Vada In The Air Fryer: A Tasty, Healthy Treat?

Medu Vada is a savoury deep-fried doughnut that is a popular breakfast or snack option in South India. It is traditionally made by soaking lentils, grinding them to a paste, and then deep-frying them. However, with the growing popularity of air fryers and the desire to avoid deep-fried foods, many people are now opting to make Medu Vada in an air fryer.

The process of making Medu Vada in an air fryer is quite simple and can result in a delicious, crispy, and crunchy snack. The ingredients and preparation method remain largely the same as the traditional recipe, with the exception of using less oil. The air fryer option is a healthier alternative to deep-frying, as it uses little to no oil, and can produce evenly cooked vadas with a soft interior and a crispy exterior.

How to make vada in an air fryer

Medu vada is a savoury deep-fried doughnut that is a popular fixture in South Indian breakfasts. It can also be made in an air fryer with less oil. Here is a recipe for making medu vada in an air fryer.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup urad dal/split black gram lentils
• 1 tsp chopped ginger
• 1 pinch hing or asafoetida
• 1/2 tsp whole or coarsely crushed pepper
• 1 tsp chopped green chillies or jalapeños
• 1 tsp cumin seeds (optional)
• 1 tsp chopped curry leaves (optional)
• 1 tbsp chopped cilantro (optional)
• 1 tsp oil and some more for brushing for the air fryer method

Method:

Wash the urad dal under running water and soak it in 3 cups of water for 6 to 8 hours. Drain the water and blend the dal in a blender with minimal water until it forms a smooth batter. Add the chopped ginger, green chillies, pepper, salt and asafoetida to the batter. You can also add chopped curry leaves, cilantro and cumin.

Preheat your air fryer to 180C or 360F for about 4 minutes. Cut a parchment paper to the shape of your air fryer basket and place it in the basket. Using a ladle or large spoon, place large dollops of medu vada batter onto the parchment paper. You can make a hole in the centre of each vada using your spoon to create the traditional donut shape.

Air fry at 180C or 360F for about 8 minutes. Lightly brush the vadas with oil, flip them over and brush the other side with oil. Air fry again at the same temperature for about 8 minutes. Finally, increase the temperature to 200C or 390F and air fry for another 2-3 minutes to get a darker golden brown colour and a crunchy texture.

Remove the vadas from the air fryer and serve hot with a dip or chutney of your choice. Enjoy!

Ingredients for vada in an air fryer

Vada is a popular Indian snack, often served at breakfast. It is usually deep-fried, but can be cooked in an air fryer for a healthier alternative. Here are the ingredients you will need to make vada in an air fryer:

• Urad dal/Split black gram lentils: These are the main ingredient in vada. The outer black skin should be removed and the lentils soaked in water for 4-6 hours until soft.
• Water for soaking the lentils
• Spices: Coarsely ground pepper, cumin seeds, asafoetida, salt, and red chilli powder are all commonly used in vada.
• Ginger, green chillies, curry leaves, and cilantro: These ingredients add flavour to the vada. Finely chop or crush the ginger, green chillies, and curry leaves.
• Onion: Finely chop the onion and add to the vada batter.
• Baking soda: Adding a small amount of baking soda (around ⅛ teaspoon) helps to make the vadas light and soft.
• Oil: Brush or spray oil onto the air fryer basket or tray before adding the vada batter. You can also add a small amount of oil to the batter.
• Chickpea flour/Besan: If making vada pav, you will need to make a batter with chickpea flour to dip the potato balls in before air frying.
• Potato: If making vada pav, boil and mash the potatoes, then temper with spices before forming into balls and air frying.

Note: The ingredients listed above are for two popular types of vada: medu vada and vada pav. Medu vada is made with urad dal and is a popular South Indian breakfast dish. Vada pav, on the other hand, is a popular street food in Mumbai and is made with potato fritters (vada) stuffed into mini-burger buns (pav) along with chutney.

Step-by-step method to make vada in an air fryer

Medu vada is a savoury deep-fried doughnut that is a popular breakfast or snack option in South India. It is typically made by soaking lentils, grinding them to a paste, and then deep-frying them. However, it is also possible to make medu vada in an air fryer. Here is a step-by-step method to make vada in an air fryer:

Step 1: Soaking the lentils

Wash the urad dal under running water and soak it for 4 to 8 hours. This step is crucial as it ensures that the dal is soft enough to be ground into a smooth paste.

Step 2: Grinding the lentils

After soaking, drain the water from the dal and grind it into a smooth batter using a blender or mixer grinder. Add only a small amount of cold water during grinding, as too much water will result in a runny batter. The batter should be thick and fluffy.

Step 3: Adding herbs and seasonings

At this stage, you can add various herbs and seasonings to enhance the flavour of your vada. Common ingredients include cumin seeds, green chillies, crushed pepper, curry leaves, and chopped ginger. You can also add a pinch of baking soda to make the vadas lighter and softer. Mix the ingredients well to form a smooth batter.

Step 4: Preparing the air fryer

Preheat your air fryer to 180C or 360F for about 4-5 minutes. Line the air fryer basket with parchment paper or tin foil. Brush the paper or foil with oil to prevent sticking.

Step 5: Shaping the vadas

Using a spoon or your hands, place dollops of the vada batter onto the parchment paper. Shape them into vadas, wetting your hands if necessary to prevent sticking. You can make a hole in the centre of each vada using your finger or a chopstick.

Step 6: Air frying the vadas

Place the vadas in the air fryer and air fry at 180C or 360F for about 8-10 minutes. If you want a darker golden brown colour and a crunchier texture, increase the temperature to 200C or 390F and air fry for an additional 2-3 minutes.

Step 7: Serving the vadas

Once the vadas are golden brown and crispy, remove them from the air fryer and serve hot. Medu vada is typically served with sambar and chutney, but you can also enjoy it with a dip of your choice.

Tips and tricks for making perfect vada in an air fryer

Vada is a popular South Indian snack, usually deep-fried. However, you can make delicious vada in an air fryer too, reducing the calories without compromising on taste. Here are some tips and tricks for making perfect vada in an air fryer:

Preparation

Before you start making the vada batter, soak the lentils (usually urad dal or chana dal) in water for 4-6 hours. This is an important step to ensure the lentils are soft and easy to grind. Drain the water and grind the lentils with minimal water to form a smooth batter. You can add a few spices and herbs like cumin seeds, green chillies, ginger, and curry leaves to the batter for extra flavour.

Shaping the vada

To shape the vada, wet your hands and take a large spoonful of batter. Shape it into a donut or a patty, and make a hole in the centre. You can use a donut mould or a cookie cutter to get a perfect round shape. If you don't have a mould, simply pat the batter into a flat patty and use your finger or the back of a spoon to make the hole.

Cooking the vada

Preheat your air fryer to around 170-200°C (340-390°F). Brush or spray oil onto metal muffin tins or a parchment paper/baking paper-lined air fryer basket. Spoon the batter into the tins or onto the paper, leaving enough space for the vada to expand. Air fry for 9-15 minutes, depending on your air fryer and the desired crispness. If using muffin tins, leave them aside to cool down before removing the vada. Serve hot with chutney or sambar.

Troubleshooting

If your batter turns out too watery, add some rice flour to thicken it. To get a nice golden colour on your vada, increase the temperature of the air fryer to 200°C (390°F) for the last 2-3 minutes of cooking. If you want to avoid preheating the air fryer, you can put the vada batter in the freezer for about 10 minutes before air frying to help it hold its shape.

Serving suggestions for vada made in an air fryer

Vadas are a type of savoury fried snack native to India. They can be served as a breakfast item or a snack, and also used in other food preparations. Vadas are often served with chutneys and sambar.

• Vada Pav: This is a popular vegan street food snack eaten in Mumbai and the rest of Maharashtra state in Western India. It is made by stuffing a fluffy bun with a fried batter-coated potato dumpling fritter called Batata Vada and laced with spicy and sweet chutneys.
• Vada Sambar: This is a lentil stew served with vadas.
• Vada with Coconut Chutney: Vadas can be served with coconut chutney, a common pairing in South Indian homes and restaurants.
• Vada with Tiffin Sambar: Tiffin sambar is another lentil stew that can be served with vadas.
• Vada with Green Chutney: This can be coriander chutney, mint chutney, or any chutney of your choice.
• Vada with Tamarind Chutney: This is a sweet and tangy chutney made with tamarind, jaggery, and spices.
• Vada with Dry Garlic Chutney: This is a spicy dry chutney made with garlic cloves and coconut.
• Vada with Yogurt and Chaat Masala: This combination is known as Dahi Vada.
• Vada with Curried Channa: This combination is known as Doubles, a popular street food in Trinidad and Tobago.

Frequently asked questions