Learn how to make South Indian style Dahi Vada or Thayir Vadai Recipe using this easy recipe.
I was terribly jet-lagged all of last week. I couldn’t keep my eyes open beyond 8pm and was up and about by 4:30 which is super duper rare for me because I am just not a morning person. I have to say I secretly enjoyed my energy at 5 in the morning the past few days.
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| Spongy vadas soaked in spiced and tempered thayir or yogurt |
On Saturday morning, I had this weird craving for medhu vada / uzhunnu vada. I have made this in the past so you can find the medhu vada recipe here.
Also check out: spongy vadai recipe with aval, the popular vada pav from Mumbai, and onion vada from the streets of Kerala.
A few tips while making medhu vada:
– I made the batter in my Ultra wet grinder and this makes all the difference in your medhu vada. I was amazed how crisp the vadas were outside and soft inside. I was also able to get the doughnut shape (although not perfect), you just need to resist the temptation to add too much water to the urad dal while its grinding. This is harder to control in a mixie I guess.
– I added whole peppercorn like the ones you get in restaurants. TH doesn’t like biting into them but I didn’t have an option because we were out of green chillies. I also added ginger more liberally than last time.
Perfect, pillowy, and soft.
But today’s recipe is all about dunking these deep fried awesomes into a bowl of flavoured curd, letting them soak for a while and then sinking your teeth in the resulting goodness. We did this with the few remaining vadas and actually enjoyed it more than the vadas by themselves.
South Indian Thayir Vadai Recipe
Serves 2
Ingredients:
1 cup thick curd
1/4 cup water
Chopped coriander leaves
1/2 tsp paprika or Kashmiri red chilli powder
1/2 tsp roasted jeera powder
Salt to taste
How to make Dahi Vada:
1. Dunk the vadas into a bowl of warm water, soak for 10 seconds, take them out and squeeze out the excess water. This will ensure that the vadas are softer once soaked in the curd.
2. Beat the curd with some water, the jeera powder, and salt. Add the vadas in and leave in the fridge for atleast 4 hours or overnight.
3. Before serving, garnish with some chopped coriander leaves and chilli powder / paprika. Kara boondi also makes an excellent garnish but sadly, I didn’t have any.
Notes:
1. The Dahi Vada made in Northern parts of India is slightly different from this. The spices used to flavour the dahi are different and they usually serve it with dates chutney and mint chutney, the same kinds used for chaat. That tastes great, but is different from this.
2. In some versions, ground coconut is added to the curd. Although I was tempted to try this, I didn’t have any coconut in the fridge (remember, I was away for 3 weeks!). Maybe next time.
Dear Nags,
The thayiru vada was delcious! It was my very first attempt at any kind of vada and your recipe made it so very easy. Thank you
Anu
so glad to hear that Anu. Thank you!
i'm not much of a wine-drinker so am not sure what sort of wine goes well with indian food. sorry 🙁
Hey Nags, when I saw the South Indian Thayir Vadai pic…it got me salivating..and my tummy rumbling…I will definitely try your recipe. Just wanted to know what type of wine would you recommend this dish to complement it? I have tried quite a few types and varieties of wine before with Indian cuisine…many misses and a few spot on…please advice.
I just wanna grab the bowl and start eating…YUM!
Anu
http://aroma-ad.blogspot.com/
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I do like plenty of ginger in mine too. Prefer green chili to peppercorns but can bear with them. A perfect thing for the warming weather. I have to make dahi wada.
Hi nags,
I would like to pass you on this award.Please accept it.
http://archguru.blogspot.com/2011/03/yayaward.html
Looks pretty good and souns quite delicious. I think I have to try immediately.
Dahi vadia looks fantastic. I am actually drooling here….wonderful yummy looking clicks too.
Thanks for letting me know that butterscotch is available here in Singapore.
Nice Picture and looks yummy!! I love dahi vadas esp. in summer…
This recipe sounds very exotic!!!
Yummmmmm…. Awesome recipe and lovely clicks…
http://krithiskitchen.blogspot.com
Herbs & Flowers in my Platter – Coriander/Cilantro
Gwen, you should be able to find the urad dal in your local indian store. make sure you get the husked, whole urad dal, not the unhusked black ones or the halved ones.
also, you can't substitute brown sugar for jeera. jeera is cumin, and i am sure you can find it somewhere there 🙂 if you can't, jus omit it.
its been so long since i prepared this,nice click
This holi season we ate a lot of these dahi vadas. Hmmm I loved it a lot..
Hi what a prodigious recipe, I can't wait to try it. I've seen your name on some of my daring bakers friends; I wanted to introduce myself: I am Bobbie of bobbiesbakingblog.com nice to no you via internet.
This looks absolutely delicious! I have never had this dish (I'm here in New Mexico, USA) but it looks so tasty, I would like to try making it!
I've never cooked with urad dal (which may or may not be at our one international grocery store), would it work to grind it up in a food processor?
Is it possible to substitute brown sugar for jeera?
I love your blog!
thanks,
gwen
Very colorful picture…. Nice recipe… Looks so good. YUM!
omg that picture of vada just made be go drooool..its been ages since ive had vada:(
Cricket match and these crisp vadas will be a great combo 🙂 Off to make them right now!
Yum yum yum! I can eat dahi wada any style all through summer. And I love them with whole peppercorns, so your recipe is perfect!
Am just craving for these beauties, just drooling here..
My all time fav..love this a lot :)Ur pics make me drooll…
Looks so perfect n yum ….5am energy is wonderful 🙂
I love any version of dahi vada and with any kind of toppings…your pictures are tempting me to make some 🙂
The dahi vadas look so delicious.
I love dahi vada as well as dahi bhalla…looks yumm
I love love dahi vada & a homemade one at that. I love both the N Indian & S Indian versions, But I hate the addition of coconut in it .. Glad you didn't add it 🙂
Perfect vadas..crispy and perfectly shaped!
Yum ! I love dahi vadas…a restaurant in bangalore serves it with grated carrot as a garnish !!
Now you are making me to crave for some,and early morning you made vada?,great 😀 It will be like we have so much of time the whole day if we wake up early ..