How long does Ulli Vada take?

20 minutes from start to finish. That is 10 minutes of preparation and 10 minutes of cooking.

How many people does Ulli Vada serve?

6. The ingredient quantities on this page rescale if you are cooking for a different number.

Is Ulli Vada vegetarian?

Yes. No meat, no fish and no egg.

It is medium: 2 on our scale of 3. Chilli scales gently when you change the servings, so doubling the recipe does not double the heat.

What do I need to make Ulli Vada?

400 grams Onion, ¼ cup Besan Flour, 25 grams Green Chilli, 20 grams Ginger, 250 grams Garam Masala Powder, 1 tbsp Fennel Seeds, and a few more listed on this page.

Do I need a pressure cooker for Ulli Vada?

No, it is cooked in an open pot.

How many calories are in Ulli Vada?

About 241 a serving. The full nutrition table is on this page, per serving and for the whole batch.

Ulli VadaCook

Ulli Vada

Name: Ulli Vada
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Indian, Kerala
Ingredients: 400 grams Onion, Thinly Sliced; 2 tsp Salt; 25 grams Green Chilli, Chopped; 20 grams Ginger, Chopped; 3 sprigs Curry leaves, Chopped; 2 tsp Red Chilli Powder; 250 grams Garam Masala Powder; ¼ cup Besan Flour; 1 tbsp Fennel Seeds; for deep frying Oil

20 min
medium
Serves 6

Prep 10 min · Cook 10 min

Start cooking

3 steps, each one filmed. A short video for every step, so your hands never have to leave the pan.

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Also known as Ulli Vada, Vengaya Bonda · Veg · Tiffin, Snacks & Starters

Tiffin Snacks & Starters Vegan Gluten-free Dairy-free

Kerala ulli vada, or vengaya bonda: salted onions bound with besan, ginger, green chilli and curry leaves, deep-fried. Medium-spicy, makes 6, 20 min, video.

Good for: Party, Rainy Day

Ingredients

10 items

6 people

Onion, Thinly Sliced400 grams
Salt2 tsp
Green Chilli, Chopped25 grams
Ginger, Chopped20 grams
Curry leaves, Chopped3 sprigs
Red Chilli Powder2 tsp
Garam Masala Powder250 grams
Besan Flour¼ cup
Fennel Seeds1 tbsp
Oilfor deep frying

Nutrition

Per 1 person, and for all 6 people. Worked out from the ingredients, so treat it as a close guide.

Nutrient	Per 1 person	All 6 people
Energy	241kcal	1446kcal
Protein	8g	48g
Carbohydrate	31g	184g
Fat	9.4g	56g
Fibre	13g	75g
Sugar	4.4g	26g

Cookd masalas for onion

Madras 65
from ₹94
Madras 65from ₹94

Method

1
In a bowl, add onions with salt and sweat the onions until the water is out.
OnionSalt
2
Add green chillies, ginger, curry leaves (all finely chopped) with red chilli powder, besan flour and maida. Mix it nicely and add water only if necessary. (since onion have moisture) Combine them well and check for seasoning.
Green ChilliGingerCurry leavesRed Chilli PowderGaram Masala PowderBesan FlourFennel Seeds
3
Heat up oil in a kadai. Make roundels of onion mixture in your hand and fry it until golden brown in color.
Oil

Before you start

How long does Ulli Vada take?: 20 minutes from start to finish. That is 10 minutes of preparation and 10 minutes of cooking.
How many people does Ulli Vada serve?: 6. The ingredient quantities on this page rescale if you are cooking for a different number.
Is Ulli Vada vegetarian?: Yes. No meat, no fish and no egg.
Is Ulli Vada spicy?: It is medium: 2 on our scale of 3. Chilli scales gently when you change the servings, so doubling the recipe does not double the heat.
What do I need to make Ulli Vada?: 400 grams Onion, ¼ cup Besan Flour, 25 grams Green Chilli, 20 grams Ginger, 250 grams Garam Masala Powder, 1 tbsp Fennel Seeds, and a few more listed on this page.
Do I need a pressure cooker for Ulli Vada?: No, it is cooked in an open pot.
How many calories are in Ulli Vada?: About 241 a serving. The full nutrition table is on this page, per serving and for the whole batch.

Tips from other cooks

2 notes

S
suji janakiSeptember 2025
In ingredients section the quantity for garam masala seems wrong… please can you check again.
C
A Cookd cookAugust 2025
nice recipe! What’s the air fryer setting for frying this?