Bonda is a south Indian delicacy where urad dal batter or spiced vegetable mix is coated in a chickpea flour batter and deep fried. It’s ideal for an afternoon tea. There is the plain bonda/mysore bonda which is made with an urad dal batter spiced up with pepper, coconut, and cumin seeds. Then there is the filled bonda which is where today’s recipe comes in – it has an outer covering made of a chickpea flour/rice flour batter, into which boiled and spiced up veggies (primarily potatoes, and optionally mixed vegetables) are dipped in, and then deep fried. They are all deep fried.
It can be served with a chutney such as coconut or peanut chutney. Or just by itself, as it’s spicy enough. Have it with a cup of coffee or tea on a rainy day to perk you up. I made these beauties for game day this weekend for the Jags playoff game. They lost, but the snack was a win!
Venn Pongal
Ven pongal (white pongal) is a simple and soothing comfort food. The main ingredients are white rice and split moong dal, with very few spices/seasonings. It is easy to digest and therefore makes a great comfort when you’re sick and craving something warm. It is made during the month of Margazhi/dhanur (roughly mid December- mid Jan) in the early mornings. My memories of school days during this time is going to the temple early in the morning to get the hot prasadam of pongal (sweet and savory).
A point about pongal: If you don’t have fresh ginger, curry leaves, black pepper, cumin, cashews, and ghee, don’t even attempt it because none of these ingredients are optional for a good pongal.
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