Masala (Paruppu) Vada

13 February 2026 By

Masala Vadas are a popular high protein South Indian tea time vegetable snack. They can be made quite easily once you master the use of ingredients using either split peas or a variety of lentils. Flavoured well with onions, ginger, garlic, dried and fresh green chillies, herbs and spices. They are a moreish, light and very tasty pick me up and can be reheated very well in an air fryer.

Ingredients

  • 300 g yellow split peas, soaked, for 2-3 hours
  • 4 dried red chillies, deseeded and soaked with peas for 2-3 hours
  • 1 medium sized red or brown onion, chopped
  • 1 tbsp fennel seeds
  • Strong pinch of asafoetida powder
  • Salt, to taste
  • ½ tbsp ginger, crushed
  • 2 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 3 fresh green chillies, chopped.
  • 3 sprigs fresh curry leaves, torn
  • Small bunch fresh coriander leaves, chopped
  • 1 tsp ghee or butter (optional)
  • Oil to fry
  • Latasha’s Kitchen Green Coriander Sauce

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Method

  1. Wash split peas until they rinse clear. Then soak in tap water with the dried red chillies for about 2-3 hours.
  2. Drain the water totally from the split peas/red chillies, reserving 2 tablespoons of the peas.
  3. In a mixer or good blender, crush the remainder of the soaked peas and red chillies by pulsing without adding water, until a coarse mixture is achieved.
  4. Tip the crushed peas/chilli mix into a bowl then add the fennel seeds, asafoetida powder, salt and all the fresh ingredients and mix together well. Add the reserved soaked peas and ghee and mix again.
  5. Wet your hands, divide the mixture into equal lime ball sized portions and flatten in the palm of your hand. Deep-fry in vegetable oil until light, golden-brown.
  6. Drain out the excess oil and cool. When ready to serve, re-fry until crisp golden brown (or use an air fryer) and serve hot with Latasha’s Kitchen Green Coriander Sauce.

PS: You can use Chana Dhal/Bengal Gram Dhal/Split Chickpeas to make these Vadas. But you will need to soak the lentils overnight or for a minimum of 8 hours to be able to crush them well in your food processor without water.