Moong dal vada, simply the best and so addicting. These are golden crispy from outside and soft, spongy, fluffy from inside. Plus these Gujarati dalwada are easy to make at home and requires only a handful of ingredients.
This Gujarati snack is best enjoyed during the rainy season with sliced onions and fried green chilies on the side and of course a hot cup of tea. This makes a truly delicious appetizer for small get-together, party or any occasion in between.
Gujarati Moong Dal Vada Recipe
This moong dal vada is so popular all over Gujarat, especially in Ahmedabad. You will see many street vendors selling them. They give you the hot, fried dalwada wrapped into the newspaper. Those are so addictive that I can’t stop eating them.
Now that I moved to the USA, I don’t get them here. So I have made homemade dal vada and trust me these turned out the same as street stalls, so good, perfect and addictive.
This Gujarati dal vada is different than moong dal pakoda. In this recipe, we are using chilka moong dal (moong dal with skin), while to make moong dal pakoda, yellow moong dal is used.
These crispy dal vada are perfect for entertaining. They are best eaten hot so you get the best of that crispy outside goodness, but they taste just as great at room temperature too. While the outer layer won’t be as crispy, but they’ll be still addictive and flavorful.
Check out more Indian starter recipes (appetizers for entertaining)
Hara bhara kabab // Veg cutlet // Samosa // Veg kofta // Palak pakoda
How to make dal vada?
1) Measure and take moong dal with skin (chilka moong dal). Take into the colander or strainer and wash under running cold water till water runs clear. Rinse them in a bowl 3-4 times or till the water is not cloudy anymore.
2) Soak in enough water for 4-5 hours. Water should be 2-3 inches above the dal.
3) After the soaking time, rub the dal between your fingers, so most of the skin will come off.
4) Keep rubbing and massaging till 70% of the skin is came off the dal.
5) Now drain the water and skin will float on top, remove that too.
6) You can see now that very few dal has skin.
7) Take drained dal in a grinder jar. Add green chilies, ginger, and cilantro. Add 1-2 tablespoons of water only.
8) Grind it into a thick, coarse paste.
9) NOTE: Do not add too much water because we need a really thick batter.
10) Remove the batter in a bowl, add salt and hing.
11) Mix and stir vigorously so the batter becomes light and fluffy. This makes light and spongy dal vada without adding any baking soda.
12) While you are stirring the batter, heat the oil for deep frying on medium heat. Once hot add a spoonful of batter by using a large spoon or your hand.
13) Keep moving and frying till they are crispy and golden brown from all the sides. Remove it to a paper towel-lined plate and fry similarly rest of them.
In the end, fry green chilies into the hot oil. And serve piping hot vada with sliced onions and fried chili.
Tips to make BEST Dal Vada:
- Soak the dal for at least 4 hours.
- Want to skip the rubbing and removing skin steps? Use half of yellow moong dal (without skin) and half of moong dal with skin.
- Keep the batter really thick, so add very little water while grinding.
- Also, make the coarse batter. Do not grind into a fine paste.
- Do stir or whisk the batter really well for about 2-3 minutes to aerate and fluff up the batter. This makes the spongy, light and fluffy dal vada from inside.
- For a variation, you can add 2-3 cloves of garlic while grinding the dal.
Check out more vada recipes
Medu vada // Sabudana vada // Sweet corn vada // Batata vada // Bajri vada // Dahi vada
Dal Vada Recipe (Gujarati Moong Dalwada)
Ingredients
- 1 cup Chilkewali moong dal (Moong dal with skin)
- Water to soak the dal
- 2-3 Green chilies
- ½ inch Ginger
- 2 tablespoons Cilantro or coriander leaves
- 2 tablespoons Water for grinding
- Salt to taste
- ¼ teaspoon Hing (Asafoetida)
- Oil for deep frying
- Onion thinly sliced (to serve on side)
- Green chilies slit and deep fried (to serve on side)
Instructions
- Wash the dal under running cold water till water runs clear. Rinse them in a bowl 3-4 times or till the water is not cloudy anymore.
- Soak in enough water for 4-5 hours. Water should be 2-3 inches above the dal.
- After the soaking time, rub the dal between your fingers, so most of the skin will come off.
- Keep rubbing and massaging till 70% of the skin is came off the dal.
- Now drain the water and skin will float on top, remove that too.
- You can see now that very few dal has skin.
- Take drained dal in a grinder jar. Add green chilies, ginger, and cilantro. Add 1-2 tablespoons of water only.
- Grind it into a thick, coarse paste. NOTE: Do not add too much water because we need a really thick batter.
- Remove the batter in a bowl, add salt and hing.
- Mix and stir vigorously so the batter becomes light and fluffy. This makes light and spongy dal vada without adding any baking soda.
- While you are stirring the batter, heat the oil for deep frying on medium heat. Once hot add a spoonful of batter by using a large spoon or your hand.
- Keep moving and frying till they are crispy and golden brown from all the sides. Remove it to a paper towel-lined plate and fry similarly rest of them.
Superb. I used half & half (with & without skin) moong dal & dalwada became crisp, better than overrated Gujarat College & Ambica dalwada of Ahmedbad. Thanks Kannan.
very glad to know that dalwada came out good
Annother idea to make it more interesting.If you keep some whole soaked dal on side and add it to your batter afterwards, your moong dal vada will crispy and crunchy.
that is a great idea.
Thank you for sharing with me.
Excellent Kanan,
My daughter enjoyed this so much. Please keep sharing recipes which has traditional values and linkage.
Mainly we like is your details what to take care and important steps.
I will try your entire baking recipes after lockdown for sure and share our experiences.
Thank You.....
Very glad that she liked it.
Sure I will keep sharing new recipes.
Happy cooking and baking!!
We can add a teaspoon of whole coriander seeds to the coarse moong paste for an additional flavour. These wadas tastes yummy if accompanied by tamarind and khajoor chutney.
Nice idea of adding coriander seeds. Thank you for your suggestion.
yes you are right, it tastes too good with tamarind date chutney and cilantro chutney
Yummy monsoon snack