Medhu Vadai's (Rice Croquettes with Cashews)

I got the recipe for these from Neelam Batra's 1,000 Indian Recipes. I like it, but I don't think I added enough salt, and next time I will try adding some black salt and see how I like it.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup long-grain white rice, sorted and washed in 3 -4 changes of water
  • 1/2 cup dried white urad beans, sorted and washed in 3 - 4 changes of water
  • 1/4 - 1/2 cup hot water
  • 1/4 tsp. baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp. salt, or to taste
  • 1 tbs. peanut oil (or any vegetable oil)
  • 1 tsp. black mustard seeds
  • 2 tbs. dried channa dal
  • 1 tsp. coarsely ground fenugreek seeds
  • 1/4 tsp. ground asafoetida
  • 2 tbs. minced fresh curry leaves
  • 1/3 cup coarsely chopped cashews
  • 1 1/2 - 2 cups peanut oil for deep-frying (or any vegetable oil)
Method:

1. Setting aside 2 tbs. of the rice, soak rice and dal in water to cover by 2 inches, about 4 hours. Drain and transfer to food processor and process, adding hot water as needed to make a fluffy, semi-thick batter that can be shaped. Add the baking soda ande salt, and process again. Remove to a bowl.

2. Heat 1 tbs. oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the mustard seed. Cover the pan and lower heat until sputtering subsides. Quickly add the 2 tbs. of rice, channa dal, fenugreek seeds, asafoetida, curry leaves, and cashews, and cook, stirring, until golden, about 1 minute. Mix into the batter. Cover and let rest in a warm, draft-free place about 2 hours.

3. Heat the oil for frying in a large wok or skillet until a pinch of batter dropped into oil bubbles and immediately rises to the top.

4. Take about 1 tbs. of batter at a time, and with wet hands, shape into doughnuts and drop into hot oil. Deep fry, adding 3 - 4 croquettes at a time, until golden. Transfer to paper towels to drain. Serve hot.


My daughter loves these!

29 comments:

Unknown said...

Oh god,It is bit lazy sunday here and I am dying to eat it esp imagining the taste with cashews.Absolutely stunning and lovely Meeso.

Finla said...

Wow meeso u made this at home.
Congrats. I am always lazy to make this.
Looks delicious, can u pass few to me

Dori said...

~ Pearlsofeast, Thank you!

~ Happy cook, Of course... Have as many as you want :) Thanks!

Ranjani said...

Meeso those vadais look so good, got to give you mad props for making those from scratch:) I'm too chicken to fry anything...Your vadais look perfect and are making me hungry!

Sujatha said...

I feel like eating the vadas right now! They look great. Its been a looong time making vadas.. Thanks for reminding to make them soon :)

Cham said...

Wow, Meeso, the vadas with hole u really made it! Looking crisp and yummy. I imagine you really love to cook and enjoy the snack too...

test it comm said...

These sound really tasty!

Dori said...

~ Cham, It took a lot of practice before I could make the hole without it falling apart. When I first started making them they would fall apart in the oil itself! Eventually, I got it worked out and now It's no big deal... Thanks for stopping by and the nice comments :)

~ Kevin, Thanks... They are really good!

Arabic Bites said...

This is the perfect kind of food for me.
sound really good,I'll try to make them soon..

zainab

Laavanya said...

What a perfect snack with a cup of hot tea... it's about to rain outside and I would love to have a plate of these.. :)

Madhavi said...

Perfect snack, looks delicious, crispy, and yummy yummy!!!

Sujatha said...

Hi Meeso, There's something waiting for you in my blog, Please do checkout! Hope you enjoy.

Viji said...

Deep fried ones never disappoint us Meeso. They are too good. Viji

Dori said...

~ Zainab, Thanks... They are very good :)

~ Laavanya, I wish I could have shared some with u :)

~ Madhavi, Thanks!!!

~ Sujatha, THANKS!!! :)

~ Viji, I do love the deep fried foods but I'm not a fan of deep frying itself... Thanks for stopping by :)

Hetal said...

These wadas look too good..great you made them..

ranji said...

awesome meeso..i have not mastered in making a hole int he center yet..and u did in first attempt..gr88888 job:)..they look so crispy and YUMMMMMMMM..:)

Sum Raj said...

nice and great work...putting hole is very tough job for me...i never do this but like to eat when someone prepares for me...urs have become perfect and crisp.

Swati said...

Such a yummy snack... Lovely!!

Dori said...

~ Hetal, Thanks :)

~ Ranji, Well... I have to admit, this was not my first attempt at making these. I had tried countless times to make them before they ever turned out :D

~ Suma, I don't make the hole the way it was described in the book because it never worked, I came up with my own way and now It's no big deal... Thanks for stopping by :)

~ Swati, Thanks!!!

@the_whisk_affair said...

ooh wow! those look fantastic meeso! can i have some pls...i've never made them soo perfect! :-)

Dori said...

~ Thanks for such a nice compliment, JZ! You can have as many as you'd like :)

Sunshinemom said...

Wow! That has come out really well:)

Dori said...

~ Thanks, Sunshinemom :)

Lore said...

Now these caught my attention right away when scrolling down your page. They look DELICIOUS!

Dori said...

~ Thanks, Lore!

Pallavi said...

Hi meeso ! I am so amazed whenever I visit your blog....Thanks for adding me to your list of foodies.. :)

Pallavi

Dori said...

~ Hi Pallavi! Wow, that is a really nice compliment :) Thanks!

Pallavi said...

I love these too :) Never can get enough !!

This would be a great entry for the Yummy Festival Feast - Diwali.
Would love to have you participate in it.

Thanks !

http://pallavi-foodblog.blogspot.com/2008/09/announcing-event-yummy-festival-feast.html

Dori said...

~ Thanks, pallavi! It's so nice of you to invite me, I will definitely enter :)