Fluffy and crunchy vada dipped in tangy sambar or scooping out spicy-sweet coconut chutney makes for a healthy breakfast in many households in South India. Not to mention how delicious it is. Dal vada incorporates the goodness of pulses, making it a perfect choice to start your mornings with a generous amount of protein, fibre, and carbohydrates.
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This vada gives you a much-needed jolt to leave the sleepy state behind and re-energise your body to take on multiple tasks that lay ahead. You might have to prepare ahead of time, but it is worth it. Moreover, dal vada brings variety to the morning spread because you have the option to cook an array of recipes so that your days do not start with the same breakfast. Here are a few recipes that you must try out.
Methi Dal Vada
If you want to start your mornings with fresh green vegetables, you must give a chance to methi dal vada. Made from chopped fenugreek leaves and soaked chana dal, these vadas are the powerhouse of nutrients. The ingredients have many benefits for your heart, weight management, and diabetes, if you are struggling with it. Methi leaves also add a unique aroma and taste to the vadas, making them irresistible and healthy fried foods.
Urad Dal Vada
Do you want to add an ingredient to your diet that can help you manage diabetes, lose weight, boost iron levels in the body, and improve your gut health? Urad dal is one such food item that performs all these tasks. These vadas are also referred to as medu vada and are made from black gram lentils. The batter contains green chillies, cumin seeds, chopped onions, and curry leaves that make it a delicious pairing with sambar and chutney of your choice.
Masoor Dal Vada
This type of vada is made with masoor dal (red lentils). Much like medu vada, you can flavour the batter of this lentil with green chillies, onion, garlic, garam masala, and coriander powder. The deep-fried vadas will have a crunchy outer layer while soft and spiced insides. They are perfect for breakfast on the go because you can eat them without chutney or sambar.
Moong Dal Vada
Moong dal contains high amounts of fibre and protein. It is considered good for keeping constipation at bay and maintaining your weight. Not only can it help to regulate sugar levels in the body but also keep a check on sugar cravings. To make these vadas more interesting, you can season the batter with mustard seeds, ginger, green chillies, fennel seeds, and cumin seeds.
Chana Dal Vada
Soaked chana dal or split chickpeas lentils are also an ideal choice for making vada. It is rich in magnesium and potassium, which are essential minerals to keep the healthy functioning of the heart. You can season it with red chilli powder, chopped green chillies, ginger, cumin seeds, chopped garlic, and freshly chopped coriander leaves.
Mixed Dal Vada
If you have all lentils in a small amount, make mixed dal vadas by soaking moong dal, masoor dal, urad dal, and chana dal overnight. You can pair these vadas with sambar and chutney or make them interesting by loading the batter with onion, garlic, green chillies, and mustard seeds. The fried vadas will taste wholesome and help you kickstart the morning with protein.