Vadakari

Yet another side dish for Idly / Dosai / Idiyappam.As the name says its a gravy made out of vadas

Ingredients
Part 1 - For making vadas

• Channa dhal / Kadala parupu - 1 cup
• Red chilly - 2 or 3 nos
• Salt - little
• Oil - for shallow or deep frying

Part 2 - Masala Paste

• Elachi 2 nos
• Cloves - 3 nos
• Cinnamon stick - a small piece
• Saunf / Sombu - 1 teaspoon
• Green chilly - 2 or 3
• Ginger - small piece
• Garlic - 3 pods
• Coriander leaves - little

Grind the above items with little water

Part 3 - Tadka and saute

• Oil - 2 teaspoons
• Bay leaf - 1
• Onions - 2 (finely chopped)
• Tomato - 2 (finely chopped)

Part 4 - Others

• Coconut milk - 1 cup
• Salt - as needed
• Coriander leaves - garnish
• Lemon - 1 (optional)

Method

Step -1 - Preparation of small vadas

• Soak channa dhal and red chillies for about 2 hours

• Drain the water from soaked dhal.Grind it to a coarse paste (do not add water at all)
• Put salt and mix well
• Make very small balls from the batter

Shallow Frying using paniyaram mold

• Heat about 1 teaspoon of oil in each and every mold.Drop in small balls prepared in the previous step very carefully into each and every mold

• After 2 minutes flip the balls to the other side using a spoon (just like making paniyaram) and add 1/2 teaspoon of oil in each mold

• Ensure that vada is cooked on both the sides

• Take it out and cool the vadas

• Crumble it roughly with your fingers or use a potato masher.You can skip this step also

• You can deep fry the vadas if desired

Step - 2 - Tadka and Sauting

• Heat oil in a pan.Add bay leaf to it
• Saute onions and tomatoes well
• Pour the "Masala Paste" and add salt.Cook till the raw smell goes

Step 3 - Vadakari

• Take half portion of coconut milk and dilute it with 1/2 cup of water
• Pour the diluted portion and allow it to boil
• Now add the shallow fried vadas and mix well
• Again dilute the remaining coconut milk with 1/2 cup of water and pour it to the above mixture.Let it boil
• Add chopped coriander leaves and switch off the stove
• Squeeze lemon if desired

Vadakari is ready.Serve it with Dosa / Idly