Spicy Lentil Patties

Spicy Lentil Patties are also called Masala Vadais and they are a great tea time snack. I remember during my  younger days when I would have just returned from school famished after a long day and there would be piping hot lentil patties being fried in the kitchen. Then, I started to offer to bring these patties for school events too in my secondary school and it was always a hit..  When I got married and I learnt to make this on my own, it was a culinary dream come true for me.

Now I don't make this very often. It turns out best when it is deep fried and devoured immediately while it is still piping hot. Have you started drooling, already? ;))

Ingredients ( 30, 2 inch lentil patties) 

2cups Split Bengal Gram Dal, soaked for max an hour

1big red onion, chopped fine or sliced thinly

1 big green chili, sliced thinly

10 curry leaves sliced

2 tsp pounded ginger

1/2 tsp fennel seeds, pounded

Salt per preference

Method

It is important that the dal is soaked for only 45 mins to an hour because the longer it is soaked, it will loose its crispiness when fried. Grind the soaked chana dal coarsely with minimal water. If the whole mixture becomes too watery, you have to add in Bengal Gram flour to thicken the batter.

Mix the ground dal with all the other ingredients  using your fingers for better incorporation and season with salt.

Shape the batter into small patties and fry them in hot oil.  Serve hot with chili sauce or mint chutney.