Moth Beans Fritters/Matki Vada

A healthy and protein-rich moth beans/ matki Vadas made two ways: Traditional and Air Fryer methods. These Vadas or Indian style fritters are crispy, crunchy and absolutely delicious. As they are rich in protein and fiber, they are so filling to have it as breakfast or as a hearty evening snack.

I have a Facebook group which focuses on healthy lunchbox ideas for kids and in general, healthy ways to feed our family. The moms in that group are nothing short of geniuses. The amazing and clever ideas they come up with to feed their kids are one of a kind. Being a south Indian, I have never seen moth beans in my life. My husband picked these up when I asked him to get Green Moong beans, its one of the most awesome things my husband does and I am left to figure out ideas to use them up.😑 Anyhow, I asked my Facebook group moms what to do with these beans, they came up with the most awesome ideas ever. One of them is vada, and that’s exactly what I did. This post is dedicated to those awesome and creative moms.

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WHAT ARE MOTH BEANS?

Moth beans or Matki are seeds or legumes cultivated mostly in India and Pakistan and other parts of Asia. They are usually used to make dal and sprouted to make salads. They have a mild and nutty flavor which makes it versatile in any kind of dish. Moth beans are rich in protein, fiber, calcium and are loaded with nutrients. They are really healthy and this vada is super delicious made in either way – Traditional or Air fried!

COMPARISONS BETWEEN DEEP-FRYING AND AIR-FRYING METHODS:

Honestly, I feel no difference between both versions. Both are crispy, crunchy, filling and absolutely delicious! The air fried version is obviously light and has less calories compared to the deep-fried vada. But if you fry your vadas in avocado oil, or a healthy oil with a high smoking point, that makes it a complete meal with good amounts of protein, fiber and healthy fats. So, I would suggest to deep-fry your vadas if you are looking for a complete meal option and use the air-fryer method if you are trying to watch your calorie intake. I have Gourmia 5 qt Air fryer and it is wonderful. It fries your food so easily and good for you without the extra calories.

I am posting a comparison picture below and you can judge for yourself. The left one is air-fried vada and the right one is the deep-fried version. Do you see any difference?

This vada can be served both as a breakfast or a quick evening snack and can be just eaten as is. I feel no need for a chutney or pickle as accompaniment. But my daughter likes them with pickle. Lets get to the recipe then…

Prep Time:	15 min
Soaking time:	6-8 hours
Cooking time with deep-frying:	30 min
Cooking time for a batch in air fryer:	15-18 min
Servings:	15
Cuisine:	Indian
Dish Type:	Breakfast/Appetizer

Ingredients:

• 1 cup moth beans
• 2 tbsp Urad dal
• 1 inch ginger piece
• 3 green chillies
• 1 tsp salt or to taste
• 1 tsp Cumin Seeds
• 1/4 finely chopped onion
• 1 sprig of curry leaves chopped
• 2 tbsp finely chopped cilantro/coriander leaves
• Avocado oil for deep-frying
• Avocado oil spray for Air-frying

Method:

DEEP-FRYING METHOD:

• Soak Moth beans and Urad dal for at least 6-8 hours or overnight.
• Drain all the water and add the beans to a blender jar. There shouldn’t be any water at all. Add ginger, green chillies and salt. Grind everything coarsely.
• Transfer the mixture to a bowl and add cumin seeds, finely chopped onion, curry leaves and cilantro. Mix everything thoroughly.

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• Heat up oil in a wok or a deep pan till the oil is super hot. I use avocado oil for deep-frying which has high smoking point and adds healthy fats to your vada. I also use a Cast iron wok for deep-frying any of my stuff. It heats up really well, healthier to use than non-stick and does the job perfectly.
• Drop a little batter into oil to see if your oil is hot and ready. The batter ball should float up.
• Use a plastic baggie and wipe it once with water. Take a ball of batter with your hand and flatten and shape into a circle on the plastic bag
• Gently peel it off and drop it into the oil carefully. Repeat the process until there are 4-5 vadas in the oil.
• Fry the vadas till they are golden brown. Remove them from the oil with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
• Serve it hot with chutney or eat it just like that!

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AIR-FRYING METHOD:

• Soak Moth beans and Urad dal for at least 6-8 hours or overnight.
• Drain all the water and add the beans to a blender jar. There shouldn’t be any water at all. Add ginger, green chillies and salt. Grind everything coarsely.
• Transfer the mixture to a bowl and add cumin seeds, finely chopped onion, curry leaves and cilantro. Mix everything thoroughly.

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• Line the inside of air fryer with a parchment paper and spray with avocado oil spray.
• Use a plastic baggie and wipe it once with water. Take a ball of batter with your hand and flatten and shape into a circle on the plastic bag. Make them a bit thinner than the regular vada.
• Gently peel it off and drop on the parchment paper carefully. Repeat the process until there are 4-5 vadas in the air fryer basket.
• Spray with Avocado oil spray again and “fry” at 400F for 15-18 minutes. Flip the vadas once half way through.

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• Serve it hot with chutney or eat it as is!

This is a healthy and delicious option to add it to your menu, so please consider trying it! Please let us know how it went once you try it or if you have any questions. We would love to hear from you!

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