Vadaape..

Vadaape.. is some thing like Vada, prepared using rice flour and curd. It is one of the Malenaadu dish  (Shimogga - Karnataka state). When the rainy season starts, the body craves for some thing fried, spicy and stomach filling dish. It is a natural feeling I can say. Malenaadu means Heavy raining area. It is mostly rural area too. So think of the rain pouring outside and the Hot Vadapes are served with coconut chutney with a hot coffee. It is a fantastic feeling one can enjoy.

I have eaten this Vadape at Shobha Somayaji's House. She is the  principal of Hongirana School which is in Amte Koppa. (10 K.M. away from Sagar). She is full of entu and not only takes care of the whole school activity, entertain her guests and cooks herself and feeds them happily.  We keep going there to visit her. We love to see the places around Sagar. So such one of the visit she had prepared this Vadaape. Next time I saw this Vadaape in one T. V. show.  Archana Udupa one of the great Kannada Singer preparing Vadape in that cooking show. This is how I was inspired and prepared Vadape in our home.

As I said earlier Vadape is a fried dish. May be because it looks like vada, it must have got the name Vadaape. We call any special eatable as appa. For example guli appa, banana appa (banana sweet fritters), Halasina hannina appa (jack fruit fritters) etc. Likewise this vada must have called as appa. So Vade + Appa has turned into Vadape.This is how I understood the word Vadaape.
Vadaape is prepared  using rice flour, curd, onion and some spices.
Here is a recipe and Vadape can be eaten for breakfast or as evening snack or any time of the day.

Things Needed : 

Rice flour : 2 Cups
Onion..2 ( Medium)

Ginger an inch

Green chilly : 2

Coconut- 2 to 3 Tablespoons..( Fresh - grated )

Curry Leaves-Handful

Coriander leaves.- 2 to 3 sticks (finely chopped)

Salt: to taste

Oil : to Fry ( One cup )

Curd - 2 Tablespoons

Method : 

1. Wash and cut onions, green chilly, curry leaves and coriander leaves.
2. Grate coconut and keep it aside.
3.Wash and remove the outer skin of ginger and wash it again. Grate it and keep it aside.
4. Take a big bowl or pan, put cut onions, chilly, curry leaves, coriander leaves, ginger and coconut.

5. Add 2 tablespoons of curd, rice flour and salt.

6. Mix it well and add required water. Prepare soft dough. (Akki rotti consistency ).

7. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add oil and let it heat.
8. Take a small ball size of prepared dough and pat on the palm or on banana or any edible leaf.
9. Make a circle type and make hole in the middle. It gives vada shape.

10. Slowly put this in hot oil and fry on both sides. Remove from the hot oil once it is done and place on kitchen tissue.

11. Repeat the same and prepare the rest of the Vadapes.

 12. Serve Hot Vadaape with coconut or any other chutney you prepared. Coconut chutney goes well with Vadaape.

Note : 

Add water little by little while preparing the dough. If you feel the dough consistency is watery add little more rice flour. You can add a teaspoon of jeera to the dough. (I have not added). Adding coconut is optional. Do not add any oil or ghee while mixing. Fry on medium flame. You can try this using any edible leaves like palak, dil or methi leaves.
Time : 30 to 40 minutes. (Total time)
Serves : 3 to 4 
15 Vadape can be made. (depends on the size you prepare ).