Friends, do keep sending in entries for the “Dish it Out – Spinach and Garlic” and “HLI – Broccoli“.
One month just flew past and it is time for the next blogging marathon. This time I have chosen the theme “Regional Specials” and will be posting dishes from Tamil Nadu. Being from Tamil Nadu this is a nice theme for me to whip out those dishes which bring back nostalgic memories of childhood.
In the days before refrigerators how were leftovers used? If you think about it you will get to know a lot of innovative recipes which were born out of necessity. One such dish is the vada curry where the leftover vadais get transformed into this delicious and tangy curry which goes perfect with idli or dosai. But, what if you don’t end up with leftover vadais like me .. don’t panic .. this recipe does not use leftover vadais and is a healthy alternative. There is no compromise in taste though. This is my mom’s recipe and it is always my favorite.
Before I start the recipe thanks to everybody who commented on the riddle post. Your support is my driving force. Here is another picture of the same.
Got it now? Dosa it is 
. Thanks my friends. Now off to the recipe of vada curry.
Ingredients – For the steamed balls
1 cup channa dal soaked for 2 hours
4 red chillies
3 cloves garlic
1 tsp fennel seeds
Salt
1 small onion chopped
Curry leaves
Coriander leaves
Ingredients – For gravy
2 tsp oil
3 cloves
1 inch piece cinnamon
1 tsp fennel seeds
1 small onion
4 green chillies slit vertically
2 medium tomatoes (can substitute with 3/4 can diced tomatoes)
4 cups water
Salt to taste
1/2 tsp turmeric
1 tsp sambar powder (Optional)
Method
Soak the channa dal and red chillies for 2 hours.
Grind the dal and chillies along with garlic, fennel seeds and salt.
To the ground dal add onions, curry leaves and coriander leaves and mix well.
Make small balls and steam them for 15 minutes.
Steamed balls ready for gravy.
For the gravy heat oil and add cloves, cinnamon and fennel seeds. Add onions and green chillies. Saute until onions are cooked.
Next add the fresh or canned tomatoes and let it cook for 5 minutes.
Add 4 cups of water, salt and turmeric. Do a taste test and if needed add a tsp of sambar powder.
Let it come to a boil. Now take the cooked balls and slightly mash with fingers and add to the boiling mixture. We still want big chunks, so mash accordingly.
All balls have been mashed and added.
Cover and cook 15-20 minutes until gravy is of desired thickness. We don’t want it to be too runny nor too thick. The balls will absorb water and thicken up.
That is it. Yummy vada curry ready to be served. We had it with idli’s. Kids had a blast too.
Enjoy!
Tips
1. Leftover vadais can be crumbled and used.
2. The steamed balls can be fried a little and then crumbled.
3. Go easy on the fennel seeds. Too much will alter the taste.
4. Vada curry also tastes good with rotis.
First time to your blog!nice recipes and nice pictures.visit my space too and give your comments.
This one is quite new to me. must have tasted good too!! BTW how do I take part in cooking challenge!!
looks delicious dear..very tempting..love it..
Ooo i thot it was appam
Delicious looking vada 
Very interesting. I was expecting to see uraddal vadas. LOL.
Delicious vada curry…thanks for the recipe
Wow!!! It was dosa!!! Cnt believe it….Vada Curry is very yummy!!! I love vada curry but hvnt tried it still..wl def try ur version…
Regards
Aparna Vijay
http://aparnacooks.blogspot.com
This is such a healthy & tasty curry!!! A big hug to ur mom for this recipe
Prathima Rao
Prats Corner
Nice one.Very healthy.
This is really yummy ..
Vada curry looks so tempting I love to have it with pongal also nice theme Vardhini..
Very interesting curry. Looks delicious. Looking forward for your regional specials during the marathon.
delicious looking flavours in the curry
wow, this looks great!
super duper vada curry..reminds me of my mom..perfect with idili..
vada curry looks super delicious..awesome recipe dear..hey, i had said dosa, so I was right..:)
This looks so sooo irresistible, wish I could taste it now! Can't wait to see the rest of your regional speciality recipes!!
delicious vada curry
Never could guess that to be a dosa..
The curry looks delicious..
Never tasted anything like this before ~looks so tempting and delicious ~ a must make for sure!
US Masala
absolutely delicious n tempting vada curry…wonderful theme..expecting interesting Tamil Nadu delicacies..sorry dear i missed your riddle post…its nice way to mingle n entertain…come up with more such interesting posts too…Keep rocking!!!
New to me…Looks super delicious.
http://www.easycookingforamateurs.com/
amazing Vardhini…i loved this recipe..will give it a shot at the weekend…dying to try this one:)
I am going to look forward to all your regional specials. This vada curry looks awesome and I love how these vadas are steamed and not deep fried. Great riddle, love it
Vada curry looks super delicious.. one on my to-do list for long..
http://krithiskitchen.blogspot.com
Event: Healing Foods – Banana
Mouthwatering vada curry. Excellent clicks.
Deepa
Hamaree Rasoi
Oh my my .. That was good trick though
wow looks delicious and lovely pictures too ….
following u on google followers …….
Kalyani's Kitchen
Curry looks so so delicious..
I would have never imagined it to be dosa…Amazing clcik..
So dosa it is…I was way off:). It looks delicious. You should probably name it as Indian veggie/lentil balls like swedish meat balls?!!
wow..that was dosa,gone wild with creams n butter..
Lovely vada curry..lovely clicks too!
I loved the dish and the clicks
lol.. First I thought it was some dessert!
Nice curry! We make moong dal vada in tamarind based sauce. Never tried/tasted the chana dal vada curry
good one! Never made vada curry as vadas cannot be leftover in our house when my husband is around
)
Love the vada curry with dosai and idly…
This look so delicious.
This dish looks truly delicious. I'm hoping to get some submissions for your lunchbox and spinach linkups before the deadline. Great post!
looks delicious and irresistible..:)
Looks superb:-) Craving for hot idly and vada curry now!!
Vada curry looks super delicious.
Vada Curry Looks yum! Steaming the vadas is a good option…
Nice, healthy version.
lovely curry…looks yumm..:)
my guess was correct!!!
wow nice riddle …and great recipe…
Love the pic ! Although my MIL has mentioned this dish, I have never had it .. your steaming option looks like a healthy alternative..
nice my husband likes this a lot, may be I should try it soon
I thought it as aapam. Good photography though…Love this vada curry. A recylced dish has now gained an exotic food status.
vada curry loks really yummy………nd it was dosa in the riddle!!!!!!!!what all we guessed!!!!!!!!!!!!!
lovely curry,yet healthy
I love vada curry..looks good.
Looks absolutely yumm hv never tried it ..sure try n thanks for perfect demo..
That's a nice riddle. Your vada curry looks very yummy, best for idli's and dosas.
Omg, its dosa..thats so funny…Vada curry looks delicious and irresistible, my fav anytime..
Ha ha,for the riddle.
That's true,our grandparents must have recycled them in these says !! Such an innovative curry Vardhini.