This recipe is according to our family preferences; sweet yogurt, lentil based dumplings and served with minimal toppings. 


    A lot of people like to add thin sev, pomegranate or fried boondi on their dahi vadas. I have not added any of those as we like this version better. I served chutneys on the side, letting each person pick and choose what they want in their plate. It is also a good idea to add the chutneys to the main dish itself. Make changes as you like to this one. And yes, come back tomorrow for one of my favorite appetizers on the blog! 

    Ingredients



    For the Vada

    Urad Dal Flour 1 cup

    Rice Flour 2 tbsp

    Baking Soda a pinch

    Cumin Seeds 1 tsp

    Ginger 1 inch piece, minced

    Green Chilli 1-2, minced

    Salt 1 tsp

    Oil and water as required



    For the Dahi Vada

    Thick yogurt 2 cups

    Sugar 3-4 tbsp
    Salt, red chilli powder and cumin powder as required

    Cilantro to garnish

    Sweet and spicy chutneys from here

    Method

    In a bowl mix all ingredients except water and oil. Start with ¼ cup water and mix it in to get a smooth batter. Keep adding water till you get a thick batter. You would need between ¼ and ½ cup water depending on the brand of flours used. 

    Once you get a thick batter, heat a paniyaram stand. Add half a teaspoon of oil in each cavity and drop a tablespoon of the batter. Cook on medium flame for 2 minutes, covered. By then the bottom would be brown. Flip and cook for another couple of minutes. Once the vada is golden brown, remove on a kitchen towel. 

    Before you are ready to make the dahi vada, whip yogurt and add  a pinch of cumin powder and salt, sugar as required. We love our dahi vada sweet, but you can adjust the sweetness based on how you prefer. Refrigerate the yogurt for the flavors to soak in.

    Take a bowl of water. Dip the prepared vadas in water for 1 minute, remove and squeeze out the water. Place the vadas in a plate. Top with flavored yogurt. Sprinkle chilli powder, ground cumin and chopped cilantro. Enjoy immediately or refrigerate before digging in. 

    Check out the Blogging Marathon page to see what the other Blogging Marathoners are doing for BM# 68

    An InLinkz Link-up


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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. MySpicyKitchen says

      March 10, 2022 at 7:58 pm

      I always wondered if the urad flour can be used to make idly dosa vada batters. Looks like it does work for vada. Dahi vada is one of my favorite snacks/tiffins.

      Reply
      • Smruti Ashar says

        March 10, 2022 at 7:58 pm

        Yeah Usha the flour worked perfectly for vada. I know some people make idli dosa using it too!

        Reply
    2. vaishali sabnani says

      March 10, 2022 at 7:58 pm

      Excellent way to make instant dahi wadas . I have never made with the flour , but this definitely shall come up on the table soon.

      Reply
      • Smruti Ashar says

        March 10, 2022 at 7:58 pm

        Thanks a lot!! Try it, I am sure you will get addicted!!

        Reply
    3. Nalini's Kitchen says

      March 10, 2022 at 7:58 pm

      This low calorie and instant version sounds inviting.Amazing clicks with a neat presentation.

      Reply
      • Smruti Ashar says

        March 10, 2022 at 7:58 pm

        Thanks a lot!!

        Reply
    4. Unknown says

      March 10, 2022 at 7:58 pm

      Ml awesome smruti..your low calorie recipes are amazing.. keep posting... definitely will try this one soon...

      Reply
      • Smruti Ashar says

        March 10, 2022 at 7:58 pm

        Sure!! You must try something out and tell me how it turned out 🙂

        Reply
    5. The Pumpkin Farm says

      March 10, 2022 at 7:58 pm

      instant is always welcome...this looks delectable

      Reply
      • Smruti Ashar says

        March 10, 2022 at 7:58 pm

        Thanks a lot!!

        Reply
    6. Gayathri Kumar says

      March 10, 2022 at 7:58 pm

      The instant vada recipe sounds so nice. I need to try this. And the dahi vada looks so inviting..

      Reply
      • Smruti Ashar says

        March 10, 2022 at 7:58 pm

        Thanks a lot!!

        Reply
    7. Priya Suresh says

      March 10, 2022 at 7:58 pm

      My god, this instant version rocks, and this low calorie dahi vadas will definitely please everyone's tastebuds.

      Reply
      • Smruti Ashar says

        March 10, 2022 at 7:58 pm

        Yeah it comes together rather quickly and is loved by everyone!!

        Reply
    8. Harini R says

      March 10, 2022 at 7:58 pm

      Very pleasing and appetizing presentation. Love it.

      Reply
      • Smruti Ashar says

        March 10, 2022 at 7:58 pm

        Thanks a lot!!

        Reply
    9. Srividhya says

      March 10, 2022 at 7:58 pm

      amazing man.. the concept of no frying vada itself is great. to add to that its no soaking, no grinding. wow.

      Reply
      • Smruti Ashar says

        March 10, 2022 at 7:58 pm

        Yeah this is my go-to recipe for a meal that needs to be ready quickly, especially with guests!

        Reply
    10. cookingwithsapana says

      March 10, 2022 at 7:58 pm

      Love this low carb version of the dahi vada.Looks too tempting.

      Reply
      • Smruti Ashar says

        March 10, 2022 at 7:58 pm

        Thanks a lot!! 🙂

        Reply
    11. Sandhya Ramakrishnan says

      March 10, 2022 at 7:58 pm

      Making the vada with the ready made urad flour sounds very interesting. Definitely a life saver and love that you used appam pan to make the vadas. I am going to try this sometime.

      Reply
      • Smruti Ashar says

        March 10, 2022 at 7:58 pm

        Yeah it is really quick and yet we are using urad and not something make shift like bread. Try it out 🙂

        Reply
    12. Kalyani says

      March 10, 2022 at 7:58 pm

      This picture is haunting me from ur Instagram feed ! I have a small batch of urad dal flour at home and sure to try this ! One of my fav snacks :))

      Reply
      • Smruti Ashar says

        March 10, 2022 at 7:58 pm

        Do try this. I am sure you will get addicted 🙂

        Reply
    13. Suma Gandlur says

      March 10, 2022 at 7:58 pm

      The Dahi vada is captured so fantastically, Smruti. Drooling here.

      Reply
      • Smruti Ashar says

        March 10, 2022 at 7:58 pm

        Thanks a lot!!

        Reply
    14. Srivalli says

      March 10, 2022 at 7:58 pm

      The pictures are fabulous Smruti..instant vadas are always a hit!

      Reply
      • Smruti Ashar says

        March 10, 2022 at 7:58 pm

        Thanks a lot!!

        Reply
    15. Priya Srinivasan - I Camp in My Kitchen says

      March 10, 2022 at 7:58 pm

      wowie, that looks amazing, pictured so beautifully!! I feel like grabbing it straight from that picture!

      Reply
      • Smruti Ashar says

        March 10, 2022 at 7:58 pm

        Thanks a lot!!

        Reply
    16. Archana says

      March 10, 2022 at 7:58 pm

      Wow what pictures. I want some of them. Love the no grind version n love the no fey too.

      Reply
      • Smruti Ashar says

        March 10, 2022 at 7:58 pm

        Yeah it is rather quick and easy. Thanks a lot!!

        Reply
    17. www.annapurnaz.in says

      March 10, 2022 at 7:58 pm

      I make instant dahi vada with bread, but your version of instant dahi vada that too without frying rocks. Need to give it a try 🙂

      Reply
    18. Pavani says

      March 10, 2022 at 7:58 pm

      Wow, what an interesting vada recipe -- no grinding, no-deep frying. Totally my kind of a recipe. Love the way you served them -- makes them look very inviting.

      Reply

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