Moong Dal Carrot Vada , Uddi Bonda | Ganesh Chaturthi Recipes

Meddu Vada  or Masala Vada is mostly made during all festivals. For a change we think of making different varieties. I had plans to make Maddur Vada, but Athamma had soaked Urad Dal so decided to make something with that itself. 

Amma had the same problem too. Dad was very much against the same Meddu Vada being made. So she opted for this tasty fritters, though it's deep fried I guess you can indulge one in a while. 

Today being Sunday kids have been enjoying their holiday, it's been a lazy day all together. Not much of cooking done, as we went for fresh salad and simple rasam. After the heavy festival eating, I felt this simple meal was refreshing.

Moong Dal Carrot Vada | Pesara pappu Carrot Vada

Ingredients Needed

Split Yellow Moong Dal / Pesara pappu -  1 cup
Carrot - 2 medium, grated
Onion - 1 medium
Coriander leaves
Curry leaves
Salt to taste

To be ground :
Garlic - 1/2" , Green Chilies 2 nos, Whole Cumin seeds - 1 tsp

How to make Moong Dal Carrot Fritters

Soak the moong dal for 2 hrs. Drain and grind it coarsely.

Mix in grated carrot, finely chopped onions, finely chopped coriander leaves and curry leaves, salt and the ground paste.

Heat a pan with enough oil to deep fry.

Drop in balls, or flatten as a discs. Cook on all sides, drain on a kitchen towel.

Uddi Bonda | Urad Dal Fritters

Urad Dal / Uddi pappu - 1 cup
Green Chillies - 3 medium
Salt to taste
Oil for deep frying

How to make Uddi Bonda

Soak the Urad dal for 2 hrs, drain on a colander.

In a mixer, take the green chilies, urad dal and grind to a smooth mix. Add salt.

Heat a pan with oil, scoop in balls and gently drop into hot oil. Cook on all sides by turning it around.

Drain on Kitchen towels.

Notes: Finely chopped onions, coriander leaves and curry leaves can also be added.

Ulundhu Kozhukattai | Uppu Kozhukattai | Urad Dal Steamed Dumplings | Ganesh Chaturthi Recipes | Step By Step Recipe

Next in the series of Ganesh Chaturthi Special Recipes, is Ulundhu Kozhukattai or Uppu Kozhukattai.

This is a savory dish made with the rice flour dough stuffed with a savory mix of Urad dal ground with green and red chilies. After all the sweet modak / Kozhukattai offered to God, I am sure he needs a savory one to make a pleasant combination.

I made extra for the Mani Kozhukattai also, which is to be followed. The Uppu Kozhukattai were very spicy and tasty. This was  my second day neivedyam. I made Channa Dal Kozhukattai, Uppu Kozhukattai and Fried Modak.

This is a very healthy snack as this has Urad dal and also steamed.

 Step By Step Picture Recipe

Ingredients Needed

For the outer Rice flour dough, make as I showed in the Fried Modak.

For the Urad Dal filling.

Urad Dal / Ulundhu - 1 cup
Green Chilies - 2 -3 medium
Red Chili - 2
Curry leaves few
Hing / Asafetida
Salt to taste
Turmeric powder a pinch
Oil - 1 tsp

How to make Ulundhu Kozhukattai:

Soak Urad dal for 2 hrs Drain and grind along with green chilies, red chilies, salt, hing, curry leaves to a coarse mix

We can make it two ways.

Easy way:

Simply roast the ground mix in 1 tsp oil in a non stick pan till the Urad dal is cooked well.

Steamed method.

Once ground, make flat discs and steam for 10 mins.

Then grate to a fine powder, fry in a non stick pan using 1 tsp, add turmeric powder.

When the filling is ready, make the outer layer with the rice dough.

Pinch out a small ball of rice dough, grease your palm with oil, flatten the dough to a small disc. Place a spoonful of savory filling, close the disc as a half moon. Press on the edges in a crisscross way, to make sure the filling doesn't come out.

When you are done with all of them, steam them for 10 - 15 mins.

Once done, allow it to cool before handling.

Will be back tomorrow with another delicacy

Have a great weekend

Other Ganesh Chaturthi Recipes

Fried Modak Recipe | Fried Modakam | Ganesh Chaturthi Recipes | Step By Step Recipe

Couple of years back when we preformed homan at home, the pujaris had brought in their own set of neivedyams for Lord Ganesh. When we asked them, they said Ganesh loves these Modakams so that is what they always offer. We all loved it so much and I even asked for the recipe. But as expected with all the activities that went in that day, I simply forgot what I was told. Even last year I was checking out all my files for a fried version that might come closer to what the recipe the pujaris had told me. I have a paper clipping explaining the Maharashtrian way of making fried modaks.

I read that Maharashtrians make it with either wheat flour or all purpose flour and the filling is very similar to the Kozhukattai version too. So imagine frying with flour being fried, it must be so delicious. I guess it's more like samosai (sweet samosa). Anyway I was very eager to make sure I get the recipe, so I finally called up the pujari and asked him for recipe. Well it turns out that it's done the same way as Kozhukattai, except it's deep fried.

So this is essentially a tamilain way of making Modak, will surely try out the Fried Modak with Maida/ wheat flour.

We are having the Ganesha for three days, so for today's neivedyam it was Fried Kozhukattai, Ulundu Kozhukattai, Kozhukattai with Channa dal. Since the outer layer is the same, makes it easy to just go ahead with the stuffing.

Basically the Kozhukattais are made with three different stuffings.

Sweet stuffing involves Coconut Jaggary filling and Channa Dal filling.

Savory Stuffing which is with Ulundu or Urad Dal filling.

Excess of the savory version takes another avatar as Ammini Kozhukattai or Mani Kozhukattai.

Though I have posted all the steps to show how the Coconut Jaggary Filled Modakam is made. See the Kobbari Kudumulu for the steps.

So I wanted to make sure I capture the rice flour dough in action. I thought I could manage myself, but the steps are very swift to do on own, so yelled in for support. Konda is always eager to please, at least in clicking pictures. So she clicked all my action.

How to Make the Rice Flour Dough for Modak

Appro 1 cup of rice flour is taken in 1 & 1/2 cups water. This can vary.

How to make the Coconut Jaggary Filling

Equal amount of grated coconut and grated jaggary is taken and cooked in water.

How to make the Fried Modak

Also traditionally the Fried Modak with Maida is shaped as the regular Kozhukattai, but I was told you simply press it and hold it with your four fingers to show your finger prints.

I followed the same recipe as Kozhukattai, once the shape is formed, heat a pan with oil, deep fry them.

The taste was out of the world. Will surely be doing this going forward!


I will be posting all the Ganesh Chaturthi Recipes for the next one week, on daily basis. So get ready to enjoy them.

Ganesh Chaturthi Pictures, Celebrations ~ A walk through the market place

When we went to the market place for getting the Ganesh Idol home, I took my camera to capture the scene in action. The market place was bustling with so much activity. Everybody were so busy buying all the things required for the Pooja.

The preparation for the festival starts at least couple of days ahead. However, most of them get the idol on the day of the festival. It's become a custom these days to take the idol on the same day to leave in the near by temples for immersion, that happens in 10 days time.

We have a tradition of having the idol at home depending on the day the immersion day falls. It will be either 5, 3 or 1 day. This year we are going to have the idol for 3 days and all 3 days it has to be vegetarian food prepared at home. Including neivedyam offered to Lord Ganesh.

Some pictures for you to enjoy

Beautiful Vinayakar all lined up..

 This year we saw a new way of Ganesh being kept, all covered with plastic sheets for safe carrying.

 Our two bags with Idol to be filled with other items.

 Different fruits and items that are part of the festival.

A offering of puffed rice, beaten rice with Fried Gram, Jaggary is a must for Ganesh

A showcase full of different Ganesh Idol at Parent's place. I have been collecting these since my childhood, mostly given by Dad from his visits to various places. I took some of my favorites ones when I got married. Rest are with amma, which I look at fondly every time I visit them.

Will be sharing the recipes soon

Ganesh Chaturthi Greetings | Vinayaka Chavithi Subhakanshalu | Festival Dishes for Ganesh Chaturthi

"Vinayaka Chaturthi Subhakanshalu to all my readers!"

I hope everybody had a wonderful time celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi at home. We have had a great time since morning. Kids are tired and napping. And I quickly wanted to wish and share our celebrations today.

I was up early to make sure I had the neivedyam ready early for the pooja. We went to buy the Ganesh Idol and I went along with Hubby dear to the market for the shopping. Kids were busy playing and didn't notice us leaving. I was sure they won't have allowed us otherwise. We were buying for Amma also, so everything went in as two sets, which was fun.

Our Idol this year decorated with flowers and offered with fruits, his favorite sugar cane, fresh Bajra

Please check out our previous years celebrations:
Vinayaka Chaturthi Pooja 2007
Vinayaka Chaturthi Pooja 2008
Vinayaka Chaturthi Pooja 2009
Vinayaka Chaturthi Pooja 2010 

Neivedyam for Lord Ganesha! ~ Puffed Rice with Jaggary & Fried Gram, Brown Channa Sundal

Neivedyam for Lord Ganesha!  ~ From Left Front to Right Poli, Purnam Kudalu, Sesame Laddoo, Rice Flour Laddos, Uddi Bonda, Sweet Modak with Coconut Filling , Ellu Kozhukattai,  Chirtrannam & Brinjal Potato Kurma

Amma's pooja room, Lord Ganesha before

Pooja at Amma's place.

After I completed my pooja, I went to help Amma with her neivedyam. Hers is even more elaborate. tradition and this year she made few more dishes that she used to offer in her initial years of marriage.  My cousin has come down to visit us, so when I went to parents home, I found Konda and my sister making the Sweet Modak, so I took up to make the Sesame Laddos. Amma said during her initial years of offering, she used to offer Idlies also. So she made them this year.

Apart from the usual neivedyam, Amma also made Bellamannam or Sakarai Pongal, Sundal, Mixed Dal Carrot Vadas. 

Will be back tomorrow with pictures from the market place and the new recipes