Vada Curry

Ingredients needed for preparing Vadas
1 cup Channa Dal
1/2 cup chopped onions
2 tsps green chillies cut into thin rounds
1 tsp ginger chopped fine
1 tsp red chillies crushed
1tsp Saunf crushed
Salt to taste

Ingredients for the Kuruma Gravy
1/4 cup oil + ghee
1 cup onions sliced finely
9 cloves
9 cardamoms
2 pieces cinnamon
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp garlic paste
1 tsp ginger paste
2 tsps coriander powder
1 tsp chilli powder
2 tomatoes cut into small pieces
1/4 cup grated coconut
12 cashewnuts
1/2 cup thick coconut milk
1/4 cup fresh curds
2 tsps kismis / raisina ground to a paste
Salt to taste
4 green chillies slit
1 tsp lime juice
Chopped coriander leaves for garnishing

How to prepare Vada curry, a tasty side dish?
First prepare Vada / kofta balls for the curry. Soak Channa Dal nicely for 2 hours. Drain.
Grind the Dal to a coarse paste with the rest of the Vada ingredients.
Keep aside.
Heat oil in a thick bottomed kadai or a fry pan. Add sliced onions and fry till they are golden.
Add the whole garam masala , namely, cloves,cardamoms and cinnamons.
Now add ginger and garlic paste with the turmeric powder. Saute well. Then add coriander powder and chilli powder and the chopped tomatoes. Mix well till the tomatoes turn soft and pulpy.
Grind coconut and Cashew nuts to a smooth paste, mix  with the coconut milk.
Now add the coconut mix the boiling masala. Mix well.
As the gravy starts boiling add beaten curds, kismis paste, sliit green chillies and the lime juice with salt to taste. Check for the salt.
Add the already prepared vadas to the boiling gravy. Simmer for a minute or two.
Garnish with chopped coriander leaves and serve hot.

Points to note
This vada curry can be prepared with left over paruppu vadas also. 
This gravy recipe goes very well with Idlis and appams.