Photo: Sutapa Pal · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Kerala · Breakfast

Uzhunnu Vada

Crispy, golden-fried lentil doughnuts made from ground urad dal (black gram) — identical in technique to South Indian medu vada but with a distinctly Kerala character from the addition of coconut bits, pearl onions (shallots), and curry leaves. The exterior should shatter at first bite while the interior stays light and airy. Served with coconut chutney and Kerala-style sambar.

🧺 Ingredients

• 1 cup (200 g) whole urad dal (black gram), soaked 4 hours
• 8 shallots (pearl onions, 60 g), finely chopped
• 2 green chillies, finely chopped
• 1 sprig curry leaves (10 leaves), finely chopped
• 2 tbsp (20 g) freshly grated coconut (optional but traditional)
• 1-inch ginger (8 g), grated
• ½ tsp (1.5 g) black pepper, coarsely crushed
• 1 tsp (5 g) salt
• 2 tbsp (16 g) rice flour (for crispiness)
• Oil for deep frying (500 ml coconut oil or neutral oil)
• If batter is too soft to shape, refrigerate for 20 minutes.

👩‍🍳 How to make Uzhunnu Vada

1. Drain soaked urad dal completely.
2. Grind in a wet grinder or powerful blender, adding water by the teaspoon — as little as possible.
3. Grind for 8–10 minutes until the batter is very light, fluffy, and white, with no grit between fingers.
4. The batter should float a small ball on water.
5. This aeration is critical for light vadas.
6. Transfer to a bowl.
7. Add shallots, green chillies, curry leaves, coconut, ginger, pepper, salt, and rice flour.
8. Fold in with a spoon — do not overmix.
9. Heat oil in a kadai or deep pan to 175°C over high heat.
10. Test readiness by dropping a tiny bit of batter — it should rise immediately to the surface.
11. Wet hands with water.
12. Take a golf ball–sized portion of batter.
13. Pat into a disc on your palm.
14. Poke a hole in the centre with a wet finger.
15. Carefully slide into oil using a wet spatula or fingers.
16. Fry 4–5 at a time over medium-high heat for 3–4 minutes per side, turning once, until deep golden brown.
17. Drain on paper towels.

Track the macros of Uzhunnu Vada and 100s of Indian dishes with Nutri Macro India.