Paruppu Vadai

Crispy, flat lentil fritters made from a coarsely ground paste of chana dal (split chickpea) soaked and blended with red chillies, fennel, onion, and curry leaves — fried until deeply golden and crackling. The temple prasadam fritter of Tamil Nadu, offered at weddings and temple celebrations; denser and crunchier than medhu vadai, paruppu vadai is also sold at every South Indian tea stall as an evening snack.