Mulai Keerai Masala Vadai is an addictive Masala Vada made with chana dal and greens. This is a popular evening snack in Tamil Nadu.
I am not sure about other places, I have only seen it in Madras. So my knowledge of this snack being available elsewhere is zero. I have seen it being sold like hot cakes on the streets of Madras and these get literally sold in minutes and there is always a huge crowd gathered around the vendor, obstructing them from doing their job properly. Different fried items are made like the Vazhakkai Bajji, Onion Bajji, Medu Pakoda, Maida Pakoda, Masala Vada, Medu Vada, and the list can go on!
While Medu Vada and Masala Vada are quite common and frequently made at home, I haven’t made Keera Vadai to date. My only source of eating this version has always been at the office where our office cook makes an excellent one of this vada.
When I decided to include this vada for this series, I asked her the details of the greens used. Since she makes about 300 vadas, she said she uses Mulai Keerai or Amaranth Leaves which has big leaves and is easy to clean.
I went ahead with the same greens and followed my regular Masala Vada recipe. Out of all the Vadas I made during this time, this one turned out very good, crispy and the greens added a wonderful taste.
If you haven’t made this vada, I must say you should try it. So this Mulai Keera Masala Vadai is my choice for Day 5 of Week 3, where I am my choices with Vada Recipes as part of the BM#104 Sweets & Snacks. It's another Murukku with Rice Flour in Cooking 4 all Seasons!
For other Vada Varieties on C4AS and Vada Recipes on SYL, you can click the links and check out.
Week 1 - Sweets (Indian Traditional Sweets)
Day 1 is Arcot Makkan Peda
Day 2 is Burhanpur Jalebi
Day 3 is Ghevar
Day 4 is Motichoor Ladoo
Day 5 is Ghotua Ladoo
Day 6 is Bandar Laddu
Week 2 - Snacks from the same State (Andhra)
Day 1 is Kara Sev
Day 2 is Kobbari Chegodilu
Day 3 is Karam Gavvalu
Day 4 is Garlic Kara Sev
Day 5 is Venna Murukulu
Day 6 is Palakayalu
Week 3 - Snacks of our choice (Vada Varieties)
Day 1 is Ponk Vada
Day 2 is Palak Vada
Day 3 is Cabbage Vada
Day 4 is Sabudana Vada
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Step By Step Pictures to make Mulai Keerai Masala Vadai
Mulai Keerai Masala Vadai
Ingredients Needed:
1 cup Bengal Gram / Chana Dal
2 cups Mulai Keerai / Amaranth Leaves
3/4 cup Onions
2 to 3 nos Green Chilli
2 no Red Chilli
1 inch Ginger
3 to 4 Garlic with skin
Handful Coriander Leaves
Handful Curry Leaves
1 tsp Fennel Seeds
Salt to taste
Cooking Oil for deep frying
How to make Keera Vadai
Wash and soak chana dal for at least 2 hrs.
When ready to make the vadai, wash and clean the greens, pluck out the leaves and the tender leaves, once it drains well, then chop it finely.
Drain the chana dal, reserve 2 tbsp aside and in a mixer take the green chilies, red chili, ginger, and grind to a coarse paste.
Transfer to a bowl, add pounded garlic, fennel leaves, finely chopped onions, chopped greens, coriander, curry leaves, and add 2 tbsp chana dal.
Mix well and heat a Kadai with oil.
When the oil is hot, take a small ball of paste, flatten it on your palm, or a greased sheet, plate, or whatever works out best.
Gently slide into hot oil and deep fry in batches until golden on all sides.
Drain on a kitchen towel and serve hot with chutney.
Mulai Keerai Masala Vadai
Ingredients
- 1 cup Bengal Gram / Chana Dal
- 2 cups Mulai Keerai / Amaranth Leaves
- 3/4 cup Onions
- 2 to 3 nos Green Chilli
- 2 no Red Chilli
- 1 inch Ginger
- 3 to 4 cloves Garlic with skin
- Handful Coriander leaves
- Handful Curry leaves
- 1 tsp Fennel Seeds
- Salt to taste
- Cooking Oil for deep frying
Instructions
- Wash and soak chana dal for at least 2 hrs.
- When ready to make the vadai, wash and clean the greens, pluck out the leaves and the tender leaves, once it drains well, then chop it finely.
- Drain the chana dal, reserve 2 tbsp aside and in a mixer take the green chilies, red chili, ginger and grind to a coarse paste.
- Transfer to a bowl, add pounded garlic, fennel leaves, finely chopped onions, chopped greens, coriander, curry leaves and add 2 tbsp chana dal.
- Mix well and heat a Kadai with oil.
- When the oil is hot, take a small ball of the paste, flatten it on your palm or a greased sheet, plate or whatever works out best.
- Gently slide into hot oil and deep fry in batches until golden on all sides.
- Drain on a kitchen towel and serve hot with chutney.
I have featured the entire list that you can prepare for Diwali on both SYL and C4AS Sweets and Snacks & Sweets & Snacks for Diwali.
vaishalisabnani says
Super nutritious ! Love this vada and reading your list , and the endless vadas made by your office cook , I feel you must make a list and share it with me . My hubby is really fond of South Indian Vadas , and it would be a treat yo feed him with these vadas !
The theme Vadas is actually very interesting !
Suma Gandlur says
I have a urad dal - amarnath leaves version on my blog but masala vada is my favorite and any variations seems fantastic and flavorful to me.
Amara says
That’s a nice combo Valli, Masala Vada with greens added. It makes the vadas nutritious and a nice alternative for fussy kids who doesn’t eat greens.
Harini Rupanagudi says
Excellent idea of adding amaranth leaves. I shall have to try this out for sure.
Sushma Pinjala says
Amazing vadas with amaranth leaves. They have turned out so well.
namscorner18 says
I usually make the keerai vada in similar way. Agree with you road side vendors selling these hot vada, bajji in chennai tempts us so much. healthy and nutritious with greens