Dahi Pakodi (Urad Bean Dumplings in Yogurt)

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There is no Indian I have come across, who doesn’t enjoy a bowl of good Dahi pakodi.

Dahi = Yogurt &
Pakodi = Fritters made with either urad or mung or mix of both.

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Creamy yogurt, melt in the mouth pakodis, the smoke of the cumin powder, the heat of the chili powder, spicy cilantro green chutney, the tang of tamarind chutney…all in all a food haven in one bowl! Do you agree with me? If yes, nod your head ☺️. The tongue clatters with your upper palate to make that “ttttt” sound and that’s the expression for it.

Kuchh Teekha, kuchh meetha, kuchh khatta, bilkul is zindagi ki tarah!

( Translate – Little hot, little sweet, little sour, just like this life!)

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Normally, the urad dal pakodis or urad fritters are deep fried. I being the “oil pauper”, didn’t fry my fritters. I made them in my appe pan ( paniyaram / abelskiever pan). Yes you heard it right. One pan, hundreds of uses. Amazing, Isn’t it? Honestly, there was no difference in taste in the final product, since these are soaked in warm water first, anyways.

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This dish is pretty staple at parties, weddings, festival food etc in North India. The other avatar of this dish is Dahi-Wada, which is very popular in southern India.

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Here is how I made it.

Making the Urad Fritters / Pakodis

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Makes – 20 to 22 mini size pakodis or 12-15 big ones. 

Kitchen Equipments Required – Bowl to soak the dal, sieve, blender, appe/paniyaram pan with lid, or frying pan, a small bowl with water

Ingredients 

Urad Dal , dhuli/dehusked – 1/2 cup
Ginger – 1/2 tsp, freshly grated
Cilantro/ coriander leaves – 1 tbsp, optional
Asafetida – a small pinch, optional
Cumin seeds – 1/2 tsp
Red chili powder – 1/4 tsp
Salt to taste
Baking soda – a pinch
Oil – a little to grease the appe pan or enough to deep fry, your choice. 

Method 

 1. Wash and soak the urad dal in 1 cup water for 3 hrs. 

 2. Drain the water from the dal completely through sieve. 

 3. Put the soaked dal in the blender and start grinding it. Use 1 two of water at a time to make a thick paste. We don’t want loose or runny paste but we are looking for solid thick paste. So scrape in between from the sides, while grinding. You will use 1-2 tbsp around water at the most to grind it.

  1. Take the thick paste out in the bowl. Start whisking it with your hand for 3-5 minutes till the batter becomes light and loose because of air incorporated. Here is the trick – dip your hand in the bowl of water every now and then and then beat it. The water will loosen the batter slowly while incorporating volume and air. 

 5. Grease and heat the appe pan, meanwhile. For deep frying, refer to the foot notes.

  1. Add all the other ingredients to the beaten and lighter batter and mix them gently with hand or fork.

  2. Use hand or spoon to drop 1 tsp of batter in each mould of the pan. Lower the flame. Cover with lid and let cook on slow flame for 1&1/2 to 2 minutes. Remove the lid. Flip and cook from the other side, uncovered, for another 1&1/2 to 2 minutes, till done. 

  3. Take them out. Finish the batter likewise.

Assembling the Dahi Pakodi 

I am going to give you an idea on assembling, with no fixed measurements. You can add one thing more or less to your desire.

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Ingredients 

Urad dal pakodi / fritters , soaked in hot water for 10 minutes. Soaking makes them spongy to absorb flavors of the added condiments. 

Yogurt, thick and beaten smooth. If desired, then dilute a little. I like mine thick. 

Cumin powder, roasted 

Red chili powder

Salt

Green coriander / cilantro chutney

Tamarind chutney

Cilantro leaves 

Assembly

  1. Take the fritters out of the hot water and squeeze them between palms to get rid of any remains of the water.

  2. Take a bowl. Place the squeezed pakodi / fritter. Add the beaten yogurt and drench the fritters well in yogurt. 

  3. Add sprinkles of cumin powder, red chili powder and salt, as light or heavy, to your taste. 

  4. Now ladle green cilantro and tamarind chutneys on the top. Garnish with fresh cilantro leaves. 

  5. Serve to your family and friends.

Notes

  1. The pakodis or fritters can be deep fried. Heat the oil and fry pan full of these together on medium flame till light gold. 

  2. These fritters can be eaten as is for the snack as well. 

  3. Other garnishes that can be used are pomegranate seeds, julienned ginger, chaat masala etc. 

  4. The dahi wadas can be made in advance and stored in refrigerator. Assemble at the time of serving.

Enjoy this Holi with some fun, healthier food and frolic. 

Sonal

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27 Comments

  1. Maybe just because I am viewing on my phone whilst on a hammock overlooking the Arabian Sea.. Ahem.. Yet I can’t see the pan? Am interested in what it is!

  2. You continue to educate me on the glorious food options in Indian cuisine, Sonal…thank you! This looks delicious… love the mix of flavors going on here. 😛 Absolutely stunning photos as well…you’re an artist!

  3. I’m not sure if I’ve heard of this dish either, and if I have, perhaps I’m not familiar with all the Indian names. But it sure looks like I could eat a bowl of this yummy goodness.

        1. Loretta,
          Urad dal is soaked and then ground into thick paste. Roundlets with hole in the middle like donuts are formed and then deep fried. They are then soaked in warm water and then transferred into yogurt with salt pepper cumin.
          Which region are you from?

          1. I guess I’m not familiar with all the dahls then. I am from Goa, well never really lived there, but my parents hailed from Goa. I was born in Mumbai, but was 3yrs old when my family left India. So much as I enjoy Indian/Goan cuisine, I’m not too familiar with all the different cooking in many regions in India. But I’m sure learning through all the blogs. There are so many Indian bloggers out there. Thanks for educating me on the dahl.

  4. Oh my goodness. I learn something everytime you post a recipe. I have never heard of this before and they look and sound incredible. I can imagine how delicious these fritters are and I love yogurt. Love this is creamy and spicy and tangy all in one dish.