Central hole ensures even cooking and perfect crispy texture

Biting into a hot, crispy Vada alongside a bowl of steaming sambar is a morning ritual for many, from the streets of Chennai to the breakfast tables of Bhubaneswar. While savoring the golden crust and soft interior, have you ever paused to wonder why this doughnut-shaped delight always has a hole in the center?

It turns out this iconic shape is not just for decoration. It is a brilliant example of ancient culinary science solving a complex cooking problem.

Solving the Dense Batter Dilemma

Making a perfect vada is tricky. Unlike lighter batters, the mixture for Vada is made from ground urad dal aka black gram aka biri in Odiya, which is thick and dense. If you were to drop a solid ball of this batter into hot oil, the outside would burn to a crisp long before the heat could reach the center. You would be left with a snack that is charred on the outside and raw on the inside.

Our ancestors found a practical solution: removing the center entirely. By creating a hole, heat can circulate evenly around the batter. This ensures the vada cooks simultaneously from all sides, resulting in that perfectly cooked, fluffy interior.

The Secret to the Crunch

Beyond even cooking, the shape defines the texture. Food lovers know that the best part of a vada is the crunch. The hole increases the surface area exposed to the hot oil. More surface area creates more edges, and more edges mean a crispier texture.

This design also prevents the snack from absorbing too much oil, keeping it lighter than a standard fritter.

Tradition Meets Technique

Watching a cook shape a vada is almost mesmerizing. They place a dollop of batter on a wet palm, press a thumb through the center, and slide it into the kadhai. This technique, passed down through generations, combines physics with flavour.

So, the next time you enjoy this staple at your favorite tiffin center, remember that the humble hole is doing the heavy lifting. It represents centuries of kitchen wisdom, ensuring every bite is as crunchy and delicious as the last.