Kanji Vada Recipe

Kanji Vada

Kanji Vada

Kanji vada is a popular delicacy of Rajasthan and Gujarat. Kanji vada is made with moong dal vadas immersed in tangy mustard flavoured water called Kanji.
Kanji vada is not only full of flavours but can work wonders in helping in digestion by detoxifying liver. Especially during Holi and Diwali, the drink is served along with or after the heavy sweets and greasy snacks to keep your digestive system stable.


My mother used to painstakingly prepare the the Kanji or the ‘Rai ka paani’ few days in advance to get a slight tang due to the fermentation process. We would on edge waiting for it to be ready! The sweet mellow mustardy aroma spreading in our kitchen making the wait almost unbearable. When the mustard water was ready my mother would add the soft, yet crisp fried moong dal Vada’s into the kanji just before serving.
A delicious healthy recipe which will leave you wanting for more!

Ingredients

For moong dal vada
1 cup split and dehusked mung beans (moong dal dhuli)
4-5 green chilies
1-inch ginger piece
3-4 tablespoons whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon asafoetida
1 teaspoon red chili powder
1 teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder
1 teaspoon coriander seeds
1 teaspoon fennel seeds
2 tablespoons oil
Oil for deep frying
For kanji
8 cups water
4 teaspoons mustard powder
2 teaspoons red chili powder
1 teaspoon salt

Directions

Step-1

To prepare the kanji, take water in a bowl. Add mustard powder, salt and red chili powder. Stir it and keep it covered in a warm place for around 3 days.

 

Step-2

Wash the dal at least 5 times and soak for 4-5 hours in 4 cups water.

After 4-5 hours drain the soaked dal and add ginger and green chilli. Grind the dal to a smooth batter. The batter should not be grainy when touched.

Step-3

Transfer the batter in a bowl and add salt, red chilli powder, fennel seeds, asafoetida, coriander seeds, Kashmiri red chilli powder and wheat flour and mix.

Step-4

Whisk the batter using a spoon to make it fluffy. Add oil and whisk it again for around 2 minutes.

Step-5

Heat oil for frying. To check if the oil is ready for frying drop a small amount of batter in the oil. If it comes steadily and quickly on the surface, then that means the oil is at the right temperature to fry.

Once the oil is ready to fry, place a muslin on a flat surface and rub some water on cloth to make it damp. Take a spoonful of batter on the cloth. Flatten it with your hands and slowly pick it with your hands and slide it in the oil for frying.

Step-6

Fry the vadas on low-medium heat. When they are golden in colour, flip the vada on the other side. Fry them until they are golden and crisp turning them few times while frying. Remove with a slotted spoon on absorbent paper towel. Repeat until all the batter is finished.

Step-7

Once all the vada’s are fried add them to a bowl containing 2-3 litres of warm water.

Step-8

Add the vadas in the fermented kanji and let it cool in the fridge for couple of hours before serving.

Tips & Variations

  1. Depending on the quality of lentils and the capacity-volume of the grinder, you can add less or more water. I would advise not to add too much water as then the vada’s become too crispy while frying and soak a lot of oil.
  2. To make the batter fluffy use a whisker to incorporate air in the batter to make it light.
  3. The oil for frying needs to be the right temperature. If the oil is too hot, then the vada will become brown from outside quickly but will be raw from inside.
  4. At the same time if the oil is cold then the vada will absorb too much of oil while frying.
  5. Once the vada’s are fried, drain and let them cool and then dip them in warm water for around 30 minutes and you will notice they will double in size and become very soft.
  6. You can store them in the fridge for 2-3 days and they will stay fresh.
  7. You can adjust the amount of wheat flour according to the consistency of the batter.
  8. You can also give smoke to the kanji before serving. Burn a small piece of coal and add mustard oil and asafoetida which also enhances the flavour of the kanji and carefully place the container on top of kanji and cover. Let it smoke for 2-3 minutes.
  9. You can also fry small fritter shapes of the prepared batter.

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