Vada_Curry

Ingredients:
Channa dal : 1 cup
Onion : 3
Green chilli - 5 nos
Tomatoes : 2
Whole red chili : 6
Ginger and garlic paste : 1 tsp
Turmeric Powder : 1 tsp
Coriander powder : 1/2 tbsp
Red chili powder : 2 tbsp
Coconut milk : 1/4 cup (optional)
Curry Leaves : 8 to 9 springs
Bay leaves : 2
Cloves : 3
Cinnamon sticks : 1 small
Mint leaves : 1 tsp ( chopped)
Coriander leaves : 1 tsp(chopped)
Fennel seeds : 1tsp
Salt : required to taste

Method:
* Soak the channa dal for 3 to 4 hours and grind them coarsely.(make sure its not a fine paste).
* After that add half an onion (chopped, fennel seeds, Green chilli, G&G paste and curry leaves into the coarse paste, make small vadas (flattened lemon sized balls) out of it and fry it in oil (no need to deep fry it). or u can cook it in an Idly cooker.
* Heat oil in a kadai/pan, add cloves, cinnamon sticks, bay leaves, remaining chopped onions and sautee it for few minutes till the onions become translucent.
* After that add ginger & garlic paste and fry them until the raw smell goes off.
* Now add the chopped tomatoes and allow cook for a while, then add turmeric powder, red chili powder, a glass of water and little salt. Then mix it all together and let it cook for 5 to 10 minutes under closed lid.
* And add mint leaves and a tsp of coriander leaves, close the lid and let it cook for another 5 minutes in medium heat.
* Finally add the coconut milk and boil it for another 3 minutes and remove from heat.
* Heat oil in a pan, add the seasonings and when its sputter remove it from heat and put it into the curry as garnish.

MeenuThiyagu