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🌟 Introduction
Vada Sambar is one of South India’s most iconic and comforting dishes. It features crispy, golden medu vadas (fried lentil donuts) soaked in a hot and flavorful sambar (a tangy, spiced lentil and vegetable stew).
Our Special Vada Sambar version focuses on balancing crispiness and deep flavor using traditional spices, a perfect texture, and fresh ingredients. This dish is commonly served for breakfast, brunch, or even as an evening snack.
Prep Time6 hours 30 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Course: South Indian Breakfast, Veg
Cuisine: Indian
Servings: 4
Cost: 100

Ingredients

For Vada (Medu Vada)

  • 1 cup urad dal split black gram – soaked 6 hours
  • 1 tsp ginger finely chopped
  • 2 tbsp onion finely chopped (optional)
  • 2 green chilies chopped
  • 1 tbsp coriander leaves chopped
  • Salt to taste
  • Oil for deep frying

For Sambar

  • ½ cup toor dal split pigeon peas
  • 1 tbsp tamarind pulp
  • 1 medium onion chopped
  • 1 medium tomato chopped
  • ½ cup vegetables carrot, drumstick, brinjal
  • 2 tsp sambar powder
  • ¼ tsp turmeric powder
  • Salt to taste
  • Water as needed

For Tempering

  • 1 tsp mustard seeds
  • 1 tsp urad dal
  • 1 –2 dry red chilies
  • A pinch of asafoetida hing
  • 1 sprig curry leaves
  • 1 tsp oil or ghee

Instructions

🌿 Step 1: Make the Vada

  • Soak urad dal for 6 hours or overnight. Drain and grind into a fluffy batter (don’t add much water).
  • Add ginger, green chilies, coriander, and salt to the batter.
  • Heat oil in a kadhai. Wet your hands, shape the batter into round vadas with a hole in the center, and gently drop into hot oil.
  • Fry until golden and crispy. Set aside on paper towels.

🍲 Step 2: Prepare the Sambar

  • Pressure cook toor dal with turmeric until soft. Mash and keep aside.
  • In a pot, heat oil, add onions, tomatoes, and chopped vegetables. Sauté briefly.
  • Add sambar powder, salt, tamarind pulp, and enough water. Cook until vegetables are tender.
  • Add mashed dal to the mix. Simmer for 10–15 minutes.

🌶️ Step 3: Temper the Sambar

  • In a small pan, heat ghee or oil.
  • Add mustard seeds, urad dal, dry red chilies, asafoetida, and curry leaves.
  • Pour the tempering into the hot sambar and mix.

🍛 Step 4: Assemble

  • Place 2–3 hot vadas in a bowl.
  • Pour steaming sambar over the vadas.
  • Garnish with chopped coriander and serve hot.

🍽️ Serving Suggestions

  • Serve with coconut chutney or mint chutney
  • Add a spoon of ghee for a richer taste
  • Ideal with a cup of filter coffee

💡 Tips & Tricks

  • For fluffier vadas, aerate the batter by beating it well before frying.
  • Use freshly ground sambar masala for best flavor.
  • Soak vadas briefly in hot water before adding sambar for a softer texture.

🧠 Nutrition Facts

    ✅ High protein from lentils

      ✅ Rich in fiber and antioxidants from spices

        ✅ Gluten-free and satisfying