Farali Vada

Fasting foods is a whole different category of foods. They are mostly starchy foods designed to keep you from starving while you focused on all things spiritual. Those who fast follow strict rules of what foods are permitted and what foods are not. Give a foodie a list of ingredients and she will come up with recipes. The fasting food choices have exploded over the centuries and there are cookbooks devoted entirely to fasting food recipes. The days of a simple quick preparation paired with some fruit are long gone. This recipe is one such preparation.

Pardon the quality of the pictures. I made these for a summer weekend snack and had to click pictures while everyone waited patiently. I had to tweak this recipe a couple times before I got the taste just right. You could make this recipe when fasting or like me (someone who does not fast) make it anytime. It makes a lovely afternoon snack.

You will need (10 vada)
3 large potatoes
1 tsp. roasted cumin coriander powder
a bunch cilantro, should be 1/4 cup when diced
1 Serrano pepper or other green chili pepper, minced
2 tbsp. roasted ground peanuts
1/4 cup shredded coconut
15-20 raisins
1 tsp. lemon juice
1 tsp sugar
salt to taste
a couple of tbsp. oil

Boil in the potatoes in a pressure cooker or on the stove top. To cook them in the pressure cooker place the potatoes in half an inch of water and place then in the cooker. When the pressure rises place the whistle and let it cook for 5 minutes. Turn off heat and allow the pressure to reduce. The potatoes are ready.

Mash the potatoes and combine with salt and the cumin coriander powder. Divide into 10 portions and leave aside until needed. In a separate bowl combine all the other ingredients. Season with salt, adjust to taste. Divide into 10 portions.

Flatten a portion of potato in the palm of your hand. Place one portion of the filling in it.

Bring up the outer edges of the potato together and form a ball around the filling.

Repeat for the remaining portions.

Heat an appe pan or an aebleskiver pan. Drop a a few drops of oil in each well. Place one prepared vada in each of the wells. Let it cook on medium heat. When the bottom is brown turn it over in the well using a skewer or a knitting needle. Continue to cook and turn until all sides are cooked through. If needed add a couple more drops of oil when you turn it over. Take it off the heat.

Enjoy as an evening snack or if you are fasting as a main meal!