Ready for a crispy tea time snack? I am about to share one of the easiest and most popular snacks in South India (Udupi): Urad dal Bonda. The locals call it Ambade.
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Urad dal, also known as "Split black gram" is a protein-packed dal. So you don't have to feel too bad about eating a fried snack.
Urad dal (split black gram) Bonda is much tastier with chutney or Instant pot sambar.
It is very easy to make but also easy to go wrong. Too much water in the dough will result in the bonda consuming a lot of oil and too little water will result in the bonda becoming too hard. So, let me show you how you can get the right crispy texture.
Bonda is a simple and easy deep fried snack recipe made with non-fermented and spiced urad dal batter. It is basically made with the same batter of 'medu vada', that's quite popular but with a different shape.
This recipe can be an option for a quick snack or as a part of a three-course meal as "Dahi Vada". I added green chilies to the batter to spice it up, but you can tone down on that if you prefer a milder version.
You do not require too many ingredients to prepare this snack. Let me show you how you can get the best tasting, crispiest bondas with just basic ingredients.
The perfect bondas have a crispy texture outside and a soft fluffy core. That's what you should look for when you try this.
Ingredients to make Bonda
2 cups Urad dal (split black gram)
2 tablespoon minced ginger
1 tablespoon chopped green chilies
1 tablespoon curry leaves
2 tablespoon cilantro
How to make Urad dal bonda or Vada
- Soak the Urad dal for about 4 hours.
- Drain the water from urad dal and blend it to a smooth consistency using very little water until the batter is very thick.
- Pour the batter in a big bowl and add salt, ginger, cilantro, curry leaves, green chilies, and mix thoroughly.
- Place a pan with oil ( about 2 - 3 cups) over medium heat for deep frying.
- When the oil is hot, pour about a tablespoon of the batter in the oil. You can add about 8 to 10 tablespoon of the batter in one batch. For an aesthetic appeal, make sure the batter is spherical when you drop it in the hot oil.
- Remove from the oil when the bonda turns golden brown.
Urad dal bonda is ready! Serve hot with coconut chutney.
Watch the video for step by step photos
📖 Recipe
Urad Dal Bonda
Process Shot
Check above for step-by-step pictures (most of my recipes include pictures)
Ingredients
- 2 cups Urad dal - split black gram
- 2 tablespoon minced ginger
- 1 tablespoon chopped green chilies
- 1 tablespoon curry leaves chopped
- 2 tablespoon cilantro chopped
- 1 cup water
- salt to tatse
- Oil for deep frying - 2-3 cup
Instructions
- Soak the Urad dal for about 4 hours.
- Drain the water from urad dal and blend it to a smooth consistency using very little water until the batter is very thick.
- Pour the batter in a big bowl and add salt, ginger, cilantro, curry leaves, green chilies, and mix thoroughly.
- Place a pan with oil ( about 2 - 3 cups) over medium heat for deep frying.
- When the oil is hot, pour about a tablespoon of the batter in the oil. You can add about 8 to 10 tablespoon of the batter in one batch. For an aesthetic appeal, make sure the batter is spherical when you drop it in the hot oil.
- Remove from the oil when the bonda turns golden brown.
- Urad dal bonda is ready! Serve hot with coconut chutney.
Notes
- If your batter turned out to be thinner, add few tablespoons of rice flour.
YOUR OWN NOTES
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimation only.
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Lindsey (LouLouBiscuit)
These look so good, and fluffy!
Uma Raghupathi
Thanks Lindsey!
Deepika@EasyBabyMeals
These looks so delicious. I can have these anytime.
Uma Raghupathi
Thanks Deepika 🙂
fashiontofollow
Yum, that looks so delicious!
manju
This is a perfect recipe for someone like me who tries to make Medhu vada but can never get the shape right! 🙂 This is how they look anyway, when I make them and Im gonna call it a bonda from now on! 🙂
Molly ~ EasycookingwithMolly
These look so cute and crispy for a snack. I love using urad dal in recipes to make them extra crisp. Yummmm
Uma Raghupathi
Thanks Molly!
Kate Whelan
Looks delicious Uma. Do you have a recipe for coconut chutney too?
Uma Raghupathi
Thanks Kate :)I do. I will be posting soon!