Masala Uada Spiced Lentil Balls With Minted Yoghurt Food

SPICED BROWN LENTILS WITH YOGURT

Steps:

• Combine the lentils, onion, garlic, bay leaf, and water in a medium soup pot or heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, cover and simmer 30 minutes. Add salt to taste (under-salt slightly because you will be reducing the liquid), and continue to simmer for another 15 minutes, until the lentils are falling apart tender and fragrant. Remove the onion and garlic and discard.
• Heat the oil in a large, heavy nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the spices and stir as they sizzle for about 30 seconds, until very fragrant. Add the beans with their liquid and cook, stirring and mashing with the back of a wooden spoon, until the mixture thickens, like refried beans. Add salt to taste, once the mixture has reduced to the desired consistency. Spoon onto plates and top each serving with a generous spoonful of yogurt and a sprinkling of chopped cilantro.

MASALA VADA (LENTIL FRITTERS)

Steps:

• Rinse lentils and soak in cold water for 3 hours.
• Place 2 tablespoons drained lentils in a bowl with onion, chile peppers, cilantro, dill, and cumin seeds. Coarsely grind the remaining lentils in a food processor, then add to the bowl. Add chile oil and mix to combine.
• Moisten your palms and shape mixture into masala vada (mini donuts with a hole in the middle).
• Heat oil in a deep saucepan over medium heat. Lower masala vada carefully into the hot oil in batches. Fry until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes per side minutes. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to drain.

DAHI BHALLA (FRIED LENTIL BALLS IN YOGURT)

Steps:

• 1. Wash and soak the urad and mung lentils overnight in a large bowl with enough water to cover the lentils. In the morning, drain the excess liquid in a sieve or colander, reserving a few tablespoons to add to the lentils while grinding if needed.
• 2. Grind the lentils in a food processor to get a thick batter. You can add the reserved liquid from step 1 while grinding but the consistency needs to be thick.
• 3. Transfer the batter to another bowl and whisk with a pair of electric beaters until the batter becomes light and airy (8-10 minutes).
• 4. Add 1 tbsp onion paste, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp red chilli powder, 1 tsp cumin powder and 1/2 tsp baking powder. Mix well.
• 5. Heat the oil in a wok or karahi to medium-hot and drop tablespoonfuls of the batter in it. Wait for a few seconds then flip with the help of a slotted spoon. Let the balls turn golden brown and take them out with the spoon on some kitchen paper.
• 6. Take some hot water in a large bowl, dissolve 1 tsp salt in it, and drop the fried balls in it. Let the balls soak in the water for 10 minutes.
• 7. Take one ball in the palm of your hand and squeeze out all the water gently without breaking the ball. Repeat for all of the balls.
• 8. Take the yogurt in a bowl and add 2 tsp sugar, 1 tsp salt and half a cup water to it. Whisk lightly with a fork. Drop the balls in the yogurt. Alternatively, arrange the balls in a bowl and pour the whisked yogurt on top of them. Keep this bowl in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
• 9. Drizzle the tamarind chutney and coriander chutney (if using) on top of the balls.
• 10. Sprinkle 1 tsp red chilli powder, 1 tsp cumin powder and 1 tsp chaat masala. Dahi bhalle are ready to be served.