Vada and related fried products

Vada (also called vadai, bada, bora or bara) is a pulse dough/paste-based traditional Indian fried snack. The product is generally shaped into a flattened circular shape, often with a small hole at the centre (Figure 2.7.1). The diameter of the hole varies from 5 to 25 mm. The snack with a large hole at the centre looks like a ring resembling a doughnut. The salt-spicy product is popular in South India though also prepared in other parts of India. The snack is also available in several South Asian countries. Conventionally, it has a golden brown or orange colour. The other shapes are often like a doughnut or dumpling, and are usually salty and savoury in taste. The product is prepared in restaurants, snack bars, domestic kitchens and as a street food, and eaten as freshly fried and in a warm condition. The diameter and height (thickness) of the products are usually 35-50 mm and 20-30 mm, respectively.