Microwave Kothimbir wadi |how to make kothimbir wadi in microwave

Kothimbir Vadi, a savory cilantro cake which is first steamed and then fried until crisp.kothimbir leaves are known as cilantro or coriander leaves in english.This is a quintessential Marathi dish, Cilantro is my favourite herb and this dish really showcases cilantro instead of giving it the seemingly superfluous role of a garnish.

Kothimbir vadi can be served as a snack with any chutney but I really love eating it as a side dish with dal and rice. . The one special equipment you need to make this dish is a steamer. If you own a pressure cooker, it was be used without the "weight" to steam this vadi.

The steamed vadi is perfectly fine for eating on its own (a very tasty and healthy snack indeed). Of course it tastes even better when fried and crispy :)

 Alternatively, if you would like something in between, make a "tadka" of oil, mustard and cumin seeds and pour over slices of steamed vadi. Made during festivals like ganpati chaturthi in maharashtra.

I have two versions of kothimbir wadi ,first version in which batter is  steamed ,then cooled & cut in cubes like dhokla & then deep or shallow fried & second one where batter is shaped in the form of rolls which are steamed,sliced & then  fried somewhat similar to aluwadi

In todays method we are going to make kothimbir wadi in microwave instead of steamer or cooker which will reduce steam time from 20 minutes to  5-6 minutes




Ingredients  :
2 cups chopped  cilantro/coriander leaves (Kothimbir),
1 cup gram flour(besan)
1 tablespoon rice flour,
1/4 cup bhajani (mixed flours such as rice flour, wheat flour, millet flour, barley flour and udad flour etc. however this is optional),
10 green chilies,
1 small piece ginger,
4 garlic cloves,
1 teaspoon roasted sesame seeds,
1/4 cup coarsely roasted groundnut powder (shengdana koot bharad)
1 teaspoon lemon juice,
1 tbsp Cumin coriander powder
1 teaspoon turmeric powder,
1/4 teaspoon asafoetida,
1 tsp sugar /jaggery
1 teaspoon garam masala,
1/4 teaspoon Sodium Bicarbonate (Soda) (optional)
salt to taste,
Oil for frying,



Method:

1. Chop coriander leaves finely. Mix in gram flour, bhajani and rice flour.

2. Grind chilies, ginger and garlic into a fine paste. Add this paste, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, lemon juice,,peanut powder, garam masala, turmeric powder, asafoetida and salt to the above mixture.

3. Add some water to make a thick batter (dosa batter consistency) and mix well. Remove the lumps.

4. Grease a flat microwave safe bowl or cake tin ( 6 INCH PAN) with oil . Pour the batter into the vessel .Cover it with its lid or a microwave safe lid.
5. Microwave on high for 4-5 mins .After 4-5 minutes Insert a knife or toothpick and if it comes out clean, the vadi is cooked well.The mixture should be cooked and firm.



6.Even after 5 minutes the batter is not cooked, then microwave for a minute or two.Let it cool.Then remove the steamed wadi in a plate
Cut it into diamond shaped or square shaped slices.Shallow fry or deep fry in hot oil till crisp and browned.
Serve Kothimbir Vadi hot with green chutney or lahsun (garlic) chutney


Tips :

1.The steamed vadi is perfectly fine for eating on its own (a very tasty and healthy snack indeed). Of course it tastes even better when fried and crispy 

2. Alternatively, if you would like something in between, make a "tadka" of oil, mustard and cumin seeds and pour over slices of steamed vadi.

3. you can even use besan and kothimbir in 1:1 ratio

4. check out another method of making kothimbir wadi here

5. Adding bhajani is optional but recommended