Lentils, meet lentils!

Culture shock wears many a mask. Some are scarier than others, leaving the jaw dropped for a substantial amount of time. Some are innocuous and make for a silly story.

My husband mistaking the now universally loved donut to his spicy favorite Vada is one of those stories.

There were many food-related mistaken identities. However, this story of Samuel mistaking a Donut to a close relative of ground-lentil-fried-delicacies Vadas exposes our naivety.

Both Vadas and Donuts are deep-fried. And the commonality stops there.

Spilt and husked black gram is ground to a smooth batter. Green chillis, ginger, onions and cumin are then incorporated. The resulting dough is ‘holed up’ or ‘holed down’ depending on your style and gently dropped into hot sizzling oil. Two or three drops landing on my hand every time I make these goodies is an inevitable tradition that I have no control upon, whatsoever.

While, in my opinion, Chutney is the perfect accompaniment to a perfect Vada plate, Sambar is also traditionally served and I love to hold on to traditions!

…whenever convenient.