Creating a blog was out of the question for a long time for me, as measuring everything in the kitchen was like biting into an eggshell. I enjoy cooking and don’t want to waste even a slightest bit of enjoyment in that small world of mine. But little did I know that everything will change, when my husband came home with the Oscar nominated film ‘Julie and Julia’( a real life story) where Julie Powell (part played by Amy Adams) challenged herself to make all the 524 recipes from Julia Child's cook book ‘Mastering the Art of French Cooking’ and blogging all her experiences (The Julie/Julia Project). It was an inspiring movie. A few days later when we were discussing this casually with a friend of ours over tea…everything changed dramatically…..” How about you making at least half of it in one year? Not French but your own. 262 recipes that will inspire others and present it as a blog?” For a minute my mind traveled faster than light… With an experience as a helper in my mother in laws kitchen for 6 years followed by a three year everyday struggle to satisfy the palate of my foodie husband, if I cannot do it then why should I cook? But on the other side with an experience in English literature extending no more than expanding outline stories in English grammar class when I was 18 and two small kids that come in handy at times, will a commitment for the next one year work? Anyway my ‘cook's ego’ didn’t allow me to say no...

So my friends …here I am opening my recipe book, trying to perfect and present 262 recipes in the coming 365 days….A Challenge that will of course tastes good. Come.. Have a walk with me along my journey.. Cheering and inspiring….Forgiving and tolerating…Testing and tasting….for ‘A Tasty Challenge’

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Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Chicken Vada

Recipe No: 198
Many a days during my childhood I woke up to this ‘tuk… tuk’ sound from the kitchen, which is my Mother chopping Meat on her wooden cutting board for making Irachi/ Meat Vada. Within seconds I will come to the realization that my maternal Grandfather is visiting that day… yes… it was one of his favorite dishes…
This is the Chicken version of the delicious Irachi Vada, which has all the flavors of a traditional Vada yet very easy to make.
Ingredients                                                 Makes 12
  • Skinless, boneless Chicken……..300 grams
  • Shallots chopped fine…………….1/4 Cup
  • Ginger chopped fine………………1 Tablespoon
  • Indian Green Chilly chopped….1 Tablespoon
  • Salt……………………………………..2/3 Teaspoon
  • Curry leaves chopped fine……..4-5 leaves
  • Crushed Black Pepper…………...1/4 Teaspoon (optional)
  • Cooked Rice………………………….1/2 Cup (mashed really good)
  • All Purpose Flour (Maida) or Corn Flour for dusting the patties
  • Oil for deep frying
Method of Preparation
  1. Chop the Chicken on a cutting board  finely. (I didn’t use a food processor for chopping as it will make the Chicken pasty.)
  2. Mix all the other ingredients except the Oil and Flour with the chopped Chicken  really well.
  3. Make 15 equal portions out of the Chicken mixture. This may be a bit on the sticky side. So wet your hands lightly with Water to avoid sticking.
  4. Make each portion into a ball; press slightly to flatten it and dust lightly with All Purpose/ Maida or Corn Flour.
  5. Heat at least an inch of Oil in a pan and deep fry the Vadas for about 2-3 minutes on each side or until cooked through.
  6. Serve hot with Ketchup.
Notes:
  •  Cooked Rice is the binding agent here. Don't use Egg instead, as it makes the mixture watery or mashed Potato as it  changes the taste of the dish.
  • As we wet our hands to avoid the chicken sticking, it is essential to dust the Vadas slightly with Flour, otherwise it will splatter in hot Oil.
  • Here I used Chicken breast meat, but Chicken thigh meat is better when it comes to taste (at least for me). If you are using Thigh meat please do give it a minute more to cook.
  • There is a chance for the Chicken Vada to shrink and become more round in shape while frying, so flattening it before frying is essential.
 



Make it, enjoy the deliciousness and 
serve it to your family with love…

8 comments:

Priya Suresh said...

Slurp, mouthwatering here...i dont bother to have some vadas rite now..yummmmmm!!

Indian Khana said...

Something like nuggets? Looks so delish ...yum

My Kitchen Antics said...

chicken vada sure is a twist to the usual

Unknown said...

Innovative ....Super pa

Jaisy James said...

wow superbb dear never tried chicken vada looks yummy n nice clicks

sojo said...

my mom makes spinach vada (chheera vada)like this... but she makes a thick paste of the maida and coat the vada and deep fry... Well, non veg is a new idea to me...

Asha said...

Spinach Cutlet is familiar to me but Vada not...

M Mathews said...

Just a suggestion:- Boil the chicken pieces with alittle salt and turmeric powder before chopping. It will take away the stickiness.

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