This is a recipe to help you make crunchy Nepali/Newari bara at your home. Bara is a classic Nepali appetizer that is very popular amongst the Newari community. Bara (Lentil Flitters) can be enjoyed as a breakfast, appetizer, or even as a snack. Who knew lentils could taste so good? These vegan crunchy lentil flitters/Bara (authentic Nepali food) are sure to satisfy.
Ingredients:
1 cup urad dal (skinned black gram)
1 green chili
1/2 inch ginger
3 garlic cloves
1 cup cilantro
1/2 medium side onion
1 egg
salt to taste
1 tsp cumin powder
1/2 tsp hing powder (asafoetida)
vegetable oil for deep frying
Steps:
- Soak urad dal overnight and rinse the water the next day.
- In a food processor, add urad dal, chopped onion, green chili, ginger, garlic, cilantro, egg, salt, hing, cumin powder. Make a paste without adding any water.
- Transfer to a bowl. The consistency should be thick, add urad dal if it is thin. Set it aside.
- Heat oil in a deep pan over medium heat.
- Make a round dough with a hole in the center using wet hands. Carefully, add to the hot oil and let it fry for 3-4 minutes on each side over low flame and repeat.
- Transfer to the paper towel to remove excess oil.
- Re-fry the bara again for extra crispiness.
- Crunchy and spicy bara is ready to serve for your next party.
