Kothimbir Vadi

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Kothimbir vadi is a delicious savory crisp snack from the Maharashtrian cuisine made with gram flour (besan), coriander leaves, peanut, sesame seeds and spices. These savory, herby and flavorful bites can be pan-fried or deep-fried. They are a popular tea-time fritter snack loaded with coriander leaves (cilantro).

kothimbir vadi served on a white plate with sauce in a small bowl and text layover.

What is Kothimbir Vadi

In Marathi language “kothimbir” or “kothmir” stands for coriander leaves. The word ‘vadi’ means cubes or slices or wedges. So these are basically steamed coriander and gram flour cake cubes that are fried.

To prepare kothimbir vadi is very simple. You need to first prepare a thick batter mixture from the ingredients and later steam it until firm and well cooked. This steamed cake is then cut into squares or cubes which we call as vadi and then fried.

For a low-fat version, you can consider skipping the last frying part and eat the steamed cake bites or vadis as it is. They taste delicious even when not fried.

Alternatively, you can even temper with some oil, mustard seeds, hing (asafoetida) and curry leaves and then add this tempering on the steamed vadi. Then garnish with some fresh grated coconut.

This kothimbir vadi recipe is my mom’s recipe and the one she learned from her Maharashtrian friend. The recipe gives a really tasty kothimbir vadi that I make for our evening snack.

Serve kothimbir vadi with green chutney, coconut chutney or tamarind dates chutney or mint chutney. These coriander fritters also pairs well with plain curd (yogurt) or tomato ketchup.

Step-by-Step Guide

How to make Kothimbir Vadi

1. Heat a tawa or pan or skillet and keep the flame to a low or medium. Add ¼ cup peanuts.

peanuts in pan or skillet

2. Stir at intervals and roast till the peanuts become crunchy. The peanuts skin will also have some brown-black spots on them. Remove them on a plate and let them cool.

roasting peanuts

3. Rub the peanuts in your palms. This will remove the flaky skin. Now add the peanuts in a small grinder jar or small blender.

roasted peanuts added to grinder jar

4. Grind to a coarse powder. Remove and keep aside.

roasted peanuts mixture

5. In the same small grinder, add 1 teaspoon ginger, 1 teaspoon garlic and 2 green chilies (or 2 teaspoons chopped green chilies).

adding ginger garlic green chillies to grinder jar

6. Add 1 to 2 tablespoon water and grind to a smooth paste. Keep aside. Alternatively, you can even crush the garlic, ginger and green chilies in a mortar-pestle.

add water and making a smooth paste

Making kothimbir vadi batter

7. Rinse coriander leaves very well in fresh water a few times. Then drain the extra water and finely chop the coriander leaves.

You will need 2 cups of finely chopped coriander leaves. Take the coriander leaves in a mixing bowl.

coriander leaves in a pan

8. Add the ginger+garlic+green chilli paste that we had prepared earlier.

add ginger garlic green chilli paste to coriander leaves

9. Now add the following ground spices:

  • ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
  • ¼ teaspoon red chili powder
  • ½ teaspoon coriander powder
  • ½ teaspoon cumin powder
  • 1 pinch of asafoetida (hing) – optional
add spices

10. Next add the coarsely ground peanut powder and 1 tablespoon white sesame seeds.

adding peanut powder and sesame seeds

11. Add 1 cup besan (gram flour). Swap chickpea flour with gram flour if you do not have besan.

adding besan

12. Now add ½ teaspoon sugar (optional) and salt as required. You can also add 1 to 2 pinch of baking soda at this step for a more softer texture in the vadi. I am not a fan of baking soda so I don’t add it.

adding sugar and salt

13. Mix everything very well with a spoon.

mix the mixture

14. Now add ½ cup water in parts and begin to mix the batter.

add water in parts

15. Mix well to a thick batter. Add water as required and in parts.

kothimbir vadi batter

Steaming kothimbir vadi

16. Grease a pan very well with some oil. Use any neutral flavored oil or peanut oil.

greased pan with oil

17. Now add the prepared batter to the greased pan.

adding batter to the pan

18. Bring to boil 1 to 1.5 cups water in another pan. Place a small trivet inside this pan before you begin heating the water.

boil water in another pan

19. Once the water comes to a boil, lower the heat. Holding with tongs gently and carefully place the pan with the batter on the trivet into the pan with boiling water.

keep the pan with batter on top of pan with boiling water

20. Cover with a lid and steam on a low to medium heat for 15 to 20 minutes or until the batter firms up and cooks very well .

cover pan with a lid and steam

21. Once done, check with a toothpick and it should come out clean. When the steamed kothimbir vadi cake is cooled, then gently remove the entire cake on a plate.

To remove the steamed cake, with a butter knife loosen the edges and invert the pan on a plate. Tap the pan and unmold the cake.

steamed kothimbir vadi on a plate

22. Now cut in square or diamond shaped slices as you like.

slice the kothimbir vadi

Frying kothimbir vadi

23. Heat 3 tablespoons oil in a tawa or frying pan or skillet. Place the steamed kothimbir vadi slices and pan fry on medium flame. You can also deep fry if you prefer for a more crispy texture.

fry kothimbir vadi on a skillet

24. When the base is golden, flip and fry the other side.

frying second side of kothimbir vadi

25. Flip a couple of times more and fry till the sides are crisp and golden.

flip and fry other side of kothimbir vadi

26. Place the pan fried kothimbir vadi on kitchen paper towels for extra oil to be absorbed.

fried kothimbir vadi on kitchen paper towels

27. Fry the remaining batches in the same way.

frying second batch of kothimbir vadi

28. Serve kothimbir vadi hot or warm with any chutney or sauce of your choice. You can serve them with saunth chutney or coconut chutney or mint chutney or coriander chutney.

kothimbir vadi served in a white plate with sauce in a small bowl

Recipe Tips

  • Use fresh coriander leaves that are tender with a fresh bright green color. Do not use wilted leaves. You can also use coriander stems if they are soft and tender. Coriander leaves are the star of this recipe. So make sure to use the variety which has a more potent flavor and a good aroma.
  • You can add less green chilies if you want. For a spicy kothimbir vadi you can either add more green chilies or increase the amount of red chili powder.
  • Kothimbir vadi can also be deep-fried instead of pan frying them. Deep frying will give a more crispy texture.
  • For a no garlic version, skip the garlic.
  • For a gluten-free version, skip adding asafoetida or use gluten-free asafoetida.
  • Recipe can be halved or doubled easily if making as a snack for small parties.


If you are looking for more Snacks recipes then do check:

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kothimbir vadi served on a white plate with a small bowl of chutney on the side.

Kothimbir Vadi

Kothimbir vadi is a delicious savory crisp snack from the Maharashtrian cuisine made with gram flour (besan), coriander leaves, peanut, sesame seeds and spices. They are a popular tea time snack loaded with coriander leaves (cilantro).
4.72 from 32 votes
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Cuisine Maharashtrian
Course Snacks
Diet Vegan, Vegetarian
Difficulty Level Moderate
Servings 3
Units

Ingredients

For roasting peanuts

  • ¼ cup peanuts

For ground paste

  • 1 teaspoon ginger
  • 1 teaspoon garlic
  • 2 green chilies or 2 teaspoons green chilies
  • 1 to 2 tablespoon water for grinding

Other ingredients

  • 2 cups coriander leaves – finely chopped
  • ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder (ground turmeric)
  • ¼ teaspoon red chili powder or cayenne pepper
  • ½ teaspoon Coriander Powder (ground coriander)
  • ½ teaspoon cumin powder (ground cumin)
  • 1 pinch asafoetida (hing) – optional
  • 1 tablespoon white sesame seeds
  • 1 cup besan (gram flour or chickpea flour)
  • ½ teaspoon sugar – optional
  • salt as required
  • ½ cup water for batter

For steaming

  • 1 to 1.5 cups water

For frying

  • 3 tablespoons oil

Instructions
 

Preparation

  • Heat a tawa or pan and keep the flame to a low or medium. Add ¼ cup peanuts.
  • Stir at intervals and roast till the peanuts become crunchy. The peanuts skin will also have some brown-black spots on them. Remove them in a plate and let them cool.
  • Rub the peanuts in your palms. This will remove the flaky skin. Now add the peanuts in a small grinder jar.
  • Grind to a coarse powder. Remove and keep aside.
  • In the same small grinder, add 1 teaspoon ginger, 1 teaspoon garlic and 2 green chilies (or 2 teaspoons green chilies).
  • Add 1 to 2 tablespoon water and grind to a smooth paste. Keep aside. Alternatively you can even crush the garlic, ginger and green chilies in a mortar-pestle.
  • Rinse coriander leaves very well. Drain the extra water and finely chop them. You will need 2 cups of finely chopped coriander leaves. 

Making batter

  • Take the coriander leaves in a mixing bowl.
  • Add the ginger+garlic+green chilli paste.
  • Now add ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder, ¼ teaspoon red chili powder, ½ teaspoon coriander powder, ½ teaspoon cumin powder and 1 pinch of hing (optional).
  • Next add the coarsely ground peanut powder and 1 tablespoon white sesame seeds.
  • Add 1 cup besan (gram flour).
  • Now add ½ teaspoon sugar (optional) and salt as required.
  • Mix everything very well.
  • Now add ½ cup water in parts and begin to mix the batter.
  • Mix well to a thick batter. Add water as required and in parts.

Steaming

  • Grease a pan with some oil.
  • Now add the batter in the pan.
  • Bring to boil 1 to 1.5 cups water in another pan.
  • Lower the flame and holding the pan (in which batter is there) with tongs keep it inside the pan with water.
  • Cover with a lid and steam on a low to medium heat for 15 to 20 minutes or until the batter firms up nicely and cooks well.
  • Once done, check with a tooth pick and it should come out clean. When the kothimbir mixture is cooled, then gently remove the entire layer on a plate. With a butter knife loosen the edges and invert the pan on a plate. Tap the pan and unmold the layer.
  • Now cut in square or diamond shaped slices.

Pan frying kothimbir vadi

  • Heat 3 tablespoons oil in a tawa or pan. Place the steamed kothimbir vadi and pan fry on medium flame.
  • When the base is golden, flip and fry the other side.
  • Flip a couple of times more and fry till the sides are crisp and golden. You can even deep fry them if you want.
  • Place the pan fried kothimbir vadi on kitchen paper towels for extra oil to be absorbed. Fry the remaining kothmir vadi in the same way.
  • Serve hot or warm with any chutney or sauce of your choice. 

Notes

  • To make a spicy kothimbir vadi add more green chilies.
  • For a more softer texture, you can add 1 to 2 pinches of baking soda in the batter mixture.
  • Use fresh and tender coriander leaves. If the steams are tender then you can use them.
  • The recipe can be scaled to make a small or a big batch.
  • For a gluten-free version skip adding asafoetida or use gluten-free asafoetida.

Nutrition Info (Approximate Values)

Nutrition Facts
Kothimbir Vadi
Amount Per Serving
Calories 346 Calories from Fat 207
% Daily Value*
Fat 23g35%
Saturated Fat 2g13%
Sodium 910mg40%
Potassium 407mg12%
Carbohydrates 24g8%
Fiber 5g21%
Sugar 5g6%
Protein 10g20%
Vitamin A 785IU16%
Vitamin C 6.8mg8%
Calcium 53mg5%
Iron 2.6mg14%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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This Kothimbir Vadi recipe post from the archives (first published in April 2010) has been republished and updated on 18 June 2021.

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Meet Dassana

Welcome to Dassana's Veg Recipes. I share vegetarian recipes from India & around the World. Having been cooking for decades and with a professional background in cooking & baking, I help you to make your cooking journey easier with my tried and tested recipes showcased with step by step photos & plenty of tips & suggestions.

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54 Comments

  1. Made kothambir wadi recipe again and again, it turned out perfect,😀 thank you Dassana.5 stars

  2. Very well explained.Thank you so much for sharing the recipe.
    Detailed tips are given which help to make the recipe best one.5 stars

  3. Hi, I am curious as to whether the omission of baking soda is on purpose? Other versions I’ve tried have included it. Thanks!

    1. you can add uma. sometimes i also add baking soda. it does help in making the vadi having a soft texture. but just add a pinch of baking soda.

      1. Thank you, I’ll experiment with adding it next time. Meanwhile I am actually really liking the texture of these, and all the cilantro! : )

        1. welcome uma. yes sure experiment both ways by adding baking soda and not adding baking soda.

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