Written by Puja

This rasam vada recipe is one of those South Indian dishes that feels like a warm hand on a cold morning.

Crisp lentil fritters soaked in a tangy, spiced rasam until they turn soft and full of flavour, rasam vada does not need any occasion to be made.

And because it has rasam, it is wonderful when you are down with a cold.

The hot pepper and tamarind soup works almost like a bowl of medicine, clearing your head and warming you from the inside. The vada sitting in it makes it feel like a proper meal, not just a drink.

It is comfort food in its truest form, and once you have had it fresh, nothing else quite compares. (step-by-step-recipe-video)

Rasam Vada Recipe

What is Rasam Vada?

Rasam vada is a South Indian dish where fried urad dal fritters (vada) are soaked in hot, tangy rasam until they absorb the soup and turn soft inside.

Also called rasam vadai or rasam bonda depending on the region and the shape of the fritter, this dish is popular across Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh.

What makes it different from plain vada or sambar vada is the rasam itself, thinner than sambar, sharper from tamarind, and deeply spiced with black pepper, garlic, and a tempering that fills the whole kitchen with its smell.

The version I am sharing here is a homestyle rasam made with toor dal, tomatoes, and tamarind together, which is closest to the Tamil Nadu style of making rasam.

In Tamil Nadu, this combination is known as paruppu rasam and is a staple in home kitchens, usually served with rice.

This is also very close to the rasam vada you get at Udupi style vegetarian restaurants across India, where medu vada is served soaked in a hot tomato tamarind rasam.

The toor dal gives the rasam a little body, the tomatoes add a natural sweetness and depth, and the tamarind brings that sharp, tangy edge that rasam is known for.

Together they make a rasam that is balanced, full flavoured, and just thick enough to coat the vada beautifully as it soaks in.

How Rasam Vada Is Made Across Regions:

Every South Indian household has its own rasam recipe. The spice balance, the amount of tamarind, whether to add toor dal or not, how long to cook it, all of it varies from kitchen to kitchen and family to family.

That is what makes rasam such a personal dish. The regional versions below give you a broad picture, but within each region, no two homes make it exactly the same way.

Rasam vada is rooted in Tamil Nadu and has its origins in traditional South Indian home kitchens.

The dish as we know it today, vada soaked in rasam and served as a proper dish rather than just a way to use up leftovers, became widely popular through restaurant culture.

The combination of rasam and vada was a natural one, and it spread across South India with each region putting its own stamp on it.

In Tamil Nadu, the most common version uses medu vada, the round urad dal fritter with a hole in the centre, soaked in a thin, pepper-heavy rasam. Tamil Nadu has many styles of rasam.

Some are made purely with tamarind and spices and are very thin and sharp.

Others, like the paruppu rasam, use cooked toor dal along with tomatoes and tamarind, giving the rasam a little more body and a rounder flavour.

The recipe I am sharing here follows this style.

Chennai has long been associated with this dish, and rasa vadai is a regular item on the breakfast and snack menus of vegetarian restaurants across the city.

In Nagercoil and the Kanyakumari district, the version is quite different.

Here the vada is a masala vada made from chana dal (not urad dal), mixed with onion, green chilli, ginger, garlic, fennel seeds, and fresh herbs.

It is thicker and coarser than medu vada and holds up well even after soaking in rasam for an hour or two. This version is locally called rasa vadai and is a well-known street food snack in that part of Tamil Nadu.

The rasam used here tends to be garlic-forward and spiced with whole pepper and cumin.

In Karnataka, particularly in Bangalore, the dish is called bonda soup and it is a slightly different preparation altogether.

The bonda here is a round, hole-free urad dal fritter, and the soup it sits in is made from moong dal rather than a tamarind rasam.

The soup is thinner and milder than a South Tamil Nadu rasam, spiced with mustard, cumin, green chilli, ginger, and curry leaves, with a squeeze of lemon at the end.

Bonda soup is a staple at (the no-frills, self-service breakfast spots that Bangalore is famous for) and has a loyal following as a morning breakfast item across the city.

The Udupi style rasam vada is its own category and is arguably the most widely known version across India.

Udupi cuisine, developed and spread across India by the Madhwa Brahmin communities of coastal Karnataka, has deep roots in temple cooking at the Udupi Sri Krishna Matha.

Udupi style vegetarian restaurants are found in almost every major city in India, and rasam vada is a staple on their breakfast menu.

The rasam served here is typically a hot, tangy tomato tamarind rasam, sometimes made with toor dal, poured generously over crispy medu vada.

Their rasam, locally called saaru, is made with a distinct homemade rasam powder, a blend that has been passed down within families for generations.

It is brighter in colour, fragrant from coriander and pepper, and slightly different in character from a homestyle rasam.

For most people outside Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, this Udupi restaurant version is the first rasam vada they ever taste.

The practical origin of this dish is the same across all these regions, leftover vada from the morning dropped into leftover rasam from lunch. That was how it started in home kitchens.

Over time it moved from home kitchens into restaurants, and today it is served as a regular breakfast and evening snack across South India.

Note: The regional information shared here is based on my own research across food blogs, recipe sites, and publicly available sources.

If you are from any of these regions and something reads differently from what you know, I would love to hear from you in the comments.

Food history is often passed down through families and local traditions, and no single source can capture all of it.

Preparation Tips for Best Results:

Getting rasam vada right comes down to two things: the batter and the rasam. Get both of these right and everything else falls into place.

Soak the urad dal overnight, not just for an hour or two. The longer soak makes the dal softer and grinds to a fluffier batter. I usually soak it before I go to sleep and grind it the next morning.

Wash the soaked dal thoroughly, at least four to five times. This step matters more than people think. It washes off the slippery coating that can make the batter dense.

Grind the dal in pulse mode without adding water first. Let the machine do a bit of work before you add any liquid.

When you do add water, use chilled water. Cold water keeps the batter light and helps it hold air. Warm water makes it heavy.

Do not grind the batter smooth. A slightly coarse texture is what gives the vada its bite. If you go too smooth, it fries up dense and chewy.

Once the batter is in the bowl, whip it in one direction with your hand for a few minutes. This step builds air into the batter. Drop a small piece into a bowl of water. If it floats, the batter is ready. If it sinks, whip for another minute or two.

Fry on medium heat, not high. High heat browns the outside too fast and leaves the inside undercooked. Medium heat gives you an evenly golden vada that cooks all the way through.

The rasam needs to rest. This is the one thing I cannot say enough. Let the rasam sit for at least 30 minutes after you switch off the flame.

The flavours settle, the tamarind mellows, and the rasam goes from sharp to something rounder and more balanced.

Why This Recipe Works

The rasam here is built on a coarsely crushed masala of garlic, ginger, onion, coriander seeds, cumin, and black pepper. This is not a shortcut rasam made from store-bought powder alone.

The crushed masala cooks briefly in oil and gives the rasam a base that is deeper and more fragrant than what you get from powder only.

The toor dal added at the end gives the rasam just enough body. It is not thick like sambar, but it is not watery either. The dal makes it cling lightly to the vada as it soaks in.

The jaggery at the end matters. A small amount rounds out the sharpness from the tamarind without making the rasam taste sweet. Without it, the rasam can feel too sour, especially after resting.

The vada stays soft after soaking because the urad dal batter is light and porous. The air whipped into it creates tiny pockets that the rasam seeps into slowly, turning the vada from crisp to soft in the best possible way.

The Batch That Finally Got It Right

Rasam vada or Rasa Vadai recipe was on my list for a long time. I had heard about it, read about it, seen it at South Indian restaurants. That bowl of soft vada sitting in a pool of hot, tangy rasam looked like exactly the kind of food I wanted to make at home.

But I held back. I was not sure about the rasam. I was not confident about the vada batter. So it stayed on the list, waiting.

When I finally made it for the first time, it was not perfect. The vada was a little dense, and the rasam was sharper than I wanted.

I made it again.

The vada was better but the rasam was too thin. I kept going, each time adjusting something small. A little less tamarind, a little more resting time, grinding the batter differently, checking the oil temperature more carefully.

The day it came together properly, I knew it before I even tasted it. The rasam smelled right after resting, rounded and warm, with that faint sweetness from the jaggery sitting under all the pepper and tamarind.

The vada had that golden colour all over and felt light in my hand. I placed them in the bowl, poured the rasam over, waited five minutes, and had the first bite.

And yes, I also love adding some chopped onion and fresh coriander to my rasam vada, and trust me, it tastes simply awesome.

That was the bowl I shared. I put it up and the response was immediate. People called it comforting. Someone said it felt like a hug in a bowl.

Another person wrote that they had been craving rasam vada for months and had not known how to make it at home.

What I love most about this dish is when you eat it. It is a rainy afternoon dish.

It is a cold winter morning dish. That warm, tangy rasam with the soft vada gives you what I can only describe as a chatpata chaat feeling, sour and spiced and a little addictive, but also deeply settling.

Once you have had it on a cold rainy evening, you will understand exactly why this dish exists.

Serving Suggestions:

Rasam vada is best served hot, right after the vada has soaked for a few minutes in the rasam. Place two or three vada in a deep bowl and pour generous rasam over them. Garnish with chopped coriander leaves and a small spoon of ghee if you like.

This is a dish made for cold and rainy days. The hot pepper rasam is genuinely good when you have a cold.

The black pepper, ginger, garlic, and tamarind together work like a natural remedy, warming you from the inside and clearing your head.

And because you have the vada sitting in it, it feels like a full meal rather than just a hot drink. On a winter morning or a wet monsoon evening, a bowl of rasam vada is hard to beat.

It works beautifully as a morning breakfast with filter coffee or as an evening snack with masala chai. At a traditional South Indian meal, rasam vada can be served as a starter before the thali arrives. Some families serve it during festivals alongside other fried snacks.

If you want to make a simple meal of it, a bowl of rasam vada with a side of coconut chutney is more than enough.

Storage Suggestions:

The vada and rasam are best stored separately if you plan to have leftovers.

Keep the rasam in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two days. Reheat it on the stove, not the microwave, so it heats evenly.

Leftover vada can be kept at room temperature for a few hours or in the fridge for one day. To reheat, place them in a dry pan or air fryer for a few minutes to crisp them up again before soaking in rasam.

Once the vada are soaked in rasam, they do not store well. They become too soft and begin to fall apart. It is better to soak only what you will eat at that meal.

Pro Tips for Perfect Rasam Vada:

Soak the urad dal overnight for the best results. A two-hour soak will work in a pinch, but the batter will not be as light.

Wash the dal well after soaking. This step is easy to skip, but it makes a real difference to the texture of the vada.

Use chilled water when grinding. Even a few ice cubes in the water help. The batter stays cool and holds more air.

Do not grind smooth. Stop when the batter is still slightly grainy. That texture is what you want.

Whip the batter by hand before frying. Use a circular motion in one direction. When a small piece floats in water, you are ready.

Do not overcrowd the oil. Fry five to six vada at a time. Too many at once drops the oil temperature and you end up with greasy vada.

Let one side cook fully before turning. If you turn too early, the vada can stick to each other or fall apart.

Rest the rasam for at least 30 minutes. This is not optional. The flavour changes completely after resting.

If the rasam feels too sour after tasting, add a little more jaggery. If it is too flat, add a pinch of black pepper.

To check if the oil is ready for frying, drop a tiny piece of batter in. It should rise to the surface within a few seconds. If it sinks and stays down, the oil is not hot enough.

Serve the rasam vada within 10 minutes of soaking. If you wait too long, the vada gets too soft and loses its shape.

For a richer rasam, add a small piece of dried coconut to the tempering. It adds a faint sweetness that works very well with the tamarind.

Looking for Some More Recipes Like This

If you loved this rasam vada recipe, here are some more recipes from the same world of South Indian comfort food.

If it is the fried snack side of things that you enjoyed, Aloo Bonda and Masala Paniyaram are both worth trying. For a wholesome South Indian breakfast, Ven Pongal, Vegetable Uthappam, and Stuffed Idli are some of my favourites on the blog.

All of them are simple, comforting, and made for the kind of days when you want something warm and satisfying on the table.

Rasam Vadai

Basic Ingredients Used to Make Rasam Vadai Recipe:

Urad Dal (Whole): Whole urad dal is used for the vada batter. It grinds to a lighter, fluffier batter than split urad dal. The overnight soak is what makes it grind well without needing too much water. Whole urad dal is available at any Indian grocery store.

Tamarind: Tamarind is what gives the rasam its sourness. Use a lemon-sized ball of tamarind soaked in warm water, then squeeze and strain to get a clean pulp. Fresh tamarind pulp made at home has a brighter flavour than the ready-made paste from a jar, though the paste works in a pinch.

Toor Dal (Cooked): A small amount of cooked toor dal goes into the rasam near the end. Cook the toor dal with a little turmeric and salt until soft before adding it. It does not make the rasam thick like sambar, but it gives it a little body and a mild earthiness that balances the sharpness of the tamarind.

Black Pepper: Black pepper is the backbone of any rasam. In this recipe, it goes into the coarse masala that is crushed in the mortar. Use whole peppercorns and crush them yourself for the best fragrance. Pre-ground pepper works but loses some of its punch.

Jaggery: Just one tablespoon of jaggery goes into the rasam at the end. It softens the sourness without making the dish taste sweet. If you do not have jaggery, a small amount of coconut sugar works. Avoid refined sugar as it makes the rasam taste flat.

Garlic: Garlic is crushed along with ginger and onion to make the coarse masala base. It gives the rasam a depth that you cannot get from powder alone. Do not chop it fine, as the coarse crush releases the oil slowly as it cooks.

Methi Dana (Fenugreek Seeds): A pinch of fenugreek seeds in the tempering adds a slight bitterness that rounds out the rasam. It is a small addition but you will notice its absence if you skip it.

Tomatoes: Two large tomatoes go into the rasam after the tempering. They add body, a gentle sourness, and a natural sweetness that softens the sharpness of the tamarind. Cook them until they are fully soft and beginning to break down before moving to the next step.

Onion: Half an onion goes into the coarse masala that forms the base of the rasam. It is not cooked separately but crushed raw along with garlic and ginger. This gives the rasam a rounded, slightly sweet depth that you do not get from spices alone.

Ginger: Ginger goes into both the rasam masala and the vada batter. In the rasam it adds warmth and a light sharpness. In the vada it gives each bite a small kick. Use fresh ginger in both places, not ginger powder.

Coriander Seeds: Coriander seeds are part of the coarse masala crushed for the rasam base. They add a mild citrusy, earthy note that balances the stronger flavours of garlic and pepper. Crush them coarsely, not fine, so they release their flavour slowly as the rasam cooks.

Cumin Seeds: Cumin goes into both the rasam masala and the vada batter. In the rasam it adds warmth and depth to the base. In the vada batter it gives a gentle earthiness to each fritter. Use whole cumin seeds in both places.

Dry Red Chillies: Dry red chillies go into the tempering and add heat and colour to the rasam. The number of chillies controls how spicy the rasam gets. You can reduce them if you want a milder version.

Kashmiri Red Chilli Powder: This goes in with the tamarind pulp and gives the rasam its deep red colour without making it too spicy. Kashmiri red chilli powder is mild in heat but strong in colour. Do not substitute with regular red chilli powder as it will make the rasam much hotter.

Hing (Asafoetida): Just a pinch of hing goes into the tempering. It aids digestion and adds a faint savoury note in the background that you cannot quite name but would miss if it were not there. A little goes a long way.

Curry Leaves: Curry leaves go into both the tempering and are added again near the end of the rasam. Fresh curry leaves have a fragrance that dried ones cannot match. They are worth getting fresh if you can. In the vada batter, chopped curry leaves add little bursts of flavour in every bite.

Mustard Seeds: Mustard seeds are the first thing that go into the hot oil for the tempering. Let them splutter fully before adding anything else. They add a nutty, slightly sharp note that is the foundation of most South Indian cooking.

Coriander Leaves: Fresh coriander leaves are used at two points in the rasam — once while cooking the tomatoes, and again near the end just before switching off the flame. Adding it twice gives the rasam a brighter, fresher flavour. It is also used in the vada batter and as a garnish when serving. Always use fresh coriander, not dried.

How to Make Rasam Vada Recipe at Home:

Here is the full method. You can also scroll down to the recipe card below and download it for easy reference in your kitchen.

Make the Rasam

Peel the garlic cloves and trim the top and bottom. Add the garlic, ginger, onion, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, and black pepper to a mortar and pestle.

Crush everything together into a coarse paste. You can also pulse briefly in a mixer grinder, just a few seconds, not smooth.

Heat oil in a kadai on medium flame. Add mustard seeds and let them splutter. Add urad dal, dry red chillies, hing, curry leaves, and methi dana. Let them fry for about 30 seconds.

Add the crushed masala to the kadai. Cook on low flame for one minute, stirring, until the raw smell of garlic goes away. Do not rush this step.

Add the chopped tomatoes, coriander leaves, and salt. Stir and cook until the tomatoes soften and begin to break down.

Add the tamarind pulp and Kashmiri red chilli powder. Stir and bring to a boil.

Add the cooked toor dal and enough hot water to reach your desired consistency. Stir well.

Add the coriander leaves, curry leaves, green chilli, and jaggery. Let the rasam come to one full boil, then switch off the flame.

Leave the rasam to rest for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Make the Vada

Wash the soaked urad dal four to five times until the water runs clear. Drain completely.

Add the dal to a grinder and pulse without water first. Once the dal starts breaking down, add chilled water one tablespoon at a time. Grind to a coarse batter, not smooth.

Transfer the batter to a wide bowl. Using your hand, mix the batter in one direction for two to three minutes until it feels lighter. Drop a small piece into a bowl of water. It should float. If it sinks, whip for another minute.

Add salt, cumin seeds, grated ginger, finely chopped coriander leaves, and chopped curry leaves. Mix well.

Heat oil in a kadai on medium flame. Wet your hands lightly. Take a small portion of batter, shape it into a round ball, and gently drop it into the oil. Fry five to six vada at a time.

Let the vada cook on one side completely before turning. Fry until golden all over. Remove and drain on a plate.

Serve

Place two to three hot vada in a deep bowl. Pour hot rasam generously over the vada. Let them soak for three to five minutes. Garnish with chopped coriander leaves and serve.

rasam bonda

Rasam Vada (Rasam Vadai, Rasam Bonda)

Rasam vada recipe made with crispy urad dal vada soaked in hot, tangy rasam. Learn how to make rasam vadai or rasam bonda at home.
No ratings yet
Print Pin Save Recipe! Rate
Share on Facebook
Course: Breakfast, Snacks
Cuisine: South Indian
Keyword: rasam vada recipes
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
soaking time: 8 hours
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 274kcal
Author: Puja

Ingredients

For the Rasam (Coarse Masala)

  • 5 garlic cloves
  • 1/2 inch ginger
  • 1/2 onion
  • 1 tsp coriander seeds
  • 1 tsp cumin seeds
  • 1 tsp black pepper or to taste

For the Rasam (Tempering)

  • 2 tbsp oil
  • 1 tsp mustard seeds
  • 1/2 tsp urad dal
  • 5 dry red chillies
  • Pinch of hing
  • Few curry leaves
  • 1/2 tsp methi dana

For the Rasam (Other Ingredients)

  • 2 large tomatoes finely chopped
  • Coriander leaves roughly chopped
  • Salt to taste
  • Tamarind pulp from lemon-sized tamarind
  • 1/2 tsp Kashmiri red chilli powder
  • 1/2 cup cooked toor dal
  • Hot water as needed
  • Few curry leaves roughly chopped
  • 1 green chilli slit
  • 1 tbsp jaggery

For the Vada

  • 1/2 cup whole urad dal soaked overnight
  • 1 to 2 tbsp chilled water
  • Salt to taste
  • 1 tsp cumin seeds
  • Little grated ginger
  • Coriander leaves finely chopped
  • Curry leaves chopped
  • Oil for frying

Instructions

Make the Rasam

  • Peel the garlic cloves. Add garlic, ginger, onion, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, and black pepper to a mortar and pestle. Crush coarsely. You can also pulse briefly in a mixer grinder.
  • Heat oil in a kadai. Add mustard seeds and let them splutter. Add urad dal, dry red chillies, hing, curry leaves, and methi dana. Fry for 30 seconds.
  • Add the crushed masala. Cook on low flame for 1 minute until the raw smell of garlic goes away.
  • Add chopped tomatoes, coriander leaves, and salt. Cook until tomatoes soften.
  • Add tamarind pulp and Kashmiri red chilli powder. Bring to a boil.
  • Add cooked toor dal and enough hot water to reach your desired consistency.
  • Add coriander leaves, curry leaves, green chilli, and jaggery. Let the rasam come to one boil.
  • Switch off the flame and rest for 30 minutes before serving.

Make the Vada

  • Wash the soaked urad dal 4 to 5 times. Drain completely.
  • Grind the dal in pulse mode without water first. Add chilled water gradually and grind to a coarse batter.
  • Transfer batter to a bowl. Whip in one direction for 2 to 3 minutes until light. Test by dropping a small piece in water. It should float.
  • Add salt, cumin seeds, grated ginger, coriander leaves, and curry leaves. Mix well.
  • Heat oil in a kadai on medium heat. Wet your hands, take small portions of batter, and drop gently into the oil. Fry 5 to 6 at a time.
  • Let one side cook fully before turning. Fry until golden all over.
  • Remove and drain on a plate.
  • Place hot vada in a deep bowl. Pour hot rasam generously over the vada. Let soak for 3 to 5 minutes. Garnish with chopped coriander leaves and serve.

Notes

Soak urad dal overnight for the lightest, fluffiest vada.
Always use chilled water when grinding the batter.
Do not grind the batter smooth. A coarse texture gives the vada a better bite.
Rest the rasam for at least 30 minutes after cooking.
The flavour improves significantly.
Fry vada on medium heat for even cooking all the way through.
Adjust water in rasam depending on how thick or thin you like it.
Soak vada in rasam just before serving.
Do not leave them soaking for more than 15 to 20 minutes.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Rasam Vada (Rasam Vadai, Rasam Bonda)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 274 Calories from Fat 72
% Daily Value*
Fat 8g12%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Trans Fat 0.03g
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g
Monounsaturated Fat 5g
Sodium 66mg3%
Potassium 408mg12%
Carbohydrates 39g13%
Fiber 11g46%
Sugar 9g10%
Protein 13g26%
Vitamin A 1072IU21%
Vitamin C 95mg115%
Calcium 69mg7%
Iron 4mg22%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Post a picture to Instagram & Mention @thetastesofindia or tag #thetastesofindia!

Frequently Asked Questions About Rasam Bonda Recipe:

What is rasam vada made of?

Rasam vada is made of two parts: the vada, which are fried urad dal fritters, and the rasam, a tangy tamarind-based spiced soup. The vada is soaked in the hot rasam until soft and served together in a bowl.

What is the difference between rasam vada and sambar vada?

Sambar vada uses thick, lentil-based sambar as the soaking liquid. Rasam vada uses rasam, which is thinner, sharper, and spiced differently, heavier on black pepper and tamarind. The vada itself is similar in both dishes.

Can I make rasam vada with medu vada instead?

Yes. In most Chennai restaurants, medu vada (the ring-shaped one with a hole in the centre) is used for rasam vada. The version in this recipe uses small round vada, but the shape does not change the flavour. Use whichever you prefer.

Why is my vada dense and not fluffy?

Dense vada usually comes from one of three things: not enough soaking time, too much water in the batter, or batter that was not whipped enough before frying. Soak overnight, use chilled water in small amounts, and whip the batter well until a piece floats in water.

Can I use store-bought rasam powder instead of making it from scratch?

You can, but this recipe builds the rasam on a coarsely crushed fresh masala, which gives it a different depth. If you want to use rasam powder, add it along with the tamarind and reduce the quantity of the fresh masala. Start with one teaspoon of rasam powder and adjust to taste.

How long should the vada soak in rasam before eating?

Three to five minutes is enough. The vada will absorb the rasam quickly and soften from the outside in. If you leave it for too long (more than 15 to 20 minutes), the vada gets too soft and may fall apart.

Why does my rasam taste too sour?

This usually means the tamarind was too much or the rasam did not rest long enough. The rest time mellows the sourness. If it still tastes too sour after resting, add a little more jaggery and a tiny pinch of salt.

Can I make the rasam the night before?

Yes, and it often tastes even better the next day. Store it in the refrigerator once it cools, and reheat gently on the stove before serving. Make the vada fresh on the day of serving.

Is rasam vada vegan?

The rasam and vada in this recipe are both vegan. If you add ghee as a garnish, it is no longer vegan. Skip the ghee to keep the dish fully plant-based.

Can I air fry the vada instead of deep frying?

Air frying works, though the vada will not be as light and porous as the deep-fried version. Brush or spray the vada lightly with oil and air fry at 180 degrees Celsius for about 12 to 15 minutes, turning halfway. The soaking still works well with air-fried vada.

My Recommended Product:

If you make chutneys, batters, or spice pastes regularly at home, a good mixer grinder is one of those investments that pays off every single time.

For this recipe especially, a mixer grinder with a pulse function makes grinding the urad dal batter and crushing the coarse masala much easier and more controlled.

Disclosure: Bear in mind that some of the links in this post are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase I will earn a small commission.

Keep in mind that I link these companies and their products because of their quality and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases.

I am an independent blogger and the reviews are done based on my own opinions. The decision is yours, and whether or not you decide to buy something is completely up to you.

  • Uniquely designed blunt PoundingBlade with thick edges which replicates pounding effect on dry ingredients, thus giving …
  • Completely hands free operation with unique lid-locks and strong suction feet for added stability
  • stainless steel blades for high performance wet, dry and chutney grinding, Cable management for easy handling and storag…

You Might Also Want to Try:

If the chatpata, tangy side of rasam vada is what you loved, I have a roundup of South Indian snacks on the blog that you will really enjoy.

These are simple, quick to put together, and carry that same sour, spiced, satisfying feeling that makes South Indian snack food so hard to resist.

Perfect for evenings, festivals, or any time you want something light but full of flavour.

White Peas Sundal

White Peas Sundal, also known as Thenga Manga Pattani Sundal, is a famous snack from the beaches of Chennai. This coconutty, tangy, and salty treat is a delicious snack that I can enjoy at any time of the day.
Check out this recipe
white peas sundal

Healthy Kala Chana Sundal Recipe

Sundals are healthy snacks recipe, you can have any time of the day. This can also be served as an instant breakfast along with a glass of milk and can also be served as a side dish along with your meals too.
Check out this recipe
kala chana sundal

Raw Mango Corn Chaat Recipe

Raw Mango Corn Chaat Recipe is a delicious quick monsoon snack recipe made with a few very basic ingredients.
Check out this recipe
raw mango corn chaat

Corn Kosambri

Corn Kosambri is a flavorful South Indian salad featuring sweet corn, pomegranate, and a zesty tempering. It’s a delightful blend of sweet and tangy flavors, perfect as a side dish or snack.
Check out this recipe
corn koshambari

If you liked this Rasam Bonda Recipe and happen to make them in your kitchen, do tag me on Instagram and share pictures with me using #TheTastesofIndia.

Please take a moment to rate the recipe and leave a comment below to let us know what you thought. Your feedback is invaluable in helping us improve our recipes and providing you with the best culinary experiences.

So, if you have any tips, suggestions, or variations you would like to share, please don’t hesitate to do so. And don’t forget to share the recipes on your favorite social network sites. 

Happy Cooking!!! 

A self-proclaimed Champion Cook, who gets the confidence from the love and praises showered upon me by my family consisting of a Cute little Daughter and a husband who loves the Internet more than me (LoL..) and who incidentally happens to be the man behind the technical aspects of this blog.
I love working from home and the benefits that come from it and that is why I started this blog where I document all my adventures with cooking.
Follow me on my journey..

Read More Articles:

1
>