Are you craving a quick, crispy, and satisfying snack that transforms everyday ingredients into something truly special? Bread vada is your answer!
This much-loved South Indian-inspired treat is a creative twist on traditional vada, using bread slices as the hero ingredient. Perfect for tea-time, rainy afternoons, or when unexpected guests arrive, bread vada is a fuss-free recipe that delivers maximum flavor with minimal effort.
Each bite is crunchy on the outside and soft within, bursting with the flavors of onions, green chilies, and aromatic spices.
Whether you’re a beginner cook or an experienced foodie, this recipe is for everyone who loves quick vegetarian snacks. Let’s turn those extra bread slices into a crowd-pleasing delight!
Read on for the complete recipe, helpful tips, nutrition facts, and serving suggestions to make your bread vada experience truly memorable.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick & Easy: Uses pantry staples and comes together in under 30 minutes.
- No Deep Frying Required: Opt for shallow frying for a lighter version, or deep fry for extra crispiness.
- Vegetarian Delight: Absolutely meat-free, perfect for vegetarians and those looking for a new snack idea.
- Customizable: Add your favorite veggies or adjust the spices to suit your taste.
- Kid-Friendly: The mild flavors and crispy texture make this snack a hit with children.
- Great for Leftover Bread: An excellent way to use up bread that’s going slightly stale.
- Perfect Tea-Time Snack: Complements masala chai or coffee beautifully.
Ingredients
Here’s a handy table for your shopping list:
Ingredient | Quantity | Notes |
---|---|---|
Bread slices | 6 slices | White or whole wheat |
Onion | 1 medium | Finely chopped |
Green chili | 1-2 | Finely chopped, adjust to taste |
Ginger | 1 teaspoon | Finely grated |
Coriander leaves | 2 tablespoons | Finely chopped |
Curry leaves | 8-10 | Finely chopped (optional) |
Rice flour | 3 tablespoons | Adds crispiness |
Besan (gram flour) | 2 tablespoons | Binds the mixture |
Red chili powder | 1/2 teaspoon | Optional, for spice |
Turmeric powder | 1/4 teaspoon | |
Salt | To taste | |
Water | As needed | For soaking bread |
Oil | For frying | Vegetable or sunflower oil |
Equipment
- Mixing bowl
- Chopping board & knife
- Frying pan or kadai
- Slotted spoon
- Paper towels
- Plate
Instructions
- Prepare the bread: Remove the crusts from the bread slices if desired. Dip each slice in a bowl of water just for a second, then gently squeeze out the excess water by pressing between your palms. Don’t soak the bread too long or it will become mushy.
- Make the dough: Crumble the soaked bread into a large mixing bowl. Add the chopped onions, green chilies, grated ginger, coriander leaves, curry leaves (if using), rice flour, besan, red chili powder, turmeric powder, and salt. Mix everything well to form a soft, slightly sticky dough. If the mixture feels too dry, add 1-2 teaspoons of water; if too wet, add a little more rice flour.
- Shape the vadas: Grease your palms with a little oil. Pinch small portions of the dough and shape them into small flat discs or round vadas about 2 inches wide and ½ inch thick.
- Heat the oil: Pour enough oil into a frying pan or kadai for shallow frying (about ½ inch deep) or deep frying if you prefer. Heat on medium flame.
- Fry the vadas: Once the oil is hot, slide in 3-4 vadas at a time. Fry until golden brown and crisp on both sides, flipping as needed. Each batch should take about 2-3 minutes per side.
- Drain and serve: Remove the fried bread vadas with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels to remove excess oil.
- Repeat: Continue frying the remaining dough in batches.
- Serve hot: Enjoy bread vadas hot, ideally with green chutney, tamarind chutney, or tomato ketchup.
Tips & Variations
- Veggie Boost: Add grated carrots, finely chopped capsicum, or boiled corn to the dough for extra nutrition.
- Spice it Up: For a spicier version, add more green chilies or a pinch of black pepper.
- Healthier Version: Try air-frying or baking the vadas for a low-oil option. Brush the shaped vadas with oil and bake at 200°C (392°F) for 12-15 minutes, flipping halfway.
- Gluten-Free: Use gluten-free bread and besan to make this recipe suitable for gluten sensitivity.
- Consistency Tip: Always add water sparingly to avoid a runny dough. The dough should be soft but hold its shape.
-
“Bread vada is a fantastic way to use up stale bread and create a snack everyone will love!”
Nutrition Facts
Estimated nutrition per serving (2 vadas):
Nutrient | Amount |
---|---|
Calories | 180 kcal |
Carbohydrates | 28 g |
Protein | 4 g |
Fat | 6 g |
Saturated Fat | 0.7 g |
Fiber | 2 g |
Sugar | 2 g |
Sodium | 290 mg |
Values are approximate and will vary depending on bread type and frying method.
Serving Suggestions
- Classic Pairing: Serve hot bread vada with fresh coriander chutney or sweet tamarind chutney for a traditional experience.
- With Tea: Pair with a cup of masala chai or ginger tea for the ultimate monsoon snack.
- As a Party Starter: Arrange on a platter with assorted dips like mint chutney and ketchup for gatherings.
- Sandwich Style: Place bread vadas between burger buns along with lettuce and mayonnaise for a fun snack.
- Dahi Vada Twist: Soak fried bread vadas in whisked yogurt, drizzle with chutneys, and sprinkle with chili powder for a fusion dahi vada.
Conclusion
Bread vada is a testament to the magic of Indian home cooking—simple ingredients, brilliant flavors, and endless versatility. Whether you are looking to impress guests, satisfy unexpected cravings, or simply use up leftover bread, this recipe is a surefire winner.
With its crispy texture and customizable filling, bread vada is bound to become a staple in your snack repertoire.
Don’t forget to try other easy snack recipes like bread pakora or the classic medu vada for more delicious inspiration. Happy cooking, and may your kitchen always be filled with the aroma of freshly fried vadas!
📖 Recipe Card: Bread Vada
Description: Bread vada is a quick and crispy snack made with bread slices, spices, and herbs. Perfect for tea-time, these vadas are shallow-fried and deliciously crunchy.
Prep Time: PT15M
Cook Time: PT20M
Total Time: PT35M
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 6 slices of white or brown bread
- 1/2 cup finely chopped onions
- 2 green chilies, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup grated carrot
- 2 tablespoons chopped coriander leaves
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1/4 teaspoon red chili powder
- 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
- Salt to taste
- 1/4 cup rice flour
- 1/4 cup curd (yogurt)
- Oil for shallow frying
Instructions
- Tear the bread slices into small pieces and place in a mixing bowl.
- Add onions, green chilies, grated carrot, coriander leaves, cumin seeds, red chili powder, turmeric powder, and salt.
- Mix in rice flour and curd to form a soft dough; add little water if needed.
- Divide the mixture into small balls and flatten each to shape vadas.
- Heat oil in a pan for shallow frying.
- Fry the vadas on medium heat until golden and crisp on both sides.
- Drain excess oil on paper towels.
- Serve hot with chutney or sauce.
Nutrition: Calories: 210 kcal per serving | Protein: 5 g | Fat: 7 g | Carbs: 32 g
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