Air-Fryer Medu Vada: Quick, Easy, And Healthy!

Medu vada is a popular South Indian delicacy, often served as a breakfast dish or snack. It is a savoury deep-fried doughnut made from soaked lentils, ground to a paste consistency and mixed with herbs and spices. Traditionally, medu vada is deep-fried, but it can also be made in an air fryer for a healthier alternative. The air-fried version has a similar texture to the traditional dish – crispy and fluffy – but without the oil. This article will provide a step-by-step guide on how to make medu vada in an air fryer.

Soaking the lentils

To make medu vada in an air fryer, you'll need to start by soaking the lentils. Here's a detailed guide on how to do this:

Firstly, you'll need to gather your ingredients. For this recipe, you will need urad dal, also known as split black gram or black lentils. You will also need water for soaking the lentils.

Next, wash the urad dal under running water to remove any dirt or impurities. It is recommended to wash them at least 2-3 times, or until the water runs clear. This step is important to ensure that your lentils are clean and safe to eat.

Once your lentils are washed, you can begin the soaking process. Place the washed urad dal in a bowl or container and cover them with enough water. The soaking time can vary depending on the recipe, but most sources recommend soaking the lentils for at least 4-6 hours, or even overnight, to ensure they are soft and ready for grinding.

While the lentils are soaking, you can prepare the other ingredients and gather the equipment you will need for the next steps. This may include spices, herbs, and a blender or grinder for making the batter.

After the lentils have soaked for the recommended time, they should have absorbed some of the water and expanded in size. Drain the soaked lentils in a colander or sieve to remove the excess water. You can now proceed to the next step of grinding the soaked lentils to make the batter for your medu vada.

Remember to refer to the specific medu vada recipe you are following for detailed instructions on the quantities of ingredients and cooking times.

Grinding the lentils into a batter

To make the batter for medu vada in an air fryer, you'll need to grind the lentils into a smooth, thick batter. Here's a detailed guide:

Firstly, wash the urad dal (also known as split black gram or black lentils) under running water, rinsing them a few times until the water runs clear. Then, soak the lentils in water for around 4-6 hours. This step is crucial to achieving the right texture for your medu vada. If you're short on time, you can soak them for a minimum of 3 hours, but be aware that the texture may not be as optimal.

Once the lentils have soaked, it's time to drain and discard the water. Now, you're ready to start grinding. Use a blender or mixer grinder to grind the soaked lentils into a smooth batter. Add very little water while grinding—just enough to help the process—as too much water will result in a runny batter. Aim for a thick consistency. If you're using a blender, grind the lentils in small batches to achieve a smoother batter. Additionally, use cold water to prevent the blender from overheating, which can impart a bitter taste to the batter.

At this stage, you can add salt to the batter. It's important to add the salt while grinding, as adding it later may cause the batter to become runny. If your batter does turn out a bit runny, you can adjust the consistency by adding a little rice flour. However, be cautious not to add too much rice flour, as it can affect the overall taste and texture of the vadas.

Once you have a smooth and thick batter, transfer it to a bowl and add the rice flour (if you haven't already). Now, it's time to aerate the batter. Use a whisk or your clean hand to beat the batter vigorously in a circular motion for around 3 to 4 minutes. This step is crucial, as it incorporates air into the batter, making it light and fluffy. If you used a wet grinder to grind the batter, you may skip this step.

To test if your batter is ready, perform a simple float test. Drop a small ball of batter into a glass of water. If it floats without sinking, your batter is ready for frying! If it sinks, give it a little more time to aerate.

Now that your batter is ready, you can add any optional seasonings of your choice, such as cumin seeds, finely chopped onions, crushed pepper, green chillies, curry leaves, or cilantro. Remember, these seasonings are entirely optional, and you can choose to add none, some, or all of them according to your preference.

With your batter prepared, you're now ready to move on to the next step of making medu vada in your air fryer!

Adding herbs and spices

Medu vada is a savoury South Indian dish, made by deep-frying dough made from soaked lentils. The dish is usually served with sambar and chutney.

To make medu vada in an air fryer, you will need the following ingredients:

• Urad dal (also known as black gram with the skin off)
• Rice flour
• Oil
• Salt
• Cumin seeds
• Finely chopped onions
• Crushed pepper
• Green chillies
• Curry leaves
• Cilantro

You can also add ginger, hing or asafoetida, and baking soda to enhance the flavour and texture.

After soaking and grinding the urad dal, add the chopped ginger, green chillies, pepper, salt, and asafoetida. You can also add chopped curry leaves, cilantro, and cumin to enhance the flavour. Mix the herbs and spices well with the dal mixture.

Making the batter

Add very little water while grinding the dal to make a smooth and thick batter. You can use a wet grinder or a blender, but make sure you only add water a teaspoon at a time as needed. If using a blender, grind the dal in small batches to achieve a smooth batter. Also, use cold water to prevent the blender from getting too hot, which can give the batter a bitter taste.

Once the batter is ready, add the rice flour and mix well. Then, start beating the batter with your clean hand in a circular motion to incorporate air into it. Do this for around 3 to 4 minutes until the batter becomes light and fluffy.

Shaping the vadas

To shape the vadas, apply water to your palms, take a large spoonful of the batter, and shape it into a donut. Make a hole in the centre and gently slide it into the hot oil or place it on the parchment paper if using an air fryer. You can also use a donut mould to make this job easier.

Cooking the vadas

If using an air fryer, preheat it 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. Now, place large spoonfuls of the medu vada batter onto the parchment paper. You can make a hole in the centre using your spoon.

Air fry at 180C or 360F for about 8 minutes. Then, 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.

Shaping the vadas

First, prepare the batter by soaking the urad dal in water for 4-6 hours, and then grinding it into a smooth, thick batter. Add a little water if needed, but be careful not to make the batter too watery. You can add rice flour to the batter if it becomes too runny.

Now, you have two options for shaping the vadas:

Method 1: Direct Air Frying

Fill the batter into a piping bag or a ziplock bag. Seal the top with a rubber band and make a wide cut at the bottom. Squeeze the batter onto a parchment paper-lined air fryer basket in a circular motion, creating a ring shape with a hole in the centre. This method is easier than trying to shape the vadas by hand and helps maintain the hole while placing them in the air fryer.

Method 2: Steaming and Then Air Frying

Prepare an idli steamer by greasing the idli mould/plate with oil. Shape the vadas in the idli mould and steam them for about 5 minutes on medium flame. Once steamed, carefully remove the vadas, brush them with oil, and place them in the preheated air fryer.

For both methods, the key to achieving the perfect shape is to ensure that the batter is not too watery. Also, when shaping the vadas, remember to make a large hole in the centre, as medu vadas tend to increase in size while cooking. This will ensure that the hole does not close up during cooking.

Finally, preheat your air fryer to the desired temperature (between 360-390°F) and cook the vadas for about 10-15 minutes, flipping them halfway through. The cooking time may vary depending on the size of your vadas and the type of air fryer you are using, so keep an eye on them to avoid overcooking.

Enjoy your freshly made medu vadas with hot sambar and chutney!

Air-frying the vadas

To air-fry the vadas, start by preheating your air fryer. The ideal temperature seems to be around 170-180°C (340-360°F), and you should preheat for about 4-5 minutes. You can also preheat at a higher temperature of 200°C (390°F) for 5 minutes if you are using ramekins or silicone cupcake moulds.

Next, prepare your air fryer basket or tray. Line it with parchment paper, tin foil, or greaseproof paper. You can brush or spray a little oil onto the paper or directly onto the basket/tray.

Now, it's time to shape the vadas. You can use a spoon to place large dollops of the vada batter directly onto the paper or basket/tray. If you want the traditional donut shape, wet your hands and form the vadas with your fingers, making a hole in the centre. You can also use a donut mould or a chopstick to create the hole. If you don't want the donut shape, you can simply make regular round vadas.

Place the vadas into the air fryer and cook for about 8-10 minutes at 180°C (360°F). Then, lightly brush the tops of the vadas with oil and flip them over. Brush the other side with oil and air fry for another 8-10 minutes. Finally, increase the temperature to 200°C (390°F) and air fry for an additional 2-3 minutes to get a darker golden brown colour and a crunchy exterior.

Your air-fried medu vadas are now ready to be served! Enjoy them hot with a dip or chutney of your choice.

Frequently asked questions