Masala Vada is a South Indian snack or accompaniment which is deep-fried in the oil. I wanted to try the same recipe without oil in the air fryer. To my surprise, it turned out well. It was crispy on the outside and soft inside. Moreover, all vada seem to be cooked evenly. You can see the evidence of evenly cooked golden brown vada from the picture.
I really did not expect such an outcome from the air fryer. After trying oil-free masala vada, I am now making almost all deep-fried goodies in my air fryer without or less oil. I have used cold-pressed peanut oil to spray the vada. I have become a fan of the air fryer and almost use it every day or alternate day. Now you can have anything guilt-free. Exploring more in the air fryer and will be posting recipes using an air fryer.
I did not even preheat my air fryer, as my air fryer is smart sensing technology. It literally took only 13 mins to cook all vadas in a single batch. The time may vary depending on the size of the vada and the model of the air fryer. I’m am using Philips XXL Air Fryer.
If you have no air fryer, just follow the same recipe and deep fry it in enough oil, and enjoy. In Oven, bake it for 180 degrees C for 20 mins. Flip in between and bake. Now let us see how to prepare this recipe.
Enjoy the video of air fryer masala vada. Subscribe for more videos.
- 1 cup Chana dal/kadalai paruppu
- 1 tsp Sombu/Fennal seeds
- 1 Onion finely chopped
- 2 Green chilies finely chopped
- 3 pods garlic
- 1 inch Ginger
- 1/2 inch Cinnamon stick/Pattai
- 1 Clove
- 1 strand Curry Leaves/Karuveppilai finely chopped
- 5 Mint Leaves/Pudina finely chopped
- salt to taste
- 1 tsp oil to brush or spray
- Soak Chana dal for 2-3 hours. In a mixer jar, add garlic, ginger, fennel seeds, clove, cinnamon, and grind coarsely.
- After soaking, wash chana dal, drain the water completely and grind it coarsely along with the ground masala.
- Transfer it to a wide bowl. Add chopped onions, green chilies, curry leaves, salt to a bowl.
- Mix all the ingredients thoroughly. Make equally lemon-sized balls and wet your palms with water and pat the vadas to flatten the balls.
- Spray oil on the wire rack of the air fryer. Arrange prepared vada dough in the air fryer. Do not overcrowd. Spray some oil on top of the vada dough.
- Close the rack. Air fry it at 200 degrees C for 7 mins. Once done, flip the vada, spray some oil again, and air fry it at 200 degrees C for another 6 mins.
- Once done, remove it and serve hot. Crispy Masala Vada is ready to relish.
- Soak dal for enough time.
- Never add any water while grinding.
- Use whipper mode in the mixer while grinding chana dal to get a coarse texture.
- You can use dry red chilies instead of green chilies.
- Add only 4-5 mint leaves, or else it will give a bitter taste.
Crispy Masala vada is ready to relish.
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