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Vada Curry Recipe-Side Dish for Idli Dosa (with pictures)

February 2, 2013 by PadhuSankar 45 Comments

Vada Curry is a very famous South Indian gravy /curry which is served as a side dish for idli, dosa and parotas. I got so many  requests for this recipe. Never have I got so many  request for a single recipe like this. So I decided it is high time I post this recipe in my blog. I got this recipe from a friend of mine who is an expert in making vada curry. Today we will learn how to make vada curry with step wise pictures.

Vada Curry

Vada Curry


Vada Curry

 Prep Time : 15 mins (excluding soaking time)

 Cook Time : 20 mins 
 Serves: 2
 Recipe Category: Side Dish for idli,dosa
 Recipe Cuisine: South Indian
 Author:Padhu Sankar

   Ingredients needed

   For the vada

   Bengal gram /Kadalai paruppu /channa dal -1/2 cup
   Chilli powder -1/2 tsp
   Turmeric powder – a pinch
   Onion finely chopped – 2 tbsp
   Salt as needed
   Oil for frying the vadas

   For the curry/ gravy

   Onion – 3/4 cup (thinly sliced)
   Tomato – 1 cup (finely chopped)
   Turmeric powder – 1/4 tsp
   Chilli powder – 1/2 tsp
   Thin Coconut milk – 3/4 cup
   Thick coconut milk – 1/4 cup (not very thick)

   For the masala

   Ginger-garlic paste – 1 1/2 tsp
   Green chilli -1-2
   Fennel seeds/Sombu -1/2 tsp
   Cinnamon – 1 inch piece
   Cloves -2
   Cardamom -1

   For the seasoning

   Oil – 2 tbsp
   Bay leaf -1

   For garnishing

   Coriander leaves – 1 tbsp finely chopped
   Mint leaves – 2-3 leaves

Preparation


Grind all the ingredients given under “For the Masala” to a fine paste. This is the masala.

Soak channa dal for 2 hours. Drain the water, add salt, chilli powder, turmeric powder, 1/2 tsp of the above ground masala. (this is just to give more flavor to the vada) and grind coarsely without adding water. Then mix finely chopped onions with it.

Heat oil in a kadai, make uneven balls from the mixture and drop it into the oil. Fry till golden brown, remove it and place it on a paper towel to absorb excess oil if any. The vada need not be crisp as we are going to add it to the gravy. Alternatively you can make small balls and steam the vadas as we do for paruppu usili  or even fry it in paniyaram pan. Now the vada is ready.

prepare vada curry

Method 


Heat oil in a kadai or pan, add bay leaf, saute for second, then add thinly sliced onions and saute until golden brown. Add a little salt to the onions to speed up the process.

Then add the ground masala paste and saute for a few more minutes.


Now we will add the chopped tomatoes, turmeric powder and chilli powder. Cook till tomatoes turn mushy and oil oozes out. Do all this on medium flame.


Then add thin coconut milk, needed salt and bring it to boil.


Once it starts boiling, add the vadas by breaking it into 2 pieces. Cook on low heat for a few minutes. Let the vada absorb the gravy.

South Indian vada curry

Then add the thick coconut milk, boil and switch it off. Garnish with mint and coriander leaves.

South Indian vadai curry recipe

Delicious Vada curry can be served with dosa, idli and parotas.

How to make vada curry
Vada curry with dosa 

Note – Vada curry thickens as it cools. In that case you can add a little hot water to dilute it and heat it lightly.

Check out my other side dishes for idli, dosa and pongal.

If you found this post useful, I would really love it if you pin it or share it with your Facebook fans or Twitter followers or Google+ circles today. All it takes is a simple click on the “pin it” “like,” “share,” “tweet,” or Google+ buttons below the post. It will keep me motivated. Thank  you!

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Filed Under: Side dish, Side Dish For Idli Dosa, Uncategorized Tagged With: South Indian recipes, Uncategorized




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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Hamaree Rasoi

    February 2, 2013 at 5:03 pm

    Delicious and lovely vada curry. Excellent preparation.
    Deepa

    Reply
  2. Helen Prabha

    February 2, 2013 at 6:59 pm

    Wow…looks yummy…..I love it with hot idilis…. 🙂

    Reply
  3. divya

    February 2, 2013 at 7:38 pm

    Looks so yum…makes me feel hungry…

    Reply
  4. faiza kader

    February 2, 2013 at 7:43 pm

    vada kari romba nalla iruku.. appadiye idli yudan sapidanum pol iruku..

    Reply
  5. Divya Shivaraman

    February 2, 2013 at 9:12 pm

    yum yum – i die for this when i am back at mom's. Bookmarked to try. why dont you try toasting vada's in paniyarakal padhu?

    Reply
  6. Tamilarasi Sasikumar

    February 2, 2013 at 9:38 pm

    Looks so yummy…

    Reply
  7. Sireesha Puppala

    February 3, 2013 at 1:09 am

    Looks spicy and take us away frm the routine curries

    Reply
  8. Sangeetha Priya

    February 3, 2013 at 2:17 am

    Delicious vada curry n beautiful clicks 🙂

    Reply
  9. WeR SAHM

    February 3, 2013 at 4:45 am

    perfect south Indian breakfast sides…lovely presentation…

    Reply
  10. Aruna Manikandan

    February 3, 2013 at 5:47 am

    looks perfect and delicious padhu 🙂

    Reply
  11. pria

    February 3, 2013 at 6:25 am

    Yum Yum…. great combo with idli or dosa

    Reply
  12. APARNARAJESHKUMAR

    February 3, 2013 at 6:48 am

    i generally boil the vadai maavu and then do this 🙂 instead of frying 🙂

    Reply
  13. kausers kitchen

    February 3, 2013 at 7:09 am

    Yummy curry dear…looks delicious.

    Reply
  14. Priya

    February 3, 2013 at 11:36 am

    Simply inviting,one of my fav curry.

    Reply
  15. Jehanne

    February 3, 2013 at 4:02 pm

    love ur step by step recipe, might give this a try for tea time snack soon..

    Reply
  16. ShravsCookBookBlog

    February 5, 2013 at 12:31 pm

    Mouth – watering recipe…

    Reply
  17. Mahek

    March 1, 2013 at 6:16 am

    Great recipe a sure try for me..
    got to your blog for the first time.. will read it through and very important remember to comment..

    Reply
  18. Deepa

    March 7, 2013 at 5:21 pm

    Tried it today..Awesome!! We just loved it!! 🙂

    Reply
  19. Deepa

    March 7, 2013 at 5:22 pm

    Awesome!! Tried it today..turned out to be perfect..we just loved it!! Thanks for the recipe!! 🙂

    Reply
  20. Unknown

    February 13, 2014 at 7:46 am

    Though I am a North Indian I love vadacurry and your recipe is perfect and Tasty.

    Reply
  21. Seema

    April 25, 2014 at 8:03 am

    Tried yesterday, my hubby enjoyed it, it was awesome, Thank u

    Reply
  22. Unknown

    May 14, 2014 at 3:30 pm

    Very nice simple and looking tempting love ur recipes……

    Reply
  23. ashmiya begum

    June 18, 2014 at 1:13 pm

    What do mean by ground masala

    Reply
  24. Ashok Kumar

    October 8, 2014 at 1:38 pm

    What is Ground masala? And how to prepare that?

    Reply
  25. vidhya mannavan

    May 26, 2015 at 1:57 am

    Nice Padhu… I tried came out well. Thank you.

    Reply
  26. chan

    October 24, 2015 at 4:01 pm

    I love vadacurry very much

    Reply
  27. Sowmiya Raghu

    February 27, 2016 at 6:01 am

    Woow…awesome..I have tried this!!

    Reply
  28. sandhiya ganesan

    February 27, 2016 at 4:37 pm

    What is ground masala? And how to prepare it?

    Reply
    • Padhu Sankar

      February 28, 2016 at 8:59 am

      Grind all the ingredients mentioned under "For the masala" .That is the ground masala. Kindly read the recipe fully.

      Reply
  29. Sai

    March 20, 2016 at 6:39 pm

    Thanks for the recipes

    Reply
  30. Shruthi Kumar

    May 12, 2016 at 8:19 pm

    Excellent recipe.. Thanks a ton!! 🙂

    Reply
  31. Deepa Lakshmi

    June 17, 2016 at 5:29 pm

    Excellent recipe, easily explained. Thank u

    Reply
  32. Shalini Sivaprakash

    August 6, 2016 at 8:21 am

    Yes want to give a try once. Neatly explained.

    Reply
  33. Gomathy Prabhu

    August 18, 2016 at 12:57 pm

    I used to bake d grinder chana dal in a idly cooker instead of frying in oil.. My mom used to do it nd it also taste gud

    Reply
  34. Unknown

    December 31, 2016 at 1:29 pm

    Really nice recipe, tried today and it came out very well. Thank you!

    Reply
  35. saranya rajendren

    January 28, 2017 at 4:52 pm

    I tried today..it is so delicious

    Reply
  36. rajikka jp

    April 10, 2017 at 12:27 pm

    Tried today.came out very tasty. Thanks for the recipe..

    Reply
  37. Devi Abirami Srinivasan

    May 8, 2017 at 1:42 pm

    Thanks Padhuskitchen for the excellent recipe. I tried this first time for a get together party.. it came out very well and everyone loved it.. thanks again.

    Reply
  38. shya a

    June 28, 2017 at 3:03 am

    Hello mam can i skip the coconut milk? While preparing the curry

    Reply
    • Padhu Sankar

      July 3, 2017 at 8:24 am

      Coconut milk gives a nice flavor and taste to the curry. But if you want to skip, you can.

      Reply
  39. shya a

    June 28, 2017 at 3:04 am

    Your blog and receipies are awesome .

    Reply
  40. shruthi

    February 27, 2018 at 4:49 pm

    Today I prepared vadacurry..yummy..

    Reply
  41. Mj

    October 8, 2019 at 6:29 am

    Thanks for sharing this recipe.I tried this today came out well everyone loves that yummy

    Reply
  42. Jeevitha

    December 8, 2019 at 3:08 am

    Tried this recipe.. came out well..thanks

    Reply
  43. Vino

    June 3, 2021 at 2:37 am

    Looks too yumm padhu

    Reply

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Meet Padhu, the Chef, the photographer, recipe developer and web designer behind Padhuskitchen which features Simple Indian Vegetarian recipes, healthy recipes, kids friendly recipes, Indian festival recipes, traditional South Indian Vegetarian ...

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