Soak dry ingredients--lentils in water for an hour or so. Drain the water. Blend the soaked ingredients with ginger, garlic and chiles with enough water (adding water little by little) to grind to make a thick batter.Add rice flour, onion, curry and cilantro leaves, and the spices; add salt to taste; using your fingers mix them together.
Over medium high heat, heat oil in a skillet (kadai or wok).
Make small balls of batter. Grease your palm and flatten the ball. Drop the vadas in the hot oil..When the vada is cooked (changes the colour) cook both sides. To make sure that he vada is completely cooked, cut into two pieces and see how it looks. There should be no uncooked batter inside.
Place the cooked vadas on a paper towel to remove excess oil. Tasty crisp vadas are ready for you to enjoy. Taste before serving. You may serve the vadas with your favorite chutney. I eat them just like that or with coconut chutney.
