Fried Spiced Dhal Balls (Vadi) - cooking recipe

Ingredients

200 g yellow split peas
1 1/2 pints water
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
3 fresh green chilies, chopped
1 dried red chili, chopped and seeded
1 medium onion, finely diced
3 garlic cloves, chopped

Preparation

In a pot put the split peas with the water, salt, chilli powder, ground cumin and turmeric. Bring to the boil, reduce the heat and simmer till the peas are just soft.
Remove from the heat drain the peas and allow to cool.
Set aside 3 tbsp of the cooked peas and process the rest in a blender.
Mix by hand the chillies, onion and the garlic into the processed peas.
With damp hands form the pea mixture into balls the size of a wallnut, pushing some of the reserved peas on to the outsides of the balls.
Heat some oil in a NON STICK pan, fry the balls till golden. Drain and kitchen paper.