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Dal vada (Moong dal vada)

By swasthi , on August 7, 2019, 21 Comments, Jump to Recipe

Dal vada recipe with moong dal, spices and herbs. To make festive time fun-filled and special, most of us prepare toothsome foods. These moong dal vada are super easy, delicious and can be made during any festivals or even as a tea time snack during the monsoon.

serving south indian style mixed dal vada with chutney

These dal vadas are easy to make and just takes little time to prepare except for soaking. You can use any variety of split lentils to make these. Also you can flavor them up with whatever you desire, like with garam masala or just red chilies and some cumin powder.

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This is my mom’s recipe and we would use a handful of drumstick leaves, spinach, methi or coriander leaves. They just turn out good. Here I just went ahead with a mix of coriander and curry leaves. The classic South Indian herb, curry leaves add a lot of aroma here.

These dal vada do not soak up much oil since the ground mixture is made to a tight consistency. These can also be offered during any puja, just skip the onions, ginger, garlic and chilli.

Dal vada can be deep fried or even air fried. These days I have been air frying. So I have included the instructions for the same below.

These dal vada are best served with a good Chutney like coconut chutney, mint pudina chutney or green chutney.

dal vada recipe using chana dal

More recipes,
Batata vada
Masala vada
Medu vada
Alasanda vada
Sabudana vada

Preparation for moong dal vada

1. Add ¾ cup moong dal to a large bowl.

moong dal for vada

2. Add ¼ cup chana dal and 2 tablespoons split white urad dal. You can also simply skip these and add another ¼ cup moong dal. Chana dal is used for flavor and texture. If you don’t know how good fried chana dal tastes, then you have to try it. If you prefer to air fry these moong dal vadas, then simply skip the urad dal.

lentils in a bowl

3. Rinse them well and soak for 2 hours.

soaking moong dal for vada

4. Crush red chili in a grinder. This step is optional, but the chilies add a pungent flavor and heat. I haven’t used them here.

5. Drain the water completely and add them to the same grinder. Keep aside 2 to 3 tablespoons of dal for later use.

add moong dal to a grinder
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6. Pulse to make a coarse mixture. If it is too dry, you may sprinkle very little water but I don’t.

coarse ground lentils

7. To the mixing bowl, add daal that was set aside along with the ground moong dal.

moong dal batter for vada

8. Add chopped onions, garam masala, ginger garlic paste and cumin.

add spices and onions
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9. Next add curry leaves, coriander leaves and green chilies.

add herbs

10. Mix everything well. The mixture must be moist and must bind well when you make a dal vada. If the vada fails to bind well, it means dal hasn’t been blended enough. You can blend about 4 tbsps of this again and mix with the rest.

shape to moong dal vada

How to make moong dal vada

11. Heat oil in a kadai for deep frying. Grease a cling wrap or a foil or a parchment paper. Take small portions of this mixture and make 10 small balls. Flatten them on the sheet. Do not make them too thick. You will be able to make 10 dal vada.

12. When the oil becomes hot, drop a small portion of the mixture to check if the oil is hot. It has to rise without browning instantly. This is the right temperature. Grease the fingers on your right hand. Lift one corner of the sheet, transfer the vada on to your fingers and drop them in the hot oil. You can make these in batches of 3 to 4.

13. Do not disturb them from 2 minutes. Then use a perforated ladle and turn to the other side. Fry till golden and crisp. Remove moong dal vada to a colander.

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Air fryer dal vada

These are the air fryer dal vadas. I place them on the tray/rack and air fry for 15 to 17 minutes at 180 C or 360 F. I do not spray oil or preheat the fryer as mine does not require. But if needed, preheat for 10 mins and then spray them with oil. I brush the hot dal vada with ghee otherwise they will be too dry.

Serve dal vada hot with your favorite chutney.

dal vada recipe

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Recipe card

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moong dal vada

Dal vada recipe (moong dal vada)

These dal vada are delicious snack made with moong dal, spices & herbs. Serve them with chutney or masala chai. These can be deep fried or air fried.
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For best results follow the step-by-step photos above the recipe card

Prep Time2 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time27 minutes
Servings10 moong dal vada
AuthorSwasthi

Ingredients (US cup = 240ml )

  • ¾ cup moong dal
  • ¼ cup bengal gram (optional but recommended)
  • 2 tablespoons urad dal (optional)
  • ½ to ¾ teaspoon garam masala
  • 1½ teaspoon ginger garlic paste (or ¾ inch ginger and 2 garlic cloves)
  • 1 onion fine chopped
  • 2 to 3 green chilies chopped (adjust to taste)
  • 2 dried red chilies (optional for extra heat)
  • 2 sprigs curry leaves (fine chopped)
  • 3 tablespoons coriander leaves (fine chopped)
  • ½ teaspoon cumin seeds (jeera)
  • ½ to ¾ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
  • Oil for deep frying
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Instructions

Preparation

  • Wash and soak all lentils for 2 hours. Drain and rinse them well.
  • Keep aside 2 to 3 tbsp of the soaked dal separately. 
  • Pulse red chilies (if using) in the grinder. Then add the rest of the lentils to a grinder. Pulse to a coarse paste without adding any water.
  • Transfer this to a mixing bowl. Add the lentils that we kept aside, garam masala powder, green chilies, ginger garlic paste, curry leaves, coriander, onions and cumin. Mix well.
  • The mixture has to bind well. Check by making a ball and then flatten to see if it holds shape. Otherwise, take about ¼ cup of this mixture to the blender and blend again. Mix everything well.
  • Taste test and add more salt if needed.

Frying mixed dal vada

  • Heat oil in a deep pan for frying.
  • Pick up small portions, shape them to small balls, and flatten on a greased sheet. You will be able to make 10 vadas out of this.
  • Check if the oil is hot by dropping a small portion of the mixture. It must rise slowly without browning.
  • Transfer the moong dal vada on to your greased fingers and drop in the hot oil gently. You can drop 2 to 3 vadas in one batch, depending on the size of the pan.
  • Fry them on a medium flame. Do not disturb for 2 minutes otherwise they will break.
  • After 2 mins, flip the dal vada around to the other side. Fry till golden and crisp. Remove and drain them on a kitchen tissue.
  • Repeat making vadas and frying till you finish the ground mixture.
  • Serve moong dal vada hot with your favorite chutney or with tea.

Air fryer moong dal vada

  • Preheat air fryer for 10 minutes at 180 c or 360 F for 10 minutes. Place the dal vadas on the rack and spray with oil. I do not spray at this stage.
  • Air fry for 15 to 17 minutes until golden and crisp, if needed turn them to the other side after 10 minutes. Do not handle them when they are still soft.
  • Once done, brush them with ghee and serve hot.
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Notes

This an updated recipe. The original recipe which I shared earlier uses half cup each of moong dal, chana dal and urad dal.

Alternative quantities provided in the recipe card are for 1x only, original recipe.

For best results follow my detailed step-by-step photo instructions and tips above the recipe card.

NUTRITION INFO (estimation only)

Nutrition Facts
Dal vada recipe (moong dal vada)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 90 Calories from Fat 9
% Daily Value*
Fat 1g2%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Sodium 150mg7%
Potassium 280mg8%
Carbohydrates 16g5%
Fiber 7g29%
Sugar 2g2%
Protein 6g12%
Vitamin A 146IU3%
Vitamin C 27mg33%
Calcium 26mg3%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Mention @SwasthisRecipes or tag #swasthisrecipes!

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About swasthi

I’m Swasthi shreekanth, the recipe developer, food photographer & food writer behind Swasthis recipes. My aim is to help you cook great Indian food with my time-tested recipes. After 2 decades of experience in practical Indian cooking I started this blog to help people cook better & more often at home. Whether you are a novice or an experienced cook I am sure Swasthi’s Recipes will assist you to enhance your cooking skills.
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Recipe Rating




Recipe Rating




21 Comments
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A srini
October 9, 2020 4:49 pm

Wanted to know which one is more crispier between the two recipes for vada, masala vadai or dal vadai.

Reply
swasthi
Reply to  A srini
October 10, 2020 3:29 am

Hi,
Both are almost the same.

Reply
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Teresa
July 23, 2020 10:48 pm

4 stars
easy to make recipes of popular and tasty dishes

Reply
swasthi
Reply to  Teresa
July 24, 2020 3:42 pm

Thank you!

Reply
Shreya
December 17, 2019 3:35 pm

Thank you for sharing this tasty recipe. Also I recommended to try moog dal vada recipe which is also tasty.

Reply
Harshada Potnis
June 17, 2019 5:03 am

4 stars
Really nice way of explaining and simplify preparation of any recipe. Great job

Reply
swasthi
Reply to  Harshada Potnis
June 17, 2019 2:25 pm

Thank you

Reply
PADMA RAMAN
January 1, 2018 9:08 am

All recipes are so good . Pictures are very clear. I will try all

Reply
Manjiri
June 14, 2017 3:49 pm

5 stars
Tried today for my tea pakora party , very nice recipe, vadas were yumm.. 🙂

Reply
swasthi
Reply to  Manjiri
June 21, 2017 3:23 am

Thanks Manjiri

Reply
Ana
August 3, 2016 9:32 am

thank u so much for the best receipes it is very helpful for me. have a nic day

Reply
swasthi
Reply to  Ana
August 6, 2016 2:30 am

welcome and thank you

Reply
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kainat
February 28, 2016 5:40 pm

thanq so much for the best receipes it is very helpful..thanx a lot

Reply
swasthi
Reply to  kainat
February 29, 2016 3:15 pm

welcome Kainat
Happy to know the recipes are useful. Have a good day

Reply
Rajiv
September 20, 2015 3:03 am

I went through so many Dal Wada receipes.but could found, in yours only I could find perfect details.on shree Mahalaxmi I had tasted n wanted to offer Thakurji..without onion.will add kadipatta.Thanks

Reply
swasthi
Reply to  Rajiv
September 20, 2015 6:33 am

Welcome
Yes you can made without onion, garlic and green chilli too if making for prasad.
Thank you

Reply
Meena joshi
July 30, 2015 7:25 pm

Thanks, I get a very tasteful recipe for my family

Reply
swasthi
Reply to  Meena joshi
July 31, 2015 12:37 am

welcome Meena

Reply
medha
May 10, 2015 10:21 pm

Came out well thank you

Reply
vani
May 5, 2015 2:45 pm

5 stars
Turned out good, crunchy and tasty. thank you so much

Reply
linsy
August 31, 2014 1:40 am

I am surely going to make this. Looks very very tempting

Reply

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