Medu Vada

Ingredients : 1 cup of black gram, skinless (urad dal) Salt to taste 1/4 teaspoon of asafoetida 8-10 curry leaves 1 teaspoon of cumin powder 1 teaspoon of crushed black peppercorns Oil to fry

Cooking Instructions : Wash and soak urad dal for six hours. Grind into a fine paste. Add salt, asafoetida, curry leaves, cumin powder and crushed peppercorns to the batter and mix well. Heat oil in a kadai. Wet your palms and take batter into the palms. Shape into balls and make a hole with the thumb in the centre like a doughnut. Deep-fry this in medium hot oil until golden brown and crisp. Serve hot with sambhar and coconut chutney.