Keerai Vadai is one of the most popular South Indian evening snacks, enjoyed with a hot cup of filter coffee. It is a crispy dal vada, perked up with chopped amaranth leaves. Along with onions and usual taste enhancers like ginger, coriander and curry leaves, this recipe also includes fennel seeds, which is very important to get the classic, characteristic taste of these vadas. The Keera Vadai is best had with coconut chutney because the mellow, creamy taste of the chutney complements the spicy and crispy vada beautifully. Serve it hot and fresh after draining the oil. You can also try other recipes like Chawli Masoor Dal or Spicy Chawli Leaves and Spinach Stuffed Parathas .

Not very spicy but super tasty, the Masala Toovar Dal is a homely Maharashtrian dish that goes very well with roti or steamed rice . Here, cooked toovar dal is flavoured with a paste of garlic, red chillies and other aromatic seeds like coriander and cumin. Onions sautéed in ghee give the dal a nice crunch and pungent touch, while tomato shares its beautiful tang. Enjoy this Maharashtrian delicacy hot and fresh. You can also try other dishes like the Masala Masoor and the Kabuli Chana and Paneer with Mixed Vegetables .

A spicy spinach and lentil preparation that can be relished with steamed rice or rotis. Do not overcook this dal as the spinach tends to discolour quickly.