Crispy Lentil Fritters / Crispy Vada / Crispy Masala Vadai

The other day I was watching this cookery program by Anu Hassan where she invited her childhood neighboring aunties for a party and treated them with the specialties which she had tasted in their home as a kid. One of the specialty was this vada which she sweetly christened 'Emergency Vadai' as this is how it is called by it's creator Jeyanthi Akka (one of her childhood neighbor). It is called so bcoz it can be quickly made from an instant lentil powder mix. It turned out to be more crispier than the regular homemade version and it reminded me of those vadas which we used to eat from a roadside shop on our way back from office when we were in chennai. So here it is as demonstrated by Anu with few of my additions.....

Ingredients
Channa Daal - 1/2 Cup
Toor Daal - 1/4 Cup
Urad Daal - 1/4 Cup
Mung Daal - 1/4 Cup
Big Onion - 1/2
Green Chillies - 2 or as per taste
Curry Leaves - 2 springs finely chopped
Cumin Seeds - 1/2 t.spn
Fennel Seeds - 1/2 t.spn
Hing/ Asfoetida - 2 pinch
Salt - as per taste
Oil - for frying

Steps
1. Roast all the 4 daals with 1 t.spn of oil. Do not over roast, just roast for 4 to 5 mins.

2. Cool and grind in the mixer to a coarse powder.

3. Add hing and salt to the ground powder and add enough water to soak it. Add water little by little and let the powder absorb it. When you feel that the water stands out, just stop adding water and let it soak for 1/2 an hr.

4. After 1/2 an hr, check the batter consistency, if it is too dry add little water so that you can shape them up into vadas.

5. Add the finely chopped onion, green chillies, curry leaves, cumin and fennel seeds to the batter. Mix well.

6. Heat Oil in a pan. Once the Oil is hot enough, turn flame to medium.

7. Shape the vadas (into small flat discs) and fry till it turns golden brown.

8. Enjoi the hot crispy vada on a cold winter day :)

Note:
1. The coarse daal powder can be done in bulk and kept in stock. This makes it quick to make vadas in a zing.
2. As a variation chopped greens can be added to the vada. Tatz called Keerai Vadai.