Baked Channa vadas

Vadas are a  fried food from India that are often eaten as a snack or a breakfast food.  The tasty doughnut-shaped vadas are usually made from pulses, blended into a dough and then deep fried.  For this recipe I used readily found items from my pantry and went on an adventure of sorts. The preparation took less than 10 minutes in a food processor, and the baking was done in 20 minutes in a convention oven.

Baking the vadas did not disappoint the family on taste and flavors.  The vadas came out crispy and indulging on a few was completely guilt-free for those of us cutting out deep fried foods.  This recipe is gluten free, vegan and healthy.

Any left-overs can be carried quite easily in a lunch box the next day.

Do enjoy them with a nice hot cup of tea.  They can be eaten as they are or accompanied with a nice Coriander chutney.

Ingredients

1 can of chick peas (19 fluid oz, or 540 ml) - drained
1 inch piece of fresh ginger chopped ( about 3 teaspoons )
1 small onion roughly chopped
green chilly to taste ( I used half with seeds)
1 teaspoon salt or to taste
1 teaspoon ground jeera
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 cup fine desiccated coconut , or freshly grated
1/4 cup rice flour
1 teaspoon vegetable oil ( any kind)
1/4 cup water

Method

Put all the ingredients in the food processor except for the water.  Using the chopping blade pulse the ingredients until well blended and processed.

Now add the water a tablespoon at a time and mix.
Check after each addition that the you can hold the mixture together like a dough by taking a small amount and making a ball ( I used a quarter cup)

Turn the dough out into a bowl and roughly form a large ball.  Cover and leave aside for at least half hour so all the flavours combine and liquids are absorbed.

Preheat the oven to 450F.  Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper and grease well. I use a cooking spray.

Take a ball of the dough about an inch in circumference and form a ball.

Flatten the ball slightly to form the shape of a doughnut, and then using your index finger poke a hole gently through the middle. Turn it over and make the hole smooth on the edges with your finger. It should resemble a doughnut.

Place the vadas on the prepared baking tray.  Spray the vadas with cooking oil or brush each vada gently with oil.

Bake for 20 minutes in a convention oven - Check after 15 - 20 minutes to see if it is nicely browned then remove.  For regular ovens it may take a little longer. If it is not browning then turn over the vadas after 15 minutes and continue baking till browned.

Approximate nutritional value per vada based on 18 servings (including 2 teaspoons of oil
 for greasing the baking tray and the vadas before baking)

Amount Per Serving

• Calories 53.8
• Total Fat 1.6 g
• Total Carbohydrate 8.5 g
• Dietary Fiber 1.5 g
• Sugars 0.3 g
• Protein 1.6 g