🌿 Vegan by Nature: Swap ghee for coconut oil in the tempering, and you’re good to go.
💡 Pro Tip: Keep oil at a steady medium heat—too hot and they brown too fast; too cool and they absorb excess oil.
Arrange hot vadas on a platter, garnish with extra curry leaves, and serve immediately with your chutney of choice. Encourage dunking and enjoy that crunch.
Scale soaking and tempering in batches. Fry vadas in two pans side by side to maintain oil temperature, and keep warm on a wire rack in a low oven (100 °C) until serving.
Level up your snack game with these Thavala Vadas—crispy, comforting, and impossible to stop eating. Ready to crunch into one? Let me know how they turn out!
Thavala Vadai is a traditional South Indian snack made with a wholesome mix of five different dals and rice, soaked and ground to a coarse batter, then flavored with ginger, coconut, curry leaves, and a fragrant tempering. These vadas are shaped by hand and deep-fried until golden and crispy on the outside while remaining soft and flavorful inside. Packed with protein and texture, Thavala Vadai makes a perfect tea-time snack or appetizer, especially when served hot with a side of coconut chutney. It's a comforting, crunchy treat that brings together earthy, nutty flavors in every bite.
Combine rice, urad dal, chana dal, toor dal and red chillies in a bowl. add water to cover and let sit for 2 hours.
Place moong dal in a separate bowl, cover with water, and soak for 2 hours.
Drain the soaked rice‑dal mix. in a mixer jar, add the dal‑chilli, add chopped ginger, and little water. pulse to coarse batter.
Heat ghee in a pan. add mustard seeds; once they pop, stir in asafoetida and grated coconut. Sauté briefly.
Transfer coconut mix to the batter bowl. Drain moong dal and fold it in. add chopped curry leaves and salt; mix well.
Wet your fingers and banana leaf lightly. Take a small portion of batter, flatten into vadai shape.
Transfer hot vadas to a serving plate. Enjoy immediately with coconut chutney.Servings 6
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Love our recipes? Follow us for more delicious cooking inspiration, tips, and behindthescenes fun!
I love to cook! And through Home Cooking Show, I hope to make cooking fun, easy, and approachable for everyone.
My way of sharing recipes is all about keeping it simple and delicious—no complicated steps, no fancy ingredients, just real home-cooked food that anyone can make. Cooking should be a joy, not a chore! Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned cook, you’ll find something here to inspire you. If you love good food made with love, then you’re in the right place!
- Hema Subramanian
