Cheera Vada (Spinach and Dal Fritters)

Ingredients

• Urad dal - 250 g
• Toor dal - 25 g
• Spinach - 1 whole
• Green chilies - 7 whole
• Coriander leaves
• Raisins - 25 g
• Salt
• Oil

Instructions

1. 1Put the urad dal and toor dal in a bowl and cover with water; soak for 1 hour, then drain well.
2. 2Transfer the drained dals to a grinder and pulse into a coarse paste with the green chilies and a pinch of salt so the texture still has little bits of dal.
3. 3Roughly chop the spinach and coriander leaves and add them to the dal paste; mix gently until the greens are evenly distributed.
4. 4Heat a teaspoon of oil in a small pan and fry the raisins briefly until they plump and turn glossy, then add them to the dal mixture and fold in.
5. 5Wet your hands and shape spoonfuls of the mixture into round patties, pressing lightly so they hold together.
6. 6Heat oil for deep frying to medium-high, then fry the vadas in batches until they are brown and crisp on all sides; drain on paper towels and rest briefly so they set.
7. 7Serve the vadas hot with tomato ketchup if you like, or offer yogurt or chutney on the side as an optional accompaniment.