Bara is a savoury fried snack that is popular in India and other countries with significant Indian populations, such as Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, and South Africa.
It is often described as a fritter, cutlet, or dumpling and is made from various ingredients, including legumes, sago, or potatoes.
The most common legumes used are pigeon pea, chickpea, black gram, and green gram, which are soaked and ground into a batter. The batter is then seasoned with cumin seeds, onion, curry leaves, salt, chillies, and sometimes ginger and baking soda.
The mixture is shaped and deep-fried, resulting in a crispy exterior and a fluffy interior.
Vadas are often eaten as snacks or as an accompaniment to another dish and are preferably eaten freshly fried while still hot and crunchy. They are served with a variety of dips, including sambar, watery or dry chutneys, and dahi (yogurt).
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Bara is a versatile ingredient that can be used in various dishes. Some popular dishes made with bara include:
Bara SBS Food: A deep-fried lentil dumpling that is a popular canapé served at weddings and Hindu festivals. It is made from yellow split pea dhal and urad dhal, which are soaked and ground into a batter. The batter is then seasoned with spices and fried until golden brown[1].
Coconut-Curried Shrimp with Bara: Bara is used as a bread to soak up the spicy shrimp curry. It is described as light, airy, and slightly sweet, making it perfect for sopping up the curry[2].
Bara – The Dutch Table: This recipe involves making bara from soaked urad dal (split black lentils) and spices, which are then fried until puffy and golden brown. It is best served hot with chutney[3].
Lentil Pancake (Newari Bara, Wo): A famous dish in Nepal, this lentil pancake is often enjoyed as an appetizer or snack. It is made from split black lentils, which are pureed into a batter and mixed with spices. The pancake is typically served with other dishes like tomato achar, fried eggs, different curries, and flat beaten rice (chuira)[4].
Bara (Newari Pancake): This Newari snack, also known as ‘Wo’, is a savoury pancake made from lentils paste mixed with garlic, ginger, turmeric, and salt. It can be eaten with eggs, minced meat, or other toppings, and is often served with Newari drinks like ‘Aila’ and ‘Chayang'[5].
These dishes showcase the versatility of bara, which can be used in various cuisines and prepared in different ways to create unique and delicious dishes.
