Nalar Bhairi / Coconut Vadai

Nalar Bhairi / Coconut Vadai

This is a very popular street food in madurai. The bhairi/vadai is either made with keerai i.e., pangarapaan and thoodhuvalai or with grated coconut. We can have it as snack or even as a meal. This can be served with any paruppu podi. Usually pottukadalai podi is served in the streets of madurai.

    Cuisine: South Indian

    Coarse: Snack/Main Dish

    Cooking Time: 10 mins

    Prep Time: 15 mins

    Serves: 3

Ingredients

• 1 cup heaped idly rice
• 3/4 cup grated coconut
• salt to taste
• oil to deep fry
• required water to sprinkle while grinding the rice
• Rice flour as needed

DirectionsStep 1:

Wash the rice for 2-3 times. Soak for 2-3 hours. 

Step 2:

Grind the rice in grinder by sprinkling very little water. You may grind the rice in mixie but the rice will not grind properly unless we add water. Do not add too much of water as the batter will become watery. For this preparation, the batter has to be tight. Grind it coarse as shown below.

Step 3:

Add grated coconut, rice flour and salt. Add rice flour as needed and make a tight chapati dough consistency.

Step 4:

Divide the dough into large lemon sized balls. Roll and keep it on a dry cloth. I have taken the idly cloth. Cloth absorbs some amount of water content in the dough. 

Step 5:

Gently pat the ball on the cloth. Pat evenly until it reaches the thickness as shown below.

Step 6:

Heat the oil in a pan to deep fry. The oil has to be super hot. Only then the Vada/bhairi puff up nicely.

Ready to serve!

Notes:

1. You can add moringa leaves powder or even any soup mix powder instead of grated coconut.

2. Thanks to all the elders in my family for teaching all the nuances of this recipe!.