Dahi Bhalla (Dahi Vada)

• Soak urad dal in water for 8 hours or overnight.
• The next morning, using a sieve, remove all the water from the urad dal. Transfer the urad dal to the grinder and grind it to make a thick paste without water. If you find it is difficult to grind then you can add 1 - 2 tbsp water.
• Transfer the grounded urad dal to a bowl. The urad dal batter should not be too thick nor too thin. Now beat the batter with your hand or you can use electric beater, but should beat in one direction.
• Add 1 teaspoon cumin and 1/2 teaspoon salt to it and beat it with your hand for about 10 minutes. While doing so, the color of the batter will change and the volume will also increase.
• Heat ghee or oil in a large thick bottom wok on medium heat. When the ghee becomes moderately hot, take a small portion of the batter in your fingers and pour it carefully into the hot ghee.
• In this way pour the small portions of batter one by one in ghee for deep fry. do not over-crowd in the wok. Stir and deep-fry them over medium heat till the bhalle turns golden.
• Once it turns golden, take them out of the ghee using a perforated spoon and transfer it to a plate on kitchen tissue paper to absorb the excess ghee.
• Keep them aside to cool to room temperature. You can keep them in the refrigerator for a few days at this stage.
• When you like to serve, soak the fried bhalle in lukewarm water for about 30 minutes.
• Take the curd in a large bowl, add sugar and beat it and keep it aside.
• Heat a pan on medium heat, add 3 tablespoons cumin seeds, 1 teaspoon carom seeds and fry on low heat for about 2-3 minutes.
• Turn off the gas and add mint powder, red chili powder, black pepper powder and 1 teaspoon salt and mix well.
• Transfer the masala mix on a board and grind it coarsly using a rolling pin.
• Squeeze the soaked bhalle gently to remove excess water. Do not squeeze too much they will break.
• Put 4 - 5 bhalla in a bowl, pour dahi (curd) on it as per your choice, add some green chutney, tamarind chutney and sprinkle the prepared masala.
• Delicious, soft and spongy curd is ready to be eaten. Enjoy it!

You can garnish it with pomegranate seeds, which will enhance the taste.

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