Mushroom Maasala Vadai / Vada

Mushroom Masala Vadai is a Savoury Fritters made with channa dhal, mushroom and aromatic spices. Normally this is made using spinach or corn.  Try this mushroom varient - a perfect snack for chill evenings!

Ingredients (yields 15 - 18 vadas)

Button Mushroom - 10 pieces (Clean and grate)

Channa dal - 200gms
Small onions - 10 or  big Onion - 1 medium sized

Green chillies - 3 to 4

Ginger - 1”
Garlic - 5 or 6 flakes
Coriander leaves - 1 tbsp (Finely chopped)

Curry leaves - 1 sprig (Finely chopped)

Red chilli powder - 1 tsp

Jeera powder - ½ tsp teaspoon
Saunf or aniseed - 1 tsp

Salt - to taste
Oil - for deep frying

Water to soak channa dhal

Directions

Soak channa dal for 2 to 3 hrs.

Drain the water completely and take 1 tablespoon of channa dhal; keep it aside.

Grind (don't add water while grinding) the remaining channa dhal coarsely along with ginger, greenchillies and aniseed (saunf).

Finely chop onions and garlic.

Take a bowl and add all the chopped ingredients, grated mushrooms, channa dal mixture, jeera powder, red chilli powder, salt, coriander leaves, curry leaves,1 tablespoon channa dhal and mix well (if you feel the vada mixture is watery, then add rice flour to make it firm).

Mould the mixture into small balls and flatten them.

Deep fry the vadas in low flame; wait till it becomes golden brown.

Serve hot with tomato sauce.