Corn Ambode (Corn Vada)

Updated: June 20, 2024, By Swasthi

These Corn Ambode (Vada) are crisp on the outside and fluffy inside, with a delicious aroma of spices and herbs. They are made with corn kernels, chana dal (Bengal gram), spices, fresh mint leaves and coriander leaves. They are spicy, herby and taste amazing on their own but can be served with a spicy chutney or coconut chutney and masala chai. You can also make the batter ahead and refrigerate for 2 days.

Corn Ambode - corn vada



About Corn Ambode

These Corn Vada are great to serve for parties or when you have guests home. They are quick to make and won’t take up much time like the traditional Medu Vada. The only time consuming part is soaking the lentils for 1 to 1½ hours. These are somewhat similar to the South Indian Masala Vada (Ambode) but with the addition of tender sweet corn kernels.

So we use the almost the same spices and herbs that go into making the masala vada. These are best deep fried in oil but can also be baked in an oven or air fried. I have the detailed instructions on my masala vada post. We usually make these with lesser chilies for a low heat option and make a spicy garlic chutney or Coconut chutney. I have shared the recipe of chutney as well in the recipe card below.

These corn vada taste slightly sweet (due to the corn) so either use a good amount of green chilies and red chilies for heat or serve with a spicy chutney. I use frozen sweet corn kernels for convenience so they may be sweeter. The frozen corn we get here are ready to use and require only 2 mins of cooking so I don’t boil them before using.

However if you are using corn on the cob, use tender cobs rather than very mature produce. If they are in between, you need to boil them if you opt not to deep fry. But if you are deep frying, they get cooked when you deep fry. I have shared how to remove and boil corn on the cob in this Crispy corn post.

More Snacks Recipes you may like
Sweet corn soup
Corn chaat
Dahi vada
Vada pav

Photo Guide

Step by step Photo Instructions

1. Wash and soak chana dal for just 1½ to 2 hours. Drain the water and set aside.

Wash and soak chana dal for ambode

2. Add red chilies, jeera, cinnamon stick and saunf. The flavor of saunf will not be strong. If you don’t like it just skip. If you have kids home, then deseed the chilies and use. I used byadgi chilli.

Add red chilies, jeera, cinnamon stick

3. Make a slightly coarse powder.

coarse powder

4. Set aside half of the chana dal. Add corn and the rest of the dal to the blender. I used frozen corn so I rinsed them well and used. Don’t forget to drain them completely if rinsing.

Add corn

5. Blend to a slightly coarse mixture.

coarse mixture

6. Add the ground mixture to the chana dal.

mix the batter for corn ambode

7. Add salt, onions, chilies, ginger paste, curry leaves, coriander leaves and pudina. If you have kids home, skip chilies or set aside a portion of these. Mix everything well.

Add salt, onions, chilies, ginger paste to make corn ambode

8. If the mixture is too moist or soggy, then add 2 to 3 tbsps of besan or rice flour. I didn’t drain the corn properly after rinsing so the mixture was very moist. You may not need any flour depending on how your mixture turns out.

add besan or rice flour

9. The mixture has to be come together and bind well when you make a ball.

mixture

10. You can use a clean dry cloth or foil or grease proof paper for making vadas. Divide the dough to 10 balls.

Divide the dough to balls

11. Flatten them gently.

Flatten them gently

12. Heat the oil on a medium flame. Check if the oil is hot by dropping a small piece of the mixture. The dough has to rise up to the surface and not brown too quickly.

13. Remove the vada to your fingers.

vada

14. Gently shake off your fingers over the hot oil. Regulate the flame to medium.

hot oil

15. Do not disturb for 1 to 2 minutes. Slowly they will firm up. Flip them and fry on the other side.

Flip them and fry on the other side

16. Fry them until golden.

Fry them until golden

Remove the corn ambode /vada to a kitchen tissue. Serve corn vada with a spicy chutney. To make the red chilli garlic chutney, soak deseeded 12 to 15 red chilies in water for 30 mins. Blend together soaked chilies, 3 to 4 garlic cloves, salt, ½ tsp sugar and ½ tsp lemon juice. Add little water to make a smooth chutney. You can replace sugar with jaggery.

Corn Ambode (Corn Vada recipe)

Related Recipes

Recipe Card

corn ambode

Corn Ambode (Corn Vada)

5 from 10 votes
Make these delicious corn vada for a tea-time or any time snack. The can also be air fried or baked in the oven instead of deep frying.
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For best results follow the step-by-step photos above the recipe card

Prep Time1 hour 30 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time1 hour 50 minutes
Servings3
AuthorSwasthi

Ingredients (US cup = 240ml )

  • ½ cup chana dal (or bengal gram)
  • cups corn kernels (fresh or frozen)
  • 1 tbsp ginger paste
  • 2 tbsp pudina or mint leaves
  • 2 tbsp coriander leaves (optional), chopped
  • 1 green chilli chopped
  • 1 sprig curry leaves (optional)
  • salt as needed
  • 1 small onion
  • 2 to 3 tbsps besan or chickpea flour or rice flour
  • oil as needed for deep frying

For masala powder

  • 1 inch cinnamon (or dalchini)
  • 1 red chili (deseeded)
  • ¾ tsp cumin (or jeera)
  • ¾ tsp saunf (or fennel seeds)

For spicy chilli chutney (optional)

  • 12 to 15 red chilies (less spicy, byadgi or Kashmiri)
  • 3 to 4 garlic cloves
  • ½ tsp sugar
  • ½ tsp lemon juice
  • salt as needed
  • water as needed
  • ½ tsp roasted cumin or jeera


Instructions

  • Wash dal and soak it for 1 ½ to 2 hours. Drain the water.
  • Add cinnamon, red chili, cumin and saunf to a blender. Make a slightly coarse powder.
  • Add half of the chana dal to the blender jar. Add corn as well.
  • Make a coarse mixture.
  • To a mixing bowl, add the other half of the soaked dal, blended mixture, salt, mint, curry leaves, coriander leaves, ginger paste and green chilies.
  • Mix everything well. 
  • If the mixture is too soggy then add 3 tbsps of besan or rice flour. Give a good mix.
  • Heat oil in a deep pan for frying.
  • Make 10 equal sized balls.
  • Place them on a clean cloth or greased foil, grease proof paper.
  • Flatten them gently.
  • Check if the oil is hot by dropping a small bit of the mixture. If it rises without browning too quickly then the oil is ready to use for frying.
  • Gently remove one vada on to your fingers and drop it gently into the hot oil
  • Fry them for 1 to 2 minutes without disturbing. Flip them and fry until golden and crisp.
  • Serve corn vada with hot chutney.

Making hot chili chutney

  • Soak the red chilies in water for 30 mins.
  • Blend them with the rest of the ingredients adding water as needed. 


NUTRITION INFO (estimation only)

Nutrition Facts
Corn Ambode (Corn Vada)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 323 Calories from Fat 135
% Daily Value*
Fat 15g23%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Sodium 159mg7%
Potassium 501mg14%
Carbohydrates 37g12%
Fiber 12g50%
Sugar 4g4%
Protein 10g20%
Vitamin A 270IU5%
Vitamin C 39.7mg48%
Calcium 28mg3%
Iron 3.3mg18%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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About Swasthi

I’m Swasthi Shreekanth, the recipe developer, food photographer & food writer behind Swasthi’s 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. More about me

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I love your recipe.everytime I follow you When I make some food.

5 stars
Sooo yammy

How can these be stored? How long will they last? I am looking to store for 3-4 days and have them available as an easy snack for guests.

can i bake or shallow fry