Indian food is full of taste. Be it eggless, vegan or gluten-free. You can get any number of allergies and still have something yummy at breakfast. There is so much variety. Unfortunately, people stop at lassi or samosa or at some meat biryanis. Batata vada or aloo bada is one yummy snack which is also a perfect spicy Indian breakfast recipe. Basically it is batata bhaji rolled into balls coated with gram flour batter. Perfect evening snack to fill your tummy while you are on the go.
With the recent advent of air fryer, we have started to convert lot of our deep frying recipes to low oil recipes in the airfryer. Read below about the steps to make the aloo bonda in air fryer.
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What is batata vada?
Most people who know Maharashtra, know vada pav. It is the integral part of this snack where aloo bada is served with ladi pav. This delicious snack also doubles up as breakfast. It is a special recipe which has many fans and is perfect with a cup of masala chai. My dad loves it and so does my son. You can find it served by street vendors all across Mumbai and Maharashtra. Vada pav and cutting chai is how Mumbai survives.
Batata meaning potato and vada, a fried lentil donuts. Soft potato filling inside crispy besan or chickpea cover, makes it a double delight. It can be made extra spicy when served with lehsun chutney or garlic chutney powder. Add a pav or bun to it and you have a vada pav ready.
Serve it with sambhar and you have a bonda sambar ready. Just serve vada sambar as is. Works well for those who want extra protein but do not want to eat bread. It is a heaven for all those who love fried carbs. Trust me I had rather eat this than a boring burger!
Amazed ,how to make ladi pav at home? Click here to see the recipe.
Air fryer vada pav - video recipe
Equipment
- wok
- or air-fryer
- steamer/pressure cooker
- masher
Ingredients
- besan or chickpea flour / gram flour / red lentil flour ( in case of air fryer, red lentil flour or masoor dal flour gives better results)
- water
- Pinch of baking soda
- turmeric powder
- red chilli powder
- rice flour optional
- Salt as per taste
For filling
- boiled potatoes
- ginger
- green chillies
- turmeric powder
- red chilli powder / paprika
- salt
For frying:
- Oil
Refer to recipe card for details.
How to make batata vada?
For the traditional method/Frying in wok:
- Mix boiled mashed potatoes with spices, mix all ingredients.
2.Shape them into balls with your palms.
3.Make a thin batter with besan, spices and salt.
4. Take small amounts of potato mixture and roll them individually in chickpea flour.
5. Dip them in besan batter. Repeat for all.
6. Heat oil in a wok and start frying it on medium flame.
7. Fry them until golden brown , Serve delicious batata vadas with sweet tamarind chutney or spicy coriander chutney
Vada pav in air fryer
When you miss your vada pav, you will go any lengths to make it. Fast forward 2021 and the season of lockdowns and quarantines. No going to gym to burn those extra calories, not much exercise either. How do I binge on my fast food then?
Here comes the solution.. Air fyer!
Below is the recipe of an Air fryer batata vada tasting just as good as the fried ones when served as vada pav. How do you make aloo bada in air fryer? Scroll down for details.
How to make batata vada in air fryer ?
Roll the potato filling in dry besan/lentil flour
Make the batter for lentil/besan flour ,add water with little oil (1 tsp) .Dip the mashed potato stuffing in batter.
In an (preheated for 5 mins) air-fryer, place the vada, cook the vada for 10 mins at 180 degree C | 355 F.
Optionally you can spread a baking sheet/steaming sheet on the air fryer to avoid any batter to drip.
Spray oil on top of vada and cook further for 3-4 minutes at 180 degree C | 355 F.
If you choose a thicker batter, you will need to cook for an additional 5 minutes. Total cooktime of 18-20 minutes .
Serve batata vada hot with dry garlic chutney powder, green chilies, green chutney and warm pav buns.
How many types of Vada are there?
There are many types of Vada in India. See our favorite variations below.
Batata vada Recipe | aloo bonda recipe
Equipment
- wok
- or air-fryer
- steamer/pressure cooker
Ingredients
- ½ cup besan or chickpea flour use red lentil flour for air fryer version
- ½ cup water
- 2 tablespoon besan or chickpea flour for rolling the vada before dipping in batter.
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
- ¼ teaspoon red chilli powder
- 1 tbsp. oil
- Salt as per taste
- pinch baking soda
For filling
- 2 cup boiled potatoes
- 1 small piece ginger
- 1 green chillies
- ⅛ teaspoon turmeric powder
- ¼ teaspoon red chilli powder /paprika
- ¼ teaspoon salt
For frying:
- Oil
Instructions
For filling
- Steam or boil the potatoes until soft.They should not be mushy.
- Mash them and add ginger, chillies,salt,red chilli powder,turmeric to create a filling.
- Make small balls out of the mixture and keep it aside.
For covering
- Keep aside 2 tablespoon besan/lentil flour with salt,roll over the vada
- Add water to chickpea flour mix and make a batter out of it.
- Add soda,salt,turmeric powder,red chilli powder.
For frying (traditional way)
- Heat oil in a wok.
- Once paste is ready,dip the potato balls in it
- On a medium-high flame, fry until golden brown in hot oil.
- Serve hot with tomato sauce, mint chutney or garlic chutney powder.
For vada pav air fryer version
- Roll the potato filling in fry besan/lentil flour.
- Make the batter for lentil/besan flour ,add water with pinch baking soda, oil (1 tbsp) .Dip the mashed potato stuffing in batter.
- Spread a baking sheet(perforated/with holes) in the air fryer basket to avoid any batter to dip.
- In an (preheated for 5 mins) air-fryer, place the vada, cook the vada for 10 mins at 180 degree C | 355 F.
- Spray oil on top of vada and cook further for 3-4 minutes at 180 degree C | 355 F. Total cook time of 13-14 minutes If using thicker batter, cook for 5 minutes. Total cooktime of 18-20 minutes.
- Serve hot with tomato ketchup, mint chutney or garlic chutney powder and pav with some fried green chillies.
Video
Notes
Conclusion: You will fall in love with this popular Indian street food recipe every time you have it.
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